Celebrate volunteers. Share their stories. Support their impact.
The 2027 Community Champion Spotlight is a volunteer recognition and fundraising initiative created by the Global Volunteer Recognition Program™ to celebrate people making a meaningful difference through service, leadership, advocacy, and community involvement.
Nominate an outstanding volunteer, discover inspiring community champions, share their stories, and support participating nominees through Community Support Votes.
Nominations, nominee spotlights, and Community Support Voting are available now.
What Is the Community Champion Spotlight?
The Community Champion Spotlight is a public volunteer recognition opportunity for volunteers, students, educators, nonprofit supporters, community leaders, caregivers, advocates, and other changemakers whose service deserves to be seen and celebrated.
Nominees do not need to be members of the Global Volunteer Recognition Program. Nominations are free, self-nominations are welcome, and volunteers from communities around the world may participate.
Every nominee receives an online spotlight sharing their volunteer story and community impact. All 2027 nominees will also be celebrated online and in person during the 2027 Global Volunteer Recognition Program Awards Ceremony.
How the 2027 Community Champion Spotlight Works
- Nominate a volunteer: Use the nomination form to recognize someone making a difference. Nominations are free and self-nominations are accepted.
- Share their story: Approved nominee biographies are published on this page so visitors can learn about their service, leadership, and community impact.
- Support a nominee: Friends, family members, coworkers, organizations, and community supporters may purchase Community Support Votes for participating nominees.
- Celebrate every nominee: All nominees will receive online recognition and be celebrated during the 2027 awards ceremony, regardless of their vote total.
Community Support Voting Is Open
Community Support Voting is available now as part of the program’s soft launch. Nominees may begin sharing their spotlight and inviting their communities to participate if they choose.
Each $5 Community Support Vote counts as one vote for the selected nominee. Supporters may purchase more than one vote, and votes received during the soft launch will count toward the final results.
Community Support Voting is optional. A nominee does not need to participate in voting to remain an official 2027 Community Champion Spotlight Nominee or receive nominee recognition.
The final voting deadline, complete program rules, and 2027 awards ceremony details will be announced as plans are finalized.
Vote for or Support a 2027 Community Champion Spotlight Nominee
Two 2027 Community Champion Awards
Two special Community Champion Spotlight recipients will be selected for 2027. These awards recognize both community support and the nominee’s overall volunteer impact.
Community Choice Award
The Community Choice Award will recognize the participating nominee who receives the highest number of verified Community Support Votes.
This award reflects the encouragement and support a volunteer receives from friends, family members, coworkers, organizations, and members of their community.
2027 Community Champion of the Year
The 2027 Community Champion of the Year will be selected by the Global Volunteer Recognition Program Board.
The Board will consider factors such as the nominee’s volunteer service, leadership, dedication, community impact, commitment to helping others, and overall story. Community Support Vote totals will not determine the Board’s selection.
Every nominee remains an important part of the Community Champion Spotlight. The two awards provide additional recognition, but the program is designed to celebrate every volunteer whose story is featured.
Meet the 2027 Community Champion Spotlight Nominees
Meet the volunteers, leaders, advocates, educators, students, caregivers, and changemakers nominated for the 2027 Community Champion Spotlight.
Each nominee is making a meaningful difference through volunteer service, leadership, advocacy, or community involvement. Select a nominee below to read their story, learn about their impact, and support their participation through Community Support Votes.
Every approved nominee will be celebrated online and during the 2027 Global Volunteer Recognition Program Awards Ceremony, regardless of the number of votes received.
Elizabeth Arebalo
I am a current Content Writer Volunteer at the Czech Center Museum Houston, but I have had the pleasure of assisting and supporting the museum in different areas. I have been able to assist with signature events and public programming with greeting and check-in duties. I always ensure to display a welcoming demeanor to each and every guest at the museum. Respectful, responds to instructions, and presenting with a professional manner are just some of the characteristics that I display and use throughout my time volunteering. I have also assisted with cataloging and library organization, recording and updating books within the museum's growing collection. I have handled each of these tasks with accuracy and care, helping improve access to our archival materials and supporting the museum’s educational mission. I am dependable in preparing materials, assisting staff, and helping ensure events run smoothly. I can adapt quickly to changing needs and am always willing to take initiative. I deserve recognition for my volunteer work as I always ensure to create an environment that is welcoming to everyone. From writing articles on Czech history and public figures to event support to library cataloging, I always ensure that everything that I do will deliver the best possible results.
