Stephen Elgin

Steve Elgin strongly believes in keeping his neighborhood safe and clean. He has spearheaded clean-up and recycling programs in Highland Park that have created a more beautiful community.

Kyle Pease

Kyle Pease’s mission is to help improve the lives of disabled youth through sport. Diagnosed with cerebral palsy at an early age, he never let illness slow him down. Now a motivational speaker, employee of Piedmont Hospital and an endurance athlete, Kyle shares his love of sports and its benefits through is foundation. He believes endurance sports are inclusive – everyone must work to cross the finish line – and encourages disabled youth in his community to take on the challenge and see what they are capable of.

Shabar Mohajer- Irvani

Shabar Mohajer-Irvani, chief petty officer in the U.S. Navy, believes in leading by example and giving back to his community. He volunteers as a judge for Junior ROTC drill team competitions and serves as a mentor to the young participants. He heads the Navy Ball Committee, which hosted more than 2,000 people and boosted morale, and spends time at the U.S., participating in several Honor Flights.

Rudoff Liverpool

First Class Petty Officer Rudy Liverpool not only serves his country in the U.S. Navy, he always has an eye on volunteer service. While at sea, he volunteers in almost every port he visits. He has painted schools in the Middle East, restored pet shelters in Hong Kong and cleaned up beaches in Guam. At home, he joins with groups like the Petty Officers Association to give back to his Illinois community.

Nancy Ballard

Nancy Ballard founded RTR4C because she saw a real need to reach out to those who are often marginalized because of cancer and who, because of their urgent health needs, must accept without complaint what is given to them. She saw those receiving chemotherapy subject to dismal, dark rooms rather than restful, tranquil spaces designed to help the healing process.

Working with local interior designers, Nancy has “rocked” 65 chemotherapy treatment rooms, making them warm, comforting and dignified. Through these rooms, RTR4C has impacted more than 50,000 patient visits per year and engaged more than 200 volunteers. Nancy’s work has also increased awareness of cancer patients’ personal needs among health care professionals, creating a better, more supportive care environment.

Bill Bryant

Bill Bryant, a member of the Milburn Masonic Lodge, leads the organization’s efforts to raise funds to support various social service agencies inside and outside the United States. He organized a shoe and book drive to help disadvantaged children in the Philippines, and a scrap metal drive that raised more than $6,000 to support local college scholarship programs.

Stella Bressler

Stella Bressler, 90, has volunteered at the University of Texas Southwestern Hospital for 43 years and has contributed 125,000 hours as a volunteer in the gift shop. Beyond that, she sees that any small requests or needs of patients or their families are met – whether its providing a meal or a book or a warm jacket. Her colleagues in the hospital call her a “silent saint,” always willing to lend a helping hand.

Stephen J Wampler

Stephen Wampler is determined to show kids with disabilities all over the world that they can achieve anything they want. He’s so committed that he became the first man in the world with cerebral palsy to climb El Capitan, the largest rock face in the world. Due to his disease, Stephen cannot walk and can only use his right arm, so achieved his goal by essentially doing 20,000 pull-ups and sleeping on the mountain for five nights.

He’s also committed enough to give up a career as an environmental engineer to raise money to send 250 kids with physical disabilities to summer camp each year at no cost to their familes. The campers have the opportunity to snorkel and SCUBA dive, cycle and kayak – the same outdoor experiences any kid would love.

Sejal Vallabh

Through TennisSERVES, Sejal Vallabh has brought a mainstream sport to an underserved community. Sejal uses adaptive technology to teach the sport. The foam tennis ball contains metal filaments that rattle upon impact or when hit. Thus, the students can "hear" where the ball is. At the same time, lines of string are taped on the gym floor so the visually impaired athletes can "feel" the court with their feet. The hardest part of learning the sport is timing. By the time the athlete gets to the ball, often times it is too late. That's why Sejal is working on a new ball that emits a constant sound so that the athlete can hear the ball well in advance and prepare for it much, much earlier.

Sejal discovered TennisSERVES while visiting Tokyo as a high school freshman. An avid player herself, she decided to bring the program home and now partners with schools for the blind and recruits nearby high school students to come and teach. Tennis experience is NOT necessary and Sejal trains all the volunteers via Skype and email to teach the sport. The organization now has chapters in Massachusetts, New York and California, with plans to expand its reach to other states, including Kentucky and Alabama.

Bonnie Spence

Public service announcements (PSAs) are a promising solution to one of the primary obstacles facing nonprofits: media access. With social media platforms readily available, it’s not just about getting heard anymore, but rather about a well-crafted message and a clear call to action. PSAs are still the best way for nonprofits to reach an audience.

Under Bonnie Spence’s leadership, more than 65 PSAs have been produced and distributed that help charities seeks support or t publicize their services to the community. Artistically crafted, these 30-second messages have offered hope, broadened perceptions and saved lives for thousands of individuals and families throughout southern California and beyond.

In addition, Bonnie’s leadership has helped women in the entertainment industry use their skills to contribute to the community, and find a meaningful way to acquire and exercise their talents. Her leadership has allowed the PSA Program to continue its public service efforts where the need is the greatest: under-funded charities that cannot afford to advertise their services.