The Courage Project Celebrates Strength and Resilience of Americans with New Slate of Honorees 

The Courage Project is a collaborative initiative supported by philanthropic partners, including the Surdna Foundation. 

This October, The Courage Project announced a new slate of 20 award recipients whose courageous acts have strengthened and united their communities in times of need. From fearless young people striving for better education access to faith communities stepping up during crises, the individuals and organizations honored in this cohort found the courage to pursue creative solutions to address their community’s most pressing challenges.

“The Courage Project honors people who act when they see something wrong,” said DJ Bracken of Salt Lake City, UT. “Here’s what that taught me: you don’t need to be exceptional. I saw hungry kids and did something about it. Then I found other people who wanted to help. None of that required being special. It required not looking away. And that’s a choice any of us can make, in our own communities, right now.”

As the country approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, The Courage Project is honoring this new slate of awardees who embody the foundational values of our nation through acts of courage that strengthen their communities. The Courage Project distributes awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to organizations, and honors individuals who may then recommend “pay it forward” donations to U.S. based nonprofit organizations that align with their values.

“We are honored to have been chosen as a recipient of The Courage Project,” said Crystal Fox, president of the Mayfield Enrichment Center. “Our courage is inspired by our community; their strength and resilience empower our efforts. We must act with courage and compassion and work to build bridges to create strong, connected communities where everyone can thrive.”

“The Courage Project Award epitomizes the resilient Texas spirit, highlighting our community’s unwavering strength and unity in times of need,” said Jorge Medina, CEO of the Texas Diaper Bank. “The diapers and other supplies we provide symbolize the care and compassion we extend to ensure dignity during challenging circumstances. Disasters may strike, but they won’t break us. Together, we rise, rebuild, and restore dignity to every neighbor in need.This award is a testament to our collective resilience and commitment to supporting each other. By coming together, we demonstrate that no adversity can diminish our spirit. The Courage Project Award is not just an accolade; it is a celebration of our shared values and the power of community.”

This new slate of recipients includes:

Individual recipients receiving “pay it forward” awards:

  • The Kerrville Independent School District (ISD) Bus Drivers – Kerrville, TX: During the 2025 Fourth of July flooding along Texas’ Guadalupe River, fourteen Kerrville ISD bus drivers and coaches courageously drove their school buses into rising waters to rescue hundreds of trapped children and counselors.
  • Carolina Carchi – West Humboldt Park, IL: As a teenager at Roberto Clemente Community Academy in Chicago, Carolina Carchi showed extraordinary courage by stepping in to teach her classmates when their teachers left mid-year, ensuring her peers were not left behind and drawing attention to critical staffing shortages.
  • DJ Bracken – Salt Lake City, UT: DJ took action after learning that students across the state faced $2.8 million in school lunch debt, personally paying off debts at local schools and inspiring the creation of the Utah Lunch Debt Relief Foundation (UTLDR), which has since cleared lunch debt for 12 local schools and supported legislation guaranteeing free lunches for students in need.
  • Elizabeth (Liz) Quinonez – Danbury, CT: Through the creation of Cora’s Kids Family Child Care Network, Liz empowered women, many of whom are from immigrant communities, to build professional careers as licensed child care providers while ensuring that more children have access to the safe, high-quality care they deserve.
  • Keith Childress – Clinton, MD: As music director at Clinton Grace Christian School, Keith wrote “I Believe in Me” as an anthem to combat bullying and inspire confidence among students. By involving his students in the production of both the song and its music video, he empowered them to take ownership of its message.
  • Jeremy Dennis – Southampton, NY: Jeremy reclaimed his late grandmother’s home on the Shinnecock Reservation and transformed it into Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio. Starting with no outside support, he poured in his own time and resources to restore the space and create a hub for Indigenous and BIPOC artists.
  • Chief Dennis Coker – Cheswold, DE: Through nearly three decades of leadership, Chief Coker has worked to ensure the Lenape Indian Tribe of Delaware could finally be seen, counted, and recognized.
  • Ahmad Hilal Abid – Edmonds, WA: What started with $300 in Ahmad’s father’s garage has grown into The House of Wisdom, a nonprofit which serves hundreds of students and families each year with free tutoring, mentorship, and food support.
  • Pastor Mike Palmer of the Triadelphia United Methodist Church – Triadelphia, WV: When flash floods devastated Triadelphia, Pastor Mike and Triadelphia United Methodist Church turned a single donation tent into a lifeline for the entire community.

