ImageFIRST Announces 2026 Contest Winners

The program helps healthcare service providers strengthen brand loyalty through public-voted professional recognition.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Philanthropy

A modern, sterile, and well-lit hospital treatment room with white surfaces and professional medical architecture. — ImageFIRST has awarded $16,500 to eight healthcare professionals as part of its 6th annual HeroesFIRST contest, an initiative designed to strengthen brand loyalty. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe public recognition programs for healthcare workers positively impact local patient care?

ImageFIRST has announced the winners of its 6th annual HeroesFIRST contest, awarding a total of $16,500 to eight healthcare professionals. The program, which relies on public voting to identify winners from a pool of 20 finalists, recognizes individuals for their contributions to patient care.

Why it matters

Business operators often utilize public-facing recognition programs to bolster brand loyalty and engagement within their specific service communities. By leveraging customer-led nominations and voting, companies like ImageFIRST can amplify their mission while strengthening ties to the professional networks they serve.

The 6th annual HeroesFIRST contest saw over 600 nominations submitted for consideration. The total $16,500 prize pool is distributed among eight winners selected by the public from 20 finalists, a process aimed at deepening engagement within the healthcare service market.

The players

ImageFIRST

A healthcare laundry services provider that manages linen and garment programs for medical facilities.

Calera Capital

A private equity firm that acquired ImageFIRST in 2018 to support its operational expansion.

The details

ImageFIRST Service Team members collect nominations from the field, which are then vetted down to 20 finalists for public consideration. Winners, who represent various healthcare roles, are granted the option to receive their cash prizes personally or donate the funds to a charity of their choice. The initiative integrates directly into the company’s broader service model, which maintains a 97% customer retention rate by emphasizing relationship-based service in the healthcare laundry sector.

ImageFIRST was founded in 1967.
Calera Capital acquired ImageFIRST in 2018.
The 2026 contest winners were announced on October 26, 2026.

Market Landscape

The initiative follows common industry patterns for corporate social responsibility by allowing participants to direct funds to tax-exempt entities. It reflects a broader trend of service-oriented firms using customer-nominated recognition to build brand advocacy.

Operators considering similar contests should prepare for the administrative overhead of managing public nominations and verifying finalist eligibility. Clearly defined payout structures, including tax considerations for cash prizes, should be established in coordination with accounting counsel prior to launch.

The takeaway

Recognition programs create a measurable feedback loop that can improve brand sentiment among professional clients. Operators looking to implement similar initiatives should standardize the nomination criteria and ensure legal compliance regarding the tax treatment of prize distributions.