Champions of Blackstone

Blackstone Heritage Corridor's annual Champions of the Blackstone awards event highlights and recognizes the leadership, stewardship, and passion found throughout the region. Held toward the end of the year, this annual event brings 100+ people together to celebrate another successful year of hard work and accomplishment in the preservation and promotion of our natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resources. There are several awards given out to individual and groups who have been nominated by members of the Heritage Corridor community.

2025 Champions of the Blackstone event date to be announced in June 2025.

Created by the Blackstone Heritage Corridor, the John H. Chafee Leadership Award honors the late senator’s legacy and recognizes individuals who have worked on projects that promote cultural heritage, environmental conservation, economic development, and the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley. Past years’ recipients have celebrated community leaders, preservation heroes, business partners, and environmental advocates whose achievements resulted in the public’s benefit. These heroes have demonstrated the Valley’s long tradition of leadership and inspiration. Click here to review past Award Winners. 
Click here to submit a Chafee Leadership Award nomination.

Blackstone Heritage Corridor Student of the Year Award

The Blackstone Heritage Corridor Student of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding student or group of students (Elementary, Middle, and High School age) who have worked on projects that promote cultural heritage and/or environmental conservation in the Blackstone River Valley.
Click here to submit a Student of the Year Award nomination.

Suzanne Buchanan Volunteer of the Year Award

The Suzanne Buchanan Volunteer of the Year Award was created in 2021 to honor a Blackstone Heritage Corridor Volunteers-In-Parks volunteer who embodies the welcoming spirit and unbridled enthusiasm that Suzanne demonstrated, recorded extraordinary volunteer hours, and/or encouraged new volunteers.
Click here to submit a Volunteer of the Year Award nomination.

Blackstone Heritage Corridor Partner of the Year Award

The Blackstone Heritage Corridor Partner of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding partner organization that has worked on projects that promote cultural heritage, environmental conservation, and the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley.
Click here to submit a Partner of the Year Award nomination.