Cindy Colville, Dale Ash and Hooper Matthews received the Ann and Fred Delchamps Distinguished Philanthropist Award at a luncheon on March 17 in Mobile.

The award is given annually and was created in 2014 as a way to honor an individual or family who has demonstrated philanthropic generosity of time, monetary contributions and leadership during the past year. The Community Foundation of South Alabama held the luncheon.

“To God be the glory,” Dale, the vice president of Pepsi Cola Bottling Co. and South Alabama Vending, said. “The award was very humbling and honored the memory and legacy of our parents, Hooper Matthews and Merle Matthews, who had huge giving hearts.

“Growing up as a sharecropper, our mother believed in work — hard work — and her constant mantra was ‘you can’t outgive God. You just try and he will give it back to you 100 fold.’”

Dale said those beliefs are also embraced by Pepsi of Atmore, and the communities in Escambia, Monroe, Conecuh and north Baldwin counties.

“Five of our coworkers serve on chamber of commerce boards in five cities and three counties and help us identify areas where we can help,” she said. “We are just small town people who try to do what we can to help wherever and whenever possible.”

“As John Wesley and Mother Teresa directed: ‘Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. In all the ways you can. In all the places you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever you can,’” she added.

We are most honored and grateful to be honored in this way by the Community Foundation of South Alabama.

The Community Foundation of South Alabama serves Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia, Conecuh, Monroe, Clarke, Choctaw and Washington Counties.