Roy Griggs is a philanthropic leader who spearheads fundraising efforts for northwest Louisiana’s first Ronald McDonald House, now slated to open in August of 2025. Roy has secured over $9.2 million in donations in just over two years. He and his wife are also major donors to the cause, personally donating $1 million. When the house opens, it will provide much-needed respite for families with a critically ill child in any Shreveport hospital. In addition to his efforts with the Ronald McDonald House, Roy supports youth leadership, education, and hospital initiatives.

Danny Acree is the co-founder of Two Penny Missions along with his son, Austin. Two Penny Missions provides short-term transitional housing, food, and employment support to homeless individuals in West Monroe. His organization operates two shelter sites for women and children and offers free, safe housing for those in crisis, funded entirely by donations and community support. Danny and the rest of the team at Two Penny Missions go above and beyond to provide compassion, privacy and security to individuals in need.

Challie Mercer founded The Broom Tree to support children with special needs and their families, providing grants, stipends, summer camps, and parent resources. She will soon open Jake’s Place, the first all-inclusive indoor play facility in Central Louisiana, offering a safe, enriching, and inclusive space for children with special needs and their families. Jake’s Place will also offer an option for private, stress-free birthday parties and gatherings, field trip options for local Special Education classes, and weekly mommy and me play times. It will also provide employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

Jennifer Richardson is the founder of a volunteer-driven beautification effort. Through Keep Tiger Town Beautiful, Jennifer leads a movement to remove tens of thousands of bags of litter and debris from Baton Rouge streets each year. Her group, now a nonprofit, addresses drainage issues, cleans up abandoned properties, and advocates for cleaner, safer communities. Keep Tiger Town Beautiful hosts regular cleanups and welcomes all to join in the effort. The group also provides resources for those who wish to organize their own cleanup, empowering others to carry on the work of cleaning up Baton Rouge.

Arita Bohannan led the creation of an all-inclusive playground in Kenner that accommodates children with disabilities and sensory needs, raising over $500,000 and overcoming bureaucratic hurdles to complete the project. Anthony’s Missing Pieces Playground, named after Arita’s nephew, provides a safe, welcoming space for all children to play together. Now, three years later, Arita just cut the ribbon on a new addition to the playground. She is working to open more inclusive parks in the future to welcome even more children to play.

Ado Soul is a nationally touring musician who works through his nonprofit, ASM Cares, to provide services and support to his community. He has organized hot meal deliveries and provided groceries to more than 800 families. Ado Soul founded Trade Day, a program connecting youth with local businesses to explore trades and career paths. In addition to this charitable work, Ado also combines his professional talent and community building skills to teach African American history through music in local schools.

Ayushi Purohit is a future healthcare leader who has volunteered at medical clinics, led healthcare student programs, and raised funds for abused children through her nonprofit organization, Sewn With Love. Ayushi sells hand-sewn doll dresses at the farmers’ market to raise funds for Children’s Advocacy Center: Hope House, an organization serving St. Tammany and Washington parish children who have been victims of abuse. She donates teddy bears and snacks, as well as her earnings from her tutoring job.

Breea is a champion of maternal health, providing volunteer doula services at no cost and advocating for equitable healthcare access in Louisiana. As an AmeriCorps member serving with Serve Louisiana through Mary’s Hands Network, Breea is an educator working on health fairs, research, and awareness campaigns. She is making a significant impact in improving maternal care for women in the state, especially those in marginalized communities who are three to four times more likely to face challenges during pregnancy and childbirth.

Mighty Moms is a volunteer-led nonprofit group fighting food insecurity in Livingston Parish schools. They provide weekend meals and snacks directly to children in local schools through programs like the Full Tummy Project and Feeding Young Minds, providing thousands of meals to children in 40 schools. Mighty Moms also teaches children how to prepare easy, healthy meals on a budget. They have expanded into the City of Central to serve even more families in need.