The story below appears in today’s Charleston Gazette.

Galperin Jewelry and its operator, Bob Shay, will be among nearly a dozen businesses, individuals and organizations to be honored Thursday at the fourth annual We Love Our Community awards program.

The Quarrier Street icon, founded more than 100 years ago by Hyman Galperin, grandfather of Shay’s wife, will receive the Kanawha Heritage Award. The Charleston Area Alliance has presented previous heritage awards to Merrill Photo Supply (2010), The Peanut Shoppe (2009) and the West Virginia Power baseball club (2008).

The Alliance revived the community awards program three years ago as part of that group’s mission to “create the future by building a vibrant community and prosperous economy,” said Susie Salisbury, vice president of community development. The awards used to be given by the Charleston Renaissance Corp., one of three groups that merged to form the Alliance.

“It celebrates the vision of our people, places and culture,” Salisbury said.

Other awards will honor preservation, development and redevelopment, community celebration, arts, and volunteers.

Artist Rob Cleland is creating the individual awards, “which ‘piece by piece’ will create a visualization of the region’s integrity,” according to a news release.

The awards program will be held from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday on the fourth floor of the Masonic Temple building, 107 Hale St. The public is invited.