Claudette has served as a volunteer mentor for 16 years to hundreds of youths who want to earn their Congressional Award Gold Medal, the highest honor Congress awards to youth in America. She is the founder of AMPLIFY 502, a partnership with Louisville’s Office of Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods, aimed at identifying youth ages 13-24 across Jefferson County who are overcoming disability, adversity and challenges while still serving their community. An attorney by profession, Claudette is committed to helping remove barriers for youth in need by connecting them to resources, organizations and individuals.

Well known as “Dr. Dunkenstein,” Darrell Griffith is a celebrated figure in basketball, with a successful college career in the NCAA followed by 11 NBA seasons with the Utah Jazz. Post-basketball, Darrell’s commitment to his hometown community has been unparalleled. His community efforts include extensive involvement with the West End School. He currently serves on their board., and in 2014, the school honored him by naming the Darrell Griffith Athletic Center after him. He also serves on the boards for Kentucky Colon Cancer Screening Program, AMPED, and is Trustee Chair at the historic Fifth Street Baptist Church. He is President and Founder of the Darrell Griffith Foundation, where he annually feeds more than 300 people from local shelters during the holiday season. He currently serves as an Assistant VP of Community Engagement at the University of Louisville.

An active member with the organizations, “Young People in Recovery” and “Morgan’s Mission,” Jessica is committed to fighting the war against addiction among youth. She speaks to advocacy groups and teaches a class at a treatment center, using her own life story of recovery to inspire and educate others. Jessica participates at the Recovery Rally in Frankfort and sponsors women in their 12-step recovery program. In addition, she leads an effort to clean up hazardous waste such as used syringes and needles in high-risk areas and works with the houseless populations.

A healthcare professional with Norton Healthcare, Dr. Cost has been an active volunteer with Metro United Way for many years, including as Board Chair. She has been described as one of their most influential volunteers. Dr. Cost has served on the Boards of Directors at Bridgehaven, The Center for Women and Families, The Family Place, as well as the Louisville Metro Board of Health where she was Board Chair for three years. Her efforts at the Board of Health were directed to dealing with health crises and supporting the Department of Health in providing every person an opportunity for complete health and well-being.

Peggy is active with St. Paul United Methodist Church’s Beyond the Walls Program. Each month, the church takes collected items of clothing to Fourth Avenue UMC to be distributed through their Open Door Ministry. You’ll find Peggy in the midst loading, unloading, sorting, and organizing racks for guests to come select needed items. She also co-chairs the church’s annual Thanksgiving boxes and Christmas stockings that serves 110 students/families. In addition, Peggy is a dedicated volunteer at Ronald McDonald House, assisting weekly with cleaning and preparing rooms for family members to check in.

Kimberly has been involved with the Center for Women and Families since 2006, leading support and educational groups for survivors who are fleeing domestic abuse and reside in the Center’s Emergency Crisis Shelter. She leads a weekly youth council at The Spot, and is a consultant with Goodwill Industries. Kimberly is co-chair of the national gun violence intervention organization No More Red Dots, and a strong advocate to help young people live productive lives. The CEO of Joshua Community Connectors, Kimberly has been a strong supporter of Louisville Metro Police Department since 2004, working to build relationships between the department and the community.

Kathy Fehder is co-founder and director for Blanket Louisville, picking up and delivering donated blankets around the clock to local shelters. Kathy speaks at schools, civic clubs, and corporate meetings to share the mission of Blanket Louisville, which has served more than 145,000 homeless and less fortunate. Kathy maintained a Meals on Wheels route for more than ten years and has led a weekly Bible study with women for more than twenty years. She also organized the largest, independent book drive for victims of Hurricane Katrina, sending more than 5,000 books after a ten-day drive, and has assisted natural disaster victims in eastern and western Kentucky.

