The motto of his organization, People of Purpose & Associates, is this: “Stop pointing a finger and lend a hand.”

Since his release from the Federal Correction Institution at Sheridan in 1997, Larry Collins has done a pretty good of practicing what he preaches.

On Thursday, the Northeast Portland resident was among 30 citizens and organizations honored at City Hall with Mayor Tom Potter’s “Spirit of Portland” awards for 2008.

Collins, 50, fought back tears as Potter told the crowd, “This man is an exceptional Portlander.”

Not bad for an ex-drug dealer who spent 70 months incarcerated at Sheridan for selling crack cocaine.

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