For Ooltewah banker Jamie Kyle it's a pay-it-forward attitude and love of people that motivates his work with low-income families through his family's nonprofit organization The Refuge Community Centre.
Ranging from helping people develop resumes to providing toys at Christmas, Kyle will be recognized for his commitment to the Ooltewah and Cleveland communities when he is presented the Hometown Hero award by the Modern Woodsmen of America.
"I feel a little weird about getting the award because I don't do what I do to get recognized," said the devoted businessman, father and volunteer. "This is what I feel like I have been called to do."
Kyle will receive his award and $100 for the charity of his choice at the regularly scheduled Chattanooga chapter meeting of the Modern Woodsmen of America Dec. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at Golden Corral on Gunbarrel Road.
In addition to his work with The Refuge Community Centre, Kyle is the assistant vice president/branch manager at the Snow Hill Road location of SunTrust bank, president-elect of the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce Ooltewah/Collegedale Council and bass guitarist for Lakeview Church of God.
According to Ooltewah/Collegedale Council president Suzanne Burrell, Kyle's big heart and activism are evident wherever he goes.
"He's a really likeable guy with a great sense of humor, but under the surface there's a genuine commitment to doing the right thing," she said. "When he sees something he thinks should be done, he finds a way to do something about it."
Kyle, who became passionate about helping people in poverty after volunteering at an organization in Atlanta, said his goal is to offer a hand up, not a hand out, to people in order to help end the cycle of poverty.
He said he has had a lot of success with helping people set goals for themselves and then helping them achieve those goals.
"People are afraid to reach out and help other people because of what they may have to commit to or who those people may be," Kyle said. "I don't care what you've done in your past, I want to know what you're going to do with your future."
For more information about The Refuge Community Centre, visit www.therefugecommunity.org.