MOUNT VERNON – Lisa Lloyd, program director for the Knox County Foundation, is both thankful and surprised to have won the 2020 Leadership Knox Distinguished Alumni and Volunteer of the Year Awards.

"I certainly did not expect to win either of them," she said.

Lloyd was born and raised in Mount Vernon, attending and graduating from Mount Vernon High School. Following the completion of her master's degree in social work administration, she reached an impasse upon her return home. 

"I moved back home thinking I would save up for a year and move back to Columbus, but once I got involved in the community again, I knew Knox County would always be my home," Lloyd said. "I spent time working at MVNU and then in the financial services and accounting fields, until landing my dream job at the Knox County Foundation in 2016."

Since her participation in the Key Club at Mount Vernon High School, Lloyd has always had a passion for helping others, which led her to working for Knox County in her capacity as program director.

"My position allows me to do this on a daily basis through the Foundation's grants and scholarships programs, as well as through active community involvement on committees, task forces and boards," she explained. 

When asked what she loves most about living in Mount Vernon, Lloyd opined, "What I love most about living in Mount Vernon/Knox County is that it is truly a caring, collaborative community. In my role, I am very blessed to see how often people in Knox County come together for the greater good of the community."

Lloyd cited efforts made by Mount Vernon's manufacturing industry to change their production lines in order to produce desperately needed PPE equipment in the battle against COVID-19. 

Without community members like Lisa Lloyd who dedicate a portion of themselves to their local communities, Mount Vernon would certainly be at a loss. It is awards like the 2020 Leadership Knox Distinguished Alumni and Volunteer of the Year Awards that offer proper recognition for her service.