Current Heart of the Community Award Recipients
Congratulations to the 2026 Heart of the Community Award Recipients
On Saturday, February 28, 2026, eight of Rome’s “unsung heroes” will be honored at the Heart of the Community Foundation Awards of Honor black-tie gala. The ticketed event will be held at The Forum River Center with the silent auction and reception at 6:00 p.m.,...
Rick and Sundai Stevenson – HOC Board of Governors Award
Rick and Sundai Stevenson are the kind of leaders every community hopes to have. They are steady when times are uncertain, compassionate when people are hurting, and courageous when progress demands a strong voice. Their journey in Rome and Floyd County has...
Leah Mayo – HOC Young Heart Award
Leah Mayo serves as an Assistant District Attorney in the Floyd County District Attorney's Office. She is a graduate of Darlington School, Presbyterian College, and received her Juris Doctor from Mercer University School of Law. With an impressive career in public...
Jeb Arp – HOC Award of Honor
Jeb Arp’s deep commitment to the Rome and Floyd County community is reflected in his decades of service as an educator, volunteer, and civic leader. Over the past 20 years, Jeb has supported initiatives that enhance and strengthen our area’s quality of life. His...
Sarah Huffman – HOC Award of Honor
A native of Rome, Sarah Huffman currently serves as the Assistant Director ofHuman Resources and Risk Management for the City of Rome. She is the daughter of former Heart of the Community recipient, Cheryl Huffman. Sarah is married to her wife, Erin, and together they...
Traci Tillery, HOC Award of Honor
Traci Tillery is a Nurse Practitioner with a 34-year career in nursing. She has worked at Floyd (Atrium) for twenty-seven years and during these years, realized the importance of foot care and foot maintenance in her professional career. She began the first...
Gail Veal – HOC Award of Honor
For decades, the Rome and Floyd County community has been blessed by an unwavering force of compassion and dedication: Gail Stevenson Veal. Gail is more than a passionate community advocate; she is the embodiment of selfless service - a genuine angel among us - whose...
Ghee Wilson – HOC Award of Honor
Special Agent Ghee Wilson’s record of service reflects a lifelong commitment to the safety, wellbeing, and enrichment of the Rome and Floyd County community. His dedication extends well beyond his professional role with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, to an...