House Call
16th Annual R.I.C.E. Awards Honored Atlanta’s Champions of Community Service
Warrick Dunn and Keisha Lance Bottoms were named Lifetime Achievement honorees at the 2026 Sneaker Ball.
The 16th Annual R.I.C.E. Awards celebrated the people who make a difference in their communities on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Atlanta City Hall. This year’s “Sneaker Ball” continued the awards’ tradition of recognizing leadership, service, and contributions across greater Atlanta.
Founded by Dr. C. Chandon Carter, the Rising in Community Excellence Awards were created to honor the “unsung heroes of the community”: people whose work may happen outside the spotlight but whose impact is felt by families, neighbors, and organizations throughout the region.
The 2026 Lifetime Achievement honors recognized former NFL running back and philanthropist Warrick Dunn and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. Dunn’s commitment to helping families achieve stability and homeownership and Bottoms’ years of public service reflected the central message of the awards: leadership carries its greatest value when it improves lives.
The celebration also recognized Shalita Thrasher, Lucretia Doyle, and S. La’Kerri Jackson as Humanitarian honorees. The 2026 Torch Award honorees were Dr. John Williams, Tai Roberson, Melaine Williams, Daniel Nagel, Esq., Dr. Stacii Jae Johnson, Verna Cleveland, Javoyne Hicks, Esq., Carol Bowman, and Dr. Jerome Rowland.
Recognition extended across entrepreneurship, business, nonprofit service, education, media, health care, youth achievement, and civic leadership. The range of categories spoke to the many ways people answer a community need: by building an organization, mentoring a young person, sharing vital information, or bringing neighbors together. According to the awards organization, nominees were selected by a panel of industry professionals, community leaders, and everyday citizens.
Sixteen years in, the R.I.C.E. Awards’ purpose remained clear. The ceremony gave Atlanta a moment to celebrate achievement while drawing attention to the work behind it: the steady, often unseen commitment of people who step forward to help others.
InDaHouseMedia congratulates the 2026 honorees and nominees whose service continues to strengthen their communities.