Organizations receiving awards:

  • La Maraña – San Juan, Puerto Rico: After Hurricane Fiona devastated Puerto Rico in 2022, La Maraña partnered with farmers and fishers to create the Food Sovereignty Fund, providing direct aid, volunteer brigades, and storytelling efforts that uplifted their work and experiences.
  • Texas Diaper Bank – San Angelo, TX: When catastrophic floods struck Texas Hill Country in July 2025, the Texas Diaper Bank mobilized its Resilient Texans Program to deliver diapers, hygiene products, and essential supplies to families across more than 20 counties.
  • Metropolitan Congregations United – St. Louis, MO: After a tornado tore through St. Louis in May 2025, Metropolitan Congregations United opened shelters, delivered meals and supplies, and helped residents replace critical documents—even as several of their own churches were damaged and a beloved leader was lost.
  • Mayfield Enrichment Center – Mayfield, KY: The Mayfield Enrichment Center became a lifeline after an EF5 tornado struck in 2021, providing disaster relief to low-income, elderly, BIPOC, and immigrant families already impacted by the pandemic.
  • CLEAN Carwash Worker Center – Los Angeles, CA: The CLEAN Carwash Worker Center provides vital support for marginalized communities and low-wage workers in Los Angeles, offering food, legal aid, and humanitarian assistance while ensuring families stay connected during times of crisis.
  • Interfaith Assistance Ministry – Hendersonville, NC: After Hurricane Helene struck Henderson County in September 2024, Interfaith Assistance Ministry’s staff quickly mobilized to provide food, clothing, financial aid, hygiene supplies, and even pet care to at-risk residents.
  • The Parish of the Annunciation – Minneapolis, MN: In the wake of the tragic shooting at the first school Mass at the Church of the Annunciation in Minneapolis, the parish and the wider community have united in compassion and resilience.
  • Operation Respond at Living Classrooms– Baltimore, MD: Operation Respond has helped Baltimore residents heal from trauma and break cycles of gun violence through personalized support, mentoring, and career development.
  • Bright Star Community Outreach – Chicago, IL: Bright Star Community Outreach, based in Chicago’s Greater Bronzeville neighborhood, tackles gun violence, trauma, and systemic inequity through holistic, community-driven programs.
  • Ayuda – Washington, DC: For more than 50 years, Ayuda has ensured access to justice for immigrants in Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland through a comprehensive model that combines legal representation, case management, therapy, and language services.
  • LaRae Wiley of the Salish School of Spokane – Spokane, WA: Over the course of fifteen years, Salish School of Spokane has grown from a basement classroom into a vibrant center where children and adults learn Salish language (spoken by Indigenous peoples in the Pacific Northwest) through daily immersion instruction in academic subjects, art, music, and culture.

Launched in May 2025 with an initial $5 million commitment, The Courage Project’s awards are announced throughout the year in alignment with moments of civic reflection and distributed to organizations and individuals who are exhibiting acts of courage and compassion in their communities by standing up for what they believe in, helping their neighbors, and building bridges across communities.

The Courage Project is a collaborative initiative supported by partners including CFLeads, the Freedom Together Foundation, The James Irvine Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Kenneth Rainin Foundation, the Marguerite Casey Foundation, the McKnight Foundation, Pisces Foundation, the Public Welfare Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, and the Surdna Foundation.

The Courage Project accepts public nominations on a rolling basis. To learn more about The Courage Project, learn more about the awardees, or nominate a courageous individual or organization, visit www.thecourageproject.org.