ECI Software Solutions, a leader in cloud-based business management solutions, has named Edward Morris, Jr. of GRACE Aerospace the first-place winner of the 2021 Everyday Hero Award for his work with The West Men Society, a non-profit organization whose mission is to encourage at-risk youth to become productive citizens and positive role models through vocation and the arts. As the winner, Morris will receive a $10,000 donation to the West Men Society.

In 2013, Morris and three friends started The West Men Society to serve at-risk youth in Salisbury, Maryland. As a recovered addict who is now the Quality Manager of GRACE Aerospace, Morris uses the lessons he has learned to help change the lives of those who may be following the wrong path and preventing others from traveling it. The $10,000 prize will be donated to The West Men Society to sponsor future events, award scholarships and launch other initiatives that will support the Salisbury, Maryland communities, starting with the youth.

Now in its sixth year, the Everyday Hero Award program honors ECI customers—both individuals and companies—who consistently go above and beyond to make a difference in their communities. Nominations are submitted by ECI employees, customers and partners and evaluated by an independent panel of judges. In addition to Morris and GRACE Aerospace, ECI granted first and second runners up place awards to:

• 1st Runner Up: Jaret Lyons, VP of Sales for Emerald Business Supply, wins $5,000 for his Mission: Possible initiative to volunteer at 52 nonprofits over 52 weeks—a mission he completed seven weeks ahead of schedule. He will donate the money to one of the charities he served over the past year.

• 2nd Runner Up: Jack Stevenson, President of Mid-Cape Home Centers, wins $3,000 for his continual service over the years to many organizations in the Cape Cod community, including the Cape Cod Children’s Place and the Sean M. Gannon Memorial Fund that supports local first-responders. He will donate to a charity of his choice.

“One of ECI’s core values is ‘embrace community,’ which means that we are committed to caring for each other and always seeking to improve the quality of our team, our community and our lives. Eddie, Jaret and Jack—along with all of our nominees—bring that value to life in a tangible way that improves the quality of their communities and all the lives around them,” said Trevor Gruenewald, ECI’s CEO. “Our team is truly inspired by the work of all the nominees, and we are immensely proud to call them our customers.”

In addition to cash prizes, ECI has gifted all finalists a trip to ECI’s user conference, Connect 2022, taking place at the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Convention Center in Aurora, Colorado, November 9–11, 2022. Nominations for the 2022 Everyday Hero Award open in the spring, and ECI will present the winner and runners-up at the conference.