Vision 2000 will hold its annual awards breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday in the Harrison Room of Southeast Missouri Hospital.

Kim McDowell, who heads up community service projects for the Southeast Missourian, will be the featured speaker.

This year's "Award of Distinction" recipients are the Downtown Merchants Association, Harrig Development Group, Martha Bender, Terri Hirsch, Lauchette Low, Harry Sanders and Al Stoverink.

Melvin Gateley, a Cape Girardeau city councilman and charter member of Vision 2000, said the awards recognize organizations and individuals who have contributed to the community's betterment.

Hirsch is involved in the literacy program at the Cape Girardeau Area Vocational-Technical School. Bender, Low and Stoverink have served on Vision 2000's Community Relations Council.

Sanders, a Cape Girardeau area businessman, aided the group in moving one of the city welcome signs to a more visible spot near Interstate 55.

The Downtown Merchants Association has been involved in a number of downtown improvements, while the Harrig Development Group is a new organization that was formed to help redevelop an area on the city's southeast side.

Gateley said certificates of merit will be presented to broadcasters Anne Doyle and Carol Keeler, Southeast Missouri State University President Kala Stroup, and Southeast Missouri Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center.

Doyle, Keeler and Stroup have assisted with the smoke-free class of 2000. The class involves students who will graduate from high school in the year 2000.

St. Francis is being honored for its sponsorship of the smoke-free program. Southeast Missouri Hospital is being honored for annually hosting the awards breakfast, Gateley said.

Gateley said he enjoys working with Vision 2000. "I am going to stay with it because I love this program and I love Cape," he said.