WILMINGTON, N.C. – Local humanitarian Frankie Roberts will receive his angel wings Dec. 21 when he is honored at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s tenth annual screening of It’s A Wonderful Life.

Roberts is the co-founder and executive director of Leading Into New Communities, Inc. (LINC), a nonprofit agency that provides shelter and services for men and women returning from prison. The recipient of the 2007 Clarence Award, sponsored by the UNC Wilmington Department of Film Studies and named for the angel-in-training who guides Jimmy Stewart's character in the classic Frank Capra film, Roberts will be honored for his work as an “unsung hero.”

“Frankie relentlessly works at networking resources for the disenfranchised members of our community. By helping ex-offenders find their way and become productive citizens, he is in essence helping to create safer and healthier communities for us all,” said Tracey Ray, who nominated Roberts for the award.

As a Clarence Award recipient, Roberts will receive a pair of glass angel wings with his name and a quote from the film inscribed on them. The award will be presented by Lou Buttino, film studies department chair.

Roberts has served as chairman of the New Hanover County Department of Social Services Board of Commissioners and as a member of the Juvenile Crime Prevention Council Advisory Board, the Cancer Community Outreach Board and many other community organizations.

Roberts is available for interview by request.

Media contacts:

Lou Buttino, chair of the Department of Film Studies, buttinol@uncw.edu or 910.962.7141

Caroline Cropp, UNCW Marketing and Communications, croppc@uncw.edu or 910.962.7109