Purchase Community Support Votes for Elizabeth Arebalo
Geethapriya Kumaraguru
Geethapriya Kumaraguru is a Bothell, WA resident who has spent the past several months single-handedly building a wide-ranging community advocacy and service record — with no organization, staff, or funding behind her, alongside raising a young child and conducting her own job search. Her signature effort is a transit equity campaign for the Route 121 corridor: she personally collected 142 verified petition sign-ons across 138 households (representing roughly 468 family members) and secured 23 business and institutional endorsement letters, including from a mosque, a temple congregation, a preschool, and a senior living community. She engaged in sustained written correspondence with Community Transit's Chief Planning Officer, Snohomish County's Road Safety Program (documenting 11 unsafe pedestrian locations), a County Councilmember, the office of U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene, the Puget Sound Regional Council, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and the Washington State Transit Association — surfacing gaps in late-night transit access for worshippers, denied paratransit appeals for seniors, and unreachable USDA summer meal sites for children. Her advocacy extends into her own neighborhood as well: she documented and pursued a recurring fire-lane safety hazard with her HOA, and submitted an accessibility improvement request to Costco for young children and caregivers. Beyond advocacy, she volunteers weekly as a Talk Time Facilitator at Shoreline Library, personally organized seven community outings for roughly 290 participants (including two free events), and has served for multiple years as a Community Judge for a homeschool speech and debate tournament and as a Judge for a university international case competition. She mentors through the UW Foster School of Business program and previously logged 230 hours volunteering with the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library. Her personal reflection on civic responsibility was recently published in a community newsletter. She deserves recognition because she represents what one committed individual, working entirely alone, can accomplish through persistence, documentation, and genuine care for neighbors she has never met.
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Ashley D Hendricks
Ashley is deeply committed to serving her community through mental health advocacy, suicide prevention, civil rights, mentorship, and community outreach. As a licensed professional counselor and trauma-informed mental health advocate, she uses her professional expertise and lived experience to create safe spaces where individuals, particularly those from marginalized communities, can access support and resources.
Ashley volunteers with the NAACP, supporting efforts focused on equality, justice, advocacy, and community empowerment. She also volunteers with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) as a suicide attempt survivor and advocate. Through this work, she uses her lived experience to raise awareness, challenge the stigma surrounding suicide and mental health, and promote hope, healing, and prevention.
As the founder of United We Heal Inc., Ashley volunteers her time to provide mental health education, community resources, and opportunities for individuals and families to heal through community. Her service also includes organizing toy drives, back-to-school drives, youth mental health workshops, and other community outreach initiatives.
Through Modified Chicks Inc., Ashley volunteers to elevate, empower, and encourage women in motorsports by creating opportunities for women and girls to build confidence, leadership skills, and community.
Ashley believes true service means using her voice, experiences, and skills to create meaningful change. Her commitment to advocacy and volunteerism reflects her passion for uplifting others and building healthier, safer, and more inclusive communities.
