Every year in November, Portland Monthly honors some of our city's best nonprofits, nonprofit leaders, volunteers, and other folks who're working to make our city better at the Light A Fire awards ceremony in the art museum, as well as in a series of profiles in the magazine. This year, two winners will also walk away with checks from the evening’s proceeds.

As the awards are meant to celebrate community involvement, we invite everyone to make nominations. And, apropos of Culturephile, there’s a special category for arts organizations: Growing Creativity.

I encourage you to nominate any and all you admire. You can also nominate yourself or your organization. It's far from a shot in the dark. Last year, an employee at Artists Rep nominated retiring artistic director Allen Nause, who went on to win the Lifetime Achievement award, delighting us all.

The deadline has been extended to Tuesday, July 9. As they say, vote early and vote often. And please pass along the invitation.