Celebrating 25 Years of Inspiring Recreation by Launching $25K “Inspiring the Human Spirit” Award

October 23, 2024

At Commercial Recreation Specialists (CRS), we’ve always believed that recreation is more than just fun and games—it’s about fostering connection, enhancing communities, and inspiring the human spirit. As we celebrate 25 years of growth and success, we’re excited to give back to the industry that has been so instrumental in shaping who we are today. To mark this milestone, we’re launching the “Inspiring the Human Spirit” Award, a new annual accolade aimed at recognizing visionaries who have profoundly impacted people through recreation.

This $25,000 award will celebrate five individuals or organizations whose contributions have made a lasting difference in their communities. Each recipient will receive a $5,000 award, along with a symbolic gift—a set of custom wind chimes—to remind them of the inspiration they provide to those they serve.

Why This Award Matters

At CRS, our mission is simple yet powerful: Inspire the human spirit through recreation. Over the past 25 years, we’ve lived out this mission by working with partners and clients across the country to create spaces where people of all ages can play, connect, and thrive. The “Inspiring the Human Spirit” Award is our way of shining a light on the leaders who share this passion and who embody the core values that have driven our success.

Ron Romens, Co-Founder and President of CRS, shared his excitement about this new initiative:

“To celebrate our success and growth over the last 25 years, we decided to give something back to the recreation industry which has been so good to us. The ‘Inspiring the Human Spirit’ Award is our way of honoring those who have been instrumental in developing the field of recreation and inspiring others.”

Recognizing Excellence in Recreation

The “Inspiring the Human Spirit” Award is not just about celebrating innovation—it’s about celebrating the values that define who we are as a company:

  • Servant Mentality: We succeed through serving others.
  • Results Oriented: Our success is measured by the success of those we serve.
  • Fun Experts: We value play and the profound impact recreation has on society.
  • Entrepreneurial Spirit: We embrace innovation and calculated risk.
  • Continual & Experiential Learners: We are always evolving through experience.

These values have been at the heart of CRS since our founding in 1999, guiding our growth and shaping how we work with our clients to bring recreation to life.

What’s Next?

In November 2024, we’ll announce the five award recipients who have made outstanding contributions to the field of recreation. Each winner will be selected based on their ability to inspire others, foster community connection, and uphold the values that have made CRS a trusted leader in the industry for the past 25 years. The winners will be celebrated for their work, and we look forward to sharing their stories with the world.

As we reflect on the last 25 years, we’re incredibly proud of the partnerships we’ve built, the projects we’ve completed, and the communities we’ve helped transform. We’re equally excited to see where the next 25 years will take us—and to continue supporting the visionaries who share our passion for recreation.

Let’s continue to inspire the human spirit, one play space at a time.