United Way of Central Indiana announces finalists for 2025 ELEVATE awards
The finalists for the 2025 ELEVATE awards are advocating for their neighborhoods, helping families find stability and mentoring underserved youth.
They champion the rights of immigrants, empower students of diverse backgrounds, amplify under-represented voices, and ensure their communities have access to vital resources and information.
Their work supports families in need of healthy food and children in need of medical care.
On Thursday, United Way of Central Indiana named 25 finalists for the ELEVATE awards, an annual event that recognizes the region’s top young philanthropists, advocates and volunteers ages 21 to 40. Now in their seventh year, the awards also serve as a fundraiser for United Way’s basic needs initiatives.
Winners will be announced at the event, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at THE LUME, inside the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. This year’s ELEVATE, “Timeless Inspiration,” draws its theme from THE LUME’s Salvador Dalí exhibition, Dalí Alive. ELEVATE is sponsored by Old National Bank.
Tickets starting at $40 can be purchased at uwci.org/elevate.
An external committee composed of volunteers from the community selected the finalists from a pool of nearly 100 nominees. The 2025 finalists are:
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advocate of the Year:
Wendy Catalan Ruano, Starfish Initiative
Jessi Crouse, Indiana University Health
Samantha Douglas, Christ Up
Leah Johnson, Loudmouth Books
Morgan Johnson Schroeder, University of Indianapolis, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University Indianapolis
Emