2026 Community Champions Award
America’s Communications Association (ACA Connects) members are an important part of the communities they serve. Beyond providing essential communications services, they invest in their communities, support local organizations and initiatives, and lend a helping hand to their neighbors when it matters most.
2025 Community Champions Contest Winner
Read the Press Release: LFT Fiber Named Winner of ACA Connects 2025 Community Champions Contest
Voting for the 2025 Community Champions Award
From volunteering at food banks to organizing clothing drives to donating school supplies to local children, our Members and their employees are engaged and committed to the well-being of their customers in the areas where they live and work. For 2025, we have 14 nominations. To view details on each project, scroll further down this page.
Voting is open now through 5pm Eastern on October 3, so don’t wait — show your support early and often. Anyone can vote, and here’s the best part: you can vote every single day! The winner will be announced in mid-October and will receive a $2,500 donation from ACA Connects to keep their project going strong.
ACA Connects is excited to announce that entries are now being accepted for the 2026 Community Champions award! This annual initiative encourages ACA Connects Operator Members to submit a community service project showing how their company supports and uplifts the neighborhoods and customers they serve.
Nominations will be accepted from August 17 through September 21 at 5 pm ET. Entries must include a 150- to 250-word description of the project and at least one photograph. Only one entry per member company is allowed, and the contest is only open to ACA Connects Operator Members (Companies are eligible to win every 4 years).
The winner will be selected by a committee comprised of ACA Connects staff and industry professionals and announced in early October. ACA Connects will provide a $2,500 donation to support the winning project.
Nominated project photos and details will be featured on the ACA Connects website, will be highlighted in the December edition of ICN, our all-digital magazine, and may be used in documentation to support ACA Connects advocacy efforts.
At ACA Connects, we are proud to represent such a wonderful group of companies that see the value of investing in their communities and lifting up their neighbors. We’re excited to see the innovative and unique projects our members have developed in an effort to give back!
Questions regarding Community Champions?
Please contact Jack Latzer at [email protected].
Blue Ridge Communications
SPREAD THE WARMTH
For the past eight years, Blue Ridge Communications (BRC) has partnered with various non-profit organizations within our service area to support our annual SPREAD THE WARMTH community initiative. This important campaign aims to distribute much-needed children’s winter clothing, such as coats, hats, scarves, and gloves, at no cost to families in need. For every new internet connection or upgrade added in November, Blue Ridge makes a clothing donation.
Every year since 2018, this community impact initiative has grown. Last year, we donated over 1,100 coats to children. SPREAD THE WARMTH is one of the most impactful community events for us. Our customers, employees, and non-profit partners really look forward to this every year and believe it demonstrates how business and non-profit partners can work together to benefit the communities we serve. This is just one of the many ways we continue to build trusted and valued connections across Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania.
2025 Winner
2024 Winner
2023 Winner
2025 Winner
2024 Winner
2023 Winner
2022 Winner
