Announcing CUSA’s 2025 Network Award Winners
- Circles USA
- 2 hours ago
- 6 min read
Circles USA Network Awards (est. 2014) celebrate the many individuals, families, and chapters doing outstanding work building community to end poverty nationwide. Our 2025 awardees were nominated by their chapters, then selected by our board members for their exemplary leadership and contributions to the Circles community of practice.
We are so pleased and proud to spotlight the winners of our 2025 Network Awards, presented live on day three of the recent Leadership Conference in Ogden, UT. Congratulations, CUSA Network rock stars!
Longevity Awards
Our Longevity Awards celebrate 10+ year milestones in established Circles chapters.
10 years:
Circles West Georgia
Circles Pratt County, KS
Circles Upstate SC
Circles Davis County, UT
Circles Ashland, VA
15 years:
Circles Utah Valley, UT
Circles Indy, IN
Circles Reno County, KS
Circles Jackson County, NC
Best Social Media
Circles Cobb, GA
Social media accounts on high-volume platforms like Facebook and Instagram are fantastic tools for connecting chapters to our larger communities—including the national community of practice. This year we honor Circles Cobb’s great use of social media to uplift and showcase their members’ achievements.
Best Data Results
Circles Hastings, NE
When it comes to tracking progress in members’ journeys from surviving to thriving, numbers count. Circles Hasting’s outstanding data collecting and presenting go above and beyond in visualizing their chapter’s income growth and other key outcomes over weeks and months.
Best Newsletter
Over the past two years, Circles Reno County has made significant progress in strengthening their data collection and management practices. They’ve prioritized timely data entry, regularly cleaned up participant status to reflect who is active or inactive, and improved internal processes to keep information accurate and useful. They’re proud of the behind-the-scenes work—labor that ensures the data tells the real story of the families Circles Reno County serves.
Best Video
"Circles Graduation for Chris" | Circles Salt Lake, UT
“When Chris joined Circles initially, she had two people she could call on in a time of need. At graduation, that number had increased to eight! Chris is a single mom who worked diligently with her Allies and Circles staff to identify and address systemic barriers to break out of poverty. She is now well over and maintaining above the 200% of the Federal Poverty Guideline and is an Ally with Circles. We are so proud of Chris, she is an inspiration.”— Chris’s nominator, Circles Salt Lake
Outstanding Resource Team Volunteer
Taniya Price from Circles Davis County, UT
Our 2025 Outstanding Volunteer, Taniya Price, is a Super Volunteer! Her nominator wrote: “As a child, Taniya participated in our children’s program while her mother worked toward her goals through Circles. Today, as a young adult, she has returned—not as a participant, but as one of our most committed volunteers. She gives 15-20 hours each week to caring for the children in our program, bringing warmth, structure, and joy to every interaction. Taniya understands the mission of Circles and the vital role that quality childcare plays in allowing parents to focus on their goals. With a passion for working with children and dreams of becoming a schoolteacher, Taniya already demonstrates the leadership, creativity, and compassion of a great educator. We are grateful to have her in our chapter.”
Outstanding Coordinator
Kelli Parker from Circles Salt Lake, UT
This year’s Outstanding Coordinator has been nominated not once, but two times! Kelli Parker is a Coordinator with Circles Salt Lake. Kelli’s nominator says, “We are beyond lucky to have Kelli Parker back on the Circles Salt Lake team! Since her return, she has completely lit up our community with her energy, joy, and unstoppable drive. Kelli has grown our volunteer crew by more than 300% and makes every single person feel like they belong whether they’re three years old, seventy-three, or anywhere in between. She has turned our children’s program into something truly incredible... On top of that, she manages interns with ease, keeps our community partners and supporters connected, and somehow always makes sure we’re eating the most delicious and healthy meals at dinner. Kelli is the heart, the hype, and the bright light of Circles Salt Lake.”
