Nonprofit leaders to be honored

Nonprofit
Written By Staff

Photo courtesy of Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Grand Rapids

The Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Grand Rapids (YNPN.GR) will host its annual Leadership and Recognition Awards on Thursday, Oct. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Goei Center, 818 Butterworth St SW in Grand Rapids. The event will celebrate outstanding nonprofit leaders making an impact across the greater Grand Rapids community.

Themed “Bridges of Impact,” this year’s event will highlight how finalists and award winners are connecting organizations, individuals and ideas to strengthen and unify the community.

“YNPN.GR connects nonprofit professionals with each other to celebrate and learn, together. The Leadership & Recognition Awards proudly showcases the support that exists in community for the good work happening all over. We can work together, we all have the same goal. Not competition – collaboration,” said Brooke Aernouts, an Executive Board Co-Chair, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Grand Rapids.

Open to the public, the event includes dinner provided by Donkey Taqueria, a themed specialty cocktail, and networking opportunities with approximately 200 local nonprofit professionals.

Hidden Treasure Finalists

  • Kent County Michigan State University Extension (winner)

  • Puerto Rican Cultural Committee of West Michigan

  • Korean Connection

Good-to-Great Finalists

  • Renida Clark – West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology (winner)

  • Megan Ouding – Paws With A Cause

  • Brittany Schultz – Women’s Resource Center

Advocate Finalists

  • Jose Rodriguez – Kent School Services Network (winner)

  • Ja’Keem Badger – Access of West Michigan

  • Emilio Zamarripa – Steepletown

Innovator Finalists

  • Karla Velis Brito – SpringGR

  • Jamiel Robinson – Grand Rapids Area Black Businesses

  • Kyle Szucs – Kids’ Food Basket / MSU College of Human Medicine (winner)

Excellence & Achievement Finalists

  • Kelsey Perdue – City Commissioner / Health Equity Leader (winner)

  • Ellen Zwarensteyn – Michigan Center for Civic Education

  • Bex Takacs-Britz – American Red Cross

Young Nonprofit Professional of the Year Finalists

  • Rocio Rodriguez – Roosevelt Park Neighborhood Association (winner)

  • Stephanie Deible – Michigan Nonprofit Association

  • Markesha Witherspoon – The M.O.M.S. Club of Grand Rapids

Rising Star Finalists

  • Cultivating Futures (winner)

  • Upcycle Bikes

  • Pleasant Peninsula Media Network

Unsung Hero Finalists

  • Erika VanDyke – Urban Core Collective

  • Dee Dee Taylor – Taylor Made Re-Entry

  • Atabia Williams – Baxter Community Center (winner)

For more information, visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-leadership-awards-bridges-of-impact.

West Michigan Newspop Digital Partners

Staff
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