The Kiwanis Club of Griffin on Wednesday named Don Crider as its 2011 Griffin-Spalding County Young Man of the Year. With the award in its fifth year, Crider follows in the footsteps of previous winners Brad Glass (2010), Emory Schroeter (2009), Rodney McCord (2008) and Doug Hollberg (2007).

The Kiwanis Club of Griffin did not receive a nomination for the 2011 Young Woman of the Year, said club Special Projects Committee Chairwoman Rita Cavanaugh.

The purpose of honoring an individual as Young Person of the Year is to encourage young residents to become active in the community and recognize them when they do.

Only United States citizens under the age of 40, who have resided in Spalding County for at least four years, are eligible to receive the award. In addition they must be active in the community through volunteer work.

That description fit Crider, who came to the community as district executive of the Boy Scouts of America, Flint River Council, after graduating from college in 2001. Crider is currently with Private Client Advisory Inc., and also serves as board president of the Stepping Stones Educational Therapy Center.

“Don understands the importance of giving back to the community that allows one to have a successful career,” said Hollberg, who was one the people who nominated Crider, in a brief speech to the audience that included Crider’s biography and some personal memories.

“Griffin and Spalding County are blessed to have young people like Don who are willing to sacrifice their time, resources and knowledge to help make Griffin the kind of place we deserve and raise our families,” he said.

When it was his time to speak, Crider — who is a former member of the Kiwanis Club of Griffin — recalled the positive experience he had with the club when he first came onboard.

“I began to meet and talk to people, and I began to realize that these people give and give and give and never expect anything in return,” said Crider, an Eagle Scout and UGA graduate, who still works with the ticket committee at the Spalding County Fair. “Thank you for this award. It’s truly an honor.”