Outstanding Coach
Rebecca Price from Circles Davis County, UT
Rebecca Price, our 2025 Outstanding Coach, has also been nominated twice. Rebecca, another Circles Davis County member, has been with her chapter since the beginning. In the words of her nominator: “Rebecca brings honesty and integrity to Circles Davis County with her quick wit and understanding of the inequity low-income families face. She consistently supports Circle Leaders working to exit poverty in an empathetic and non-judgmental manner. She is passionate about social justice and community empowerment. Rebecca brings a unique and powerful perspective to her role—not only because of her professional commitment, but also because she has walked the very path many of our participants are on. She is not only a coach, but a true example of what is possible through Circles. Rebecca’s journey from participant to coach is a true testament to what Circles stands for—and a source of hope for every family she works with.”
Outstanding Allies
Bruce and Ann Fillmore from Circles Utah and Heber Valley, UT
Bruce and Ann Fillmore’s nominator calls them “Super Allies,” sharing: “I would not be able to do what I do in the program without their amazing support. They drive an hour each way every Thursday evening; they often bring dinner; they always clean up and put things away; [and] they provide valuable wisdom and support to everyone in our Circles Chapter—in both Utah Valley and the Heber Valley. In addition to all of that, they have helped one of our amazing Circle Leaders have an incredible transition as she went from homeless and hopeless to a beautiful place and space where she now has custody of her two little girls. I am so grateful to these two amazing Allies that do so much for all of us. Their willingness to serve is off the charts.”
Outstanding Ally
Tyler King from Circles Cobb, GA
Our second Outstanding Ally, Tyler King of Circles Cobb in Georgia, has brought what his nominator calls “a refreshing sense of humor and a unique ‘out of the box’ perspective to the Circles Cobb familyship, making a lasting impact on both Circle Leaders and the community.” They go on to write: “Tyler’s insight and dedication led us to invite him to join our Board of Directors, where he contributes invaluable firsthand knowledge of Circle Leaders’ challenges and aspirations. Tyler has been a steady, reliable presence for his own Circle Leader and a source of encouragement for many others. He has shared his expertise, generously helping budding entrepreneurs in the group write business proposals and offering practical guidance to grow their dreams. His commitment, creativity, and relational approach make him a truly outstanding Ally and a powerful advocate for the Circles mission.”
Outstanding Circle Leader
Marcella Patino from Circles Salt Lake, UT
Our first Outstanding Circle Leader, Marcella Patino, is yet another two-time nominee. “Since February 2022,” her nominator writes, “this single mother of 3 has been cheerfully determined to make a better life for herself and her kids than what she grew up with. She courageously sold her dream job—a cotton candy business into which she'd invested several thousand dollars—to pay off debt and focus on more reliable income as a fingernail manicurist. She obtained scholarships to complete additional training and certifications to further her income and hireability. She's remarkable at finding out about and accessing public resources, then generously sharing these insights with other Circle Leaders, whom she sees through her VERY reliable attendance at Circles on every Thursday evening. She's a credible role model because of what she's gone through and accomplished. And her biggest goal is to be a Circles Ally herself one day. Marcella is a poster child for Circles and how it can change lives!”
Outstanding Circle Leader
Kellie Rhoades from Circles Utah and Heber Valley, UT
Our final awardee is Outstanding Circle Leader Kellie Rhoades. Kellie’s nominator in Circles Utah Valley writes: “Working with Kellie has been an amazing journey. When I first met Kellie, she was in the darkest place I have ever seen anyone. She was homeless and hopeless - she almost gave up but chose not to… Now I am so pleased to report that Kellie is a beautiful mother to her two beautiful daughters that she was able to get custody of this spring. She has a job she loves, a beautiful brand new apartment, and she is working to become the very best version of herself. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Utah County Community Action Services and Food Bank. Someday, Kellie wants to be an attorney, and serve as a voice of hope to women. Kellie is truly an Outstanding Circle Leader and I would love for her to be recognized for her amazing dedication to the Circle Leader Program and putting in the effort to show up as her best self, each and every day!”
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