Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits (OKCNP) is celebrating 10 years of VISIONS on December 1, 2020, at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.

The Visions Awards honors those who act as agents of change in the community, providing leadership to enrich and enliven those whom they serve. These men and women are thoughtful, passionate, tenacious, and creative in seeking out solutions to problems that affect change. They inspire others with their conviction and drive, give a voice to those without, and act with the highest integrity to provide Oklahomans with resources otherwise not available. Visions recognizes these great men and women as passionate champions of service to Oklahoma.

Over the next few weeks leading up to the event, we will spotlight each of the honorees.

Lance Lang has been serving as the Chief Hope Dealer at Hope is Alive Ministries (HIA) in Oklahoma City since 2012, when he founded the nonprofit. HIA’s mission “is to radically change the lives of drug addicts, alcoholics and those that love them.”

Lance saw a need and found his calling after he received treatment for his own struggles. As he was immersed in the Oklahoma recovery community, he found there was not much structure for newly sober individuals.

HIA is an eighteen-month, three-phase program for men and women that focuses on mental, spiritual, physical, emotional and financial health for newly sober individuals.

HIA has grown to support 174 individuals in eighteen homes across three states: Oklahoma, Kansas and North Carolina.  Though their program provides housing for the individual, HIA prides themselves in supporting the family unit as a whole. Over 1,000 families have utilized the HIA program, with a 100% success rate, according to their website.

“Many people have been and will continue to be positively impacted because of Lance’s decision to live out his calling and help those struggling with addiction,” said Blake Wieland, graduate and director of development, HIA. “I know, because I am one of them.”

Lance is being honored with the Rodney Bivens Innovation Award. This award goes to a visionary leader(s) or volunteer(s) in the charitable sector who has burst on the scene with a new, dynamic and innovative idea that inspired groundbreaking changes, bringing newfound success to the mission of an organization or pioneering, exciting program that changes lives.

The honoree will receive a $10,000 award, thanks to a generous contribution from the Donald W.

Reynolds Foundation in honor of Rodney Bivens’ lifetime achievements with the Regional Food Bank.

Past honorees include Christy Counts, Bob Ross, Tim McLaughlin, Jennifer Abney, Desiree Doherty and Christie Luther.

For more information about Visions 2020 visit: https://oklahomacenterfornonprofits.site-ym.com/page/Visions