2023 Game On! Heroes
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Jilian Lennon
Jilian Lennon has been with Meals on Wheels for eight years. Today, she is the Compliance Director working to increase the amount of Grants received to be able to serve more Homebound clients, and has also created different programs to enhance the quality of life for clients.
January 2023
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Lauren Kobylarz
Lauren Kobylarz is the Executive Director of Students Run Philly Style, a nonprofit mentoring program that engages middle and high school youth in long distance running. They provide free gear, training, and event registrations to more than 1,000 youth and 350 volunteer mentors.
February 2023
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Mark Wells
Mark Wells is the volunteer race director for the Cayuga Heights Elementary School (CHES) 5K and Fun Run. Located in Ithaca, New York, the CHES PTA hosts the annual race as its signature fundraising and community building event. Their goal is to promote healthy living, community, and creativity.
March 2023
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Dan Litchfield
Dan Litchfield started Nature Made to provide outdoor youth programming in Indian Valley to promote resilience, instill hope, and create positive connections for youth impacted by natural disaster. He works to restore homes and families after these disasters strike.
April 2023
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Kelli Smith
Kelli Smith has a Master of Occupational Therapy and extensive knowledge in neurodevelopment treatments. Her focus is to help educate Occupational therapy students, children, and their families in unique ways to fulfill their greatest abilitiesand function in this world.
May 2023
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Kevin Cummings
Kevin Cummings has been with Bay State Games for 38 years and currently serves as Executive Director. Bay State Games produces athletic, education, and personal-development programs, and has distributed over $300,000 in college scholarships.
June 2023
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Faye Coates
Faye Coates is a Pastor at Northview Harvest Ministries and Executive Director of Restoring Hope Center, whose mission is to bring hope to families by providing basic necessities. Restoring Hope Center, an extension of Northview Harvest ministires, has provided millions of dollars in in-kind donations for over 23 years.
July 2023
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Thaddeus Miles
Thaddeus Miles, recognized as one of Boston's Most Influential Men of Color in 2023, is the founder of HoodFit, a cross-collaborative movement to amplify the positive attributes in community health and wellness. HoodFit is an extension of his commitment to empowering people and strengthening youth voices.
August 2023
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Ricky Aiken
Ricky Aiken, celebrated leader, speaker, and Hope Dealer, is the Founder and Executive Director of Inner City Innovators. Their mission is to provide mentoring and programming dedicated to empowering and inspiring inner-city youth to embody the change they want to see in their communities.
September 2023
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Susan Brighton
Susan Brighton is a nurse practitioner in the Dartmouth Cancer Center in New Hampshire and is also a competitive rower. She's combined her passions by serving as a volunteer coach for CReW, Cancer Recovery Through RoWing, a free rowing program open to those living with cancer.
October 2023
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Kaitlyn Mazzilli
Kaitlyn Mazzilli is a dance movement therapist for South Shore Conservatory's Singing with Parkinson's choir, helping individuals with neurological impairments improve breathing, balance, and self-esteem. She also teaches Imagine ARTS in the Brockton Public Schools, using movement and music to teach literacy skills to pre-k students.
November 2023
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December 2023
2022 Game On! Heroes
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Stacy McDaniel
Stacy McDaniel founded Cleats for Kids, a nonprofit that equips and empowers kids to live healthier lifestyles and learn life lessons through sports by providing sports shoes and safe equipment free of charge to kids in need.
January 2022
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Pat DeMonte
Pat DeMonte started Cycling Without Age Seneca County - volunteers who assist elderly citizens and to enjoy life by providing a free bike ride. The goal is to eliminate loneliness and to open the doors of nursing homes to provide joy.
February 2022
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Lauren Mitchell
Lauren Mitchell founded GiGi’s Playhouse, a fitness program for those with Down Syndrome. As the GiGiFIT coach, Lauren focuses on foundational movements, balance, strength, and teamwork!
March 2022
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Maly Romero
Maly Romero is the founder of Kona Playgrounds Foundation. KPF’s mission is to provide financial relief to parks in distressed conditions. They believe that all children deserve access to safe and fun playgrounds.
April 2022
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Dustin Stallberg
Dustin Stallberg is a wheelchair racer who competes alongside his mother, a runner. Together they practiced in their community on wheelchair accessible roads and tracks. In 2020, they finished their first marathon.
May 2022
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Meredith McClurg
Meredith McClurg is the founder of Rivers & Roads, a community-driven, agricultural program that aims to teach local teens the importance of empathy and giving back. In 2020, she launched a teen center in Fryeburg, ME.
June 2022
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Alison Rootberg
Alison Rootberg founded Wellness4Every1 and works with artists and athletes to lead weekly classes encouraging students and staff to stay active, express themselves, build community, and create inspiration.
July 2022
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Eddie Holmes
Eddie Holmes is a retired teacher, coach, principal and now the president of the Gulf Coast Bicycle Club which promotes cycling of all types to all levels of riders and hosts events to promote health and fitness.
August 2022
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Sam Balto
Sam Balto is a Physical Education teacher and Safe Routes to School Champion in Portland, Oregon. He's an "Oregon Walks Weston Award Winner" for his innovative programs to get kids walking and on bikes riding to school.
September 2022
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Diane Murphy
Diane Murphy founded Excellent Adventure, a ladies-only adventure hiking travel group. She also established the Boulder Open Space Conservancy to connect the community and protect these lands for all to enjoy.
October 2022
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Lisa Goldman
Lisa Goldman manages Sports 4 the Kids (S4TK), a nonprofit with a mission to remove financial barriers and “give every kid a chance to play” sports through scholarship funding and equipment donations.
November 2022
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