Barbara is currently serving as Louisville’s Honorary Ambassador, Pure Edge board member, and as a Trustee for Kentucky College of Art + Design. Throughout the years she has served on more than 36 boards, commissions and task forces including Simmons College of Kentucky (HBCU), Muhammad Ali Center, Rotary Club of Louisville, Evolve502, and the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District Board. She most recently served a four-year term as the Louisville Metro District 4 Councilwoman during which time she sponsored legislation resulting in $1.2 billion in economic development creating more than 4,700 jobs. She co-created the partnership that produced the Kroger Mobile Market which visited 34 locations in neighborhoods where grocery stores did not exist. Her legacy will always be as the original sponsor and co-author of the Ordinance – Breonna’s Law – banning no-knock search warrants in Louisville, Kentucky which passed unanimously 26-0 in 2020.

Sterling has been involved with the Food Literacy Project (FLP) in the Shawnee People's Garden, tending gardens and using the experience to help teach children the importance of healthy food options for all neighborhoods. He served with the Church of the Promise and The Table Café, a non-profit social entrepreneurship that provides local fresh food to underserved individuals. He has also been a part of the West Louisville Tennis Club, engaging with West Louisville residents and youth who participated in free tennis clinics put on by the Club. During his junior and senior years, Sterling was the District 5 Representative for Metro Louisville’s Yes Youth Cabinet, representing the Portland neighborhood; he attended community events, anti-violence coalition meetings, and helped organize this year’s Louisville Youth Anti-Violence Week. A Governor’s Scholar, Sterling entered Eastern Kentucky University this fall with plans to study Social Work

For twelve years, Susan has been an integral part of the Bread of Life Food Pantry established at Grace and Glory Church in Goshen, Ky. She coordinates pick-ups from a dozen stores, farms, and restaurants that support this effort, and serves as a liaison with Dare to Care. Susan is present anytime the pantry is open, and in 2024, they have served an average of 619 individuals each month. Susan also coordinates the annual turkey and ham giveaways at Thanksgiving and Easter holidays, and proudly enjoys free time with her eight grandchildren.

Mary Jo Burke volunteers with Sister Visitor Center, an emergency assistance program through Catholic Charities of Louisville that provides food and financial support. Her activities include serving as a personal shopper with clients, giving hands on help with healthy choices and educating on points-budgeting. She manages the food inventory and client engagement data, and is present for “Truck Day” when 20,000 pounds of food arrives at the pantry to be unloaded. An active member at St. Albert the Great Catholic parish and Eucharistic Minister, she leads the Loaves and Fishes committee that collects food for 5 city pantries.

A senior at Assumption High School, Ainsley dedicates volunteer time at Minors Lane Elementary School. She’s the driving force behind the school’s outdoor pantry, ensuring it is well-stocked and neatly maintained. Through her efforts with RAK Louisville, she coordinates the assembly and distribution of more than 500 snack bags to support the elementary school students who need extra nourishment over the weekends. Ainsley also works as a Kindness Ambassador, mentoring these younger students and providing support and encouragement. Ainsley actively supports Operation Smile and is active with her school’s Beta Club and National Honor Society.

Known as a “voice for the voiceless,” Tara is an outspoken social justice advocate in matters of animal welfare, houselessness, anti-human trafficking, LGBTQIA, substance use disorder, mental health and more. Her livestreams promote networking and volunteerism, and she has built an effective coalition for search and rescue of lost and abandoned animals. Tara is a proud co-founder of @502LIVEStreamers, who provided round-the-clock coverage of the 2020 Breonna Taylor protests, and was viewed by millions worldwide.

Mary Jo Ellis serves as a Compassionate Companion at Hildegard House, Kentucky’s only comfort care home for individuals with no home or loved ones to provide end of life care. At Hildegard House, you’ll find Mary Jo giving personal care, helping with feeding, reading a book at a client’s bedside, or being a loving presence at a sacred time. Mary Jo has been doing this since 2016 and is one of the organization’s first Compassionate Companions. Mary Jo Ellis also makes Easter Baskets annually for more than fifty families at Community Catholic, ensuring they are personalized for each family.