Last night was nothing short of incredible at the 2025 PRISM Awards. Being there as a finalist for Social Impact Startup of the Year was truly humbling. Out of 100 nominations, the Global Volunteer Recognition Program was honored to be one of only nine overall finalists who made it to the stage.
While I didn’t walk away with the top award, I walked away with so much more. I didn’t get to give my acceptance speech, so here’s part of what I would have said because making it this far matters.
The Global Volunteer Recognition Program isn’t just a business. It’s my legacy. I created it to build a space where volunteers feel like they truly belong, and where their contributions are seen, valued, and celebrated. Less than two years ago, this was just an idea. Now, we’re standing on stages, connecting across the globe, and growing stronger every day. One thing is for certain, we are just getting started.
As I looked around the audience last night, I realized how deeply connected I am to this community. I recognized so many faces, not from business cards or meetings, but from volunteering side by side. We've been in leadership groups together, cleaned up parks, rebuilt trails, shared business chats at your favorite local spots, built homes, and even met in a cemetery while volunteering at an event. These moments are the heartbeat of what we do. Our work doesn’t stop and we wouldn’t want it to.
Congratulations to all the winners and heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported this mission. The best is yet to come.