Purchase Community Support Votes for Ashley D Hendricks
Diyah Kamesh
Through Diyah’s involvement in healthcare, as a dedicated young volunteer, she has turned compassion into action, touching lives and inspiring others to serve their community. At a young age, she has already demonstrated extraordinary commitment to giving back, using her passion for healthcare to support, encourage, and uplift those in their community. As a Junior Volunteer at Novant Health, she has used her empathy and compassion to help build a supportive and welcoming environment for patients during their stressful hospital visits by acting as more than just a volunteer, but as a friend towards them. She contributed to this supportive environment by interacting with patients, stocking medical supplies, distributing beverages and books, and maintaining a cordial relationship with each patient to ensure their visit is stress-free and satisfactory. Diyah is currently an officer of her regional American Red Cross Club where she leads members, spreads awareness of health, disaster preparedness, and organizes service projects aligned with the American Red Cross mission. She is organizing a Totes for Hope drive to collect donations for underserved communities who are in need of basic health supplies. Through this initiative, she hopes to raise awareness of struggling populations in her area and provide opportunities for her members to become involved. In the future, Diyah hopes to expand The Health Bridge, a non-profit organization based on increasing North Carolina’s health literacy levels through educational programs, clinics, and accessible resources for people of all ages. Given Diyah’s experience and unique understanding of her community through healthcare and empathy, she displays the potential for excellence in service, leadership, dedication, community impact, and commitment to helping others. Volunteering has given her the opportunity to find a belonging in her community and a way to give back to the same community that has shaped who she is today.
Purchase Community Support Votes for Diyah Kamesh
Patricia Clinton
I am a DSP professional; I take care of people, and I also support my community by donating to schools, feeding the homeless every week, donating clothes, and speaking to people with mental health issues.
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Dana Taylor
Dana Taylor of West Virginia became the advocate she once needed. Diagnosed with lupus in 2020 after nearly two decades of misdiagnosis, she recognized her state’s need for understanding and support. She shares the realities of an often-invisible illness on social media, hoping to comfort others. As West Virginia’s first National Ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America, a support group facilitator, LRAN member, and patient advocate, she combines lived experience with clinical mental health training to serve locally, nationally, and globally. She launched West Virginia’s first in-person Walk to End Lupus Now; her team, “Just a Little Lupie,” raised approximately $4,000 in 2025. She promotes lupus education and helps secure awareness proclamations. The first advocate to represent West Virginia at the Lupus Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C., she met with her state’s congressional delegation in 2025 and returned in 2026 to advocate for lupus research funding. Her 850 volunteer hours in 2025 earned Platinum recognition through the Global Volunteer Recognition Program. Her service inspired GVRP’s Lupus Volunteer Achievement Badge, and she designed a Lupus Awareness Pinback Button. Dana is reluctant to celebrate her accomplishments; helping others feels natural, and recognition never motivates her. On March 21, 2025, a lupus-related seizure while driving with her twin daughters caused a devastating crash, preventing her from competing in Captivating Pageants that year. As Mrs. West Virginia Captivating 2026 during the pageant’s 15th anniversary, she crossed the stage in heels for the first time since relearning to walk. She earned a Top 5 spot for National Captivating Ambassador Queen and received platform awards, but her greatest victory was her comeback—a milestone dedicated to every lupus warrior still fighting. Through faith, grace, and grit, Dana helps others feel less alone. Her message captures her commitment to West Virginia: “Small state. Loud voice.”
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Rylan Organek
Rylan is a high school junior in New York City who is passionate about helping others feel included, valued, and connected.
Since ninth grade, she has volunteered with Friendship Circle, building lasting friendships with children with special needs. After joining its Student Board last year, she moved into an executive committee role for 2026–27, helping shape the year’s goals, fundraising, and programming. Through outreach to family, friends, and her community, she raised more than $12,000 across the organization’s last two walks and ranked among its top five fundraisers both years. This year, Friendship Circle recognized her with its Outstanding Achievement Award.
Rylan also volunteers with DOROT, connecting with older adults through visits, conversation, and shared activities, including virtual brain games. She joined DOROT’s Teen Committee this fall, expanding her involvement in its intergenerational community.
A varsity soccer player since eighth grade, Rylan was named team captain as a junior. She especially enjoys mentoring younger players, helping them develop their skills and feel confident as part of the team. In August, she spent two weeks as a counselor-in-training at a youth sports camp, coaching soccer for children ages 4–6 and 12–15.
Rylan founded Small Wins, Big Changes @smallwinsnyc, an Instagram initiative exploring how small acts of kindness can strengthen connections. Alongside the account, she is writing a research paper about the importance of connection and belonging for people who may experience social isolation. In September, she was selected from a pool of more than 160 applicants to serve as an Emmie Effect Ambassador, supporting a youth kindness movement.
Across her volunteering, leadership, and athletics, Rylan brings a consistent purpose: building relationships and helping others feel that they belong.
Dr. Everett Gilliam
For more than three decades, Dr. Gilliam has transformed military leadership and fraternal values into measurable humanitarian impact. As Director and President of The Pillars of Light United Benevolent Society, he leads with compassion, accountability, and a commitment to service. Through his “Lighting the Way: Community Uplift Through Fraternal Service” initiative, Dr. Gilliam has established measurable goals to serve 250 individuals and families, distribute 1,000 food and essential-supply packages, provided 5 educational scholarships and mentorship to 25 youth, engage 35 active volunteers contributing more than 2,000 service hours, and establish partnerships with at least 6 community organizations and schools during the 12-month initiative. His broader record is equally extraordinary. As reported by the organization, Dr. Gilliam has mobilized more than $2 million in charitable resources, coordinated 200+ volunteers, supported more than 100,000 children annually, and helped distribute over 500,000 toys and essential items to underserved families. His community partnerships span organizations such as the Prince Hall Masons, Kumuhonua Transitional Living Center, My Sister's Place Women's Center, Habitat for Humanity, ACTS Hunger Prevention Center, American Red Cross, United Way, The Salvation Army, and American Cancer Society. Dr. Gilliam's greatest impact is his ability to turn compassion into organized, measurable action. His life exemplifies service before self, making him exceptionally deserving of the Community Champion Spotlight.
Purchase Community Support Votes for Dr. Everett Gilliam
What Do Community Support Votes Fund?
Funds raised through Community Support Votes help support the 2027 awards ceremony, volunteer recognition activities, nominee storytelling, event expenses, outreach, and the Global Volunteer Recognition Program’s mission of celebrating volunteers around the world.
Purchasing Community Support Votes does not include event admission, membership, merchandise, or an award package. Information about tickets and participation in the 2027 awards ceremony will be provided after the event details are finalized.
Who Can Be Nominated?
A Community Champion may be anyone who gives their time, skills, leadership, or support to help others or strengthen a community. Nominees may include:
- Local and global volunteers
- Student and youth volunteers
- Educators and mentors
- Nonprofit volunteers and community partners
- Caregivers and advocates
- Pageant titleholders and service leaders
- Volunteer coordinators and project organizers
- People completing informal or independent acts of service
- Individuals making a quiet but meaningful difference
Membership in the Global Volunteer Recognition Program is not required. Nominations are free and open to the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does voting begin for the 2027 Community Champion Spotlight?
Community Support Voting is open now.
Does a nominee have to participate in voting?
No. Community Support Voting is optional. All approved nominees will receive an online spotlight and 2027 recognition whether or not they promote voting.
How much does a Community Support Vote cost?
Each Community Support Vote costs $5 and counts as one vote for the selected participating nominee. Supporters may purchase multiple votes.
How will the Community Choice Award be selected?
The Community Choice Award will recognize the participating nominee who receives the highest number of verified Community Support Votes before the announced voting deadline.
How will the Community Champion of the Year be selected?
The Global Volunteer Recognition Program Board will select the Community Champion of the Year after reviewing the nominees’ volunteer service, leadership, dedication, impact, and stories.
Will all nominees be recognized?
Yes. All approved 2027 Community Champion Spotlight nominees will be celebrated online and in person during the 2027 Global Volunteer Recognition Program Awards Ceremony.
Is there a fee to nominate someone?
No. Community Champion Spotlight nominations are free, and self-nominations are welcome.
Nominate or Support a Community Champion
Know a volunteer, student, community leader, educator, caregiver, advocate, or changemaker whose impact deserves recognition? Use the nomination form below to share their story.
Ready to support a participating nominee? Purchase Community Support Votes here.
You can also explore additional volunteer awards and recognition opportunities available through the Global Volunteer Recognition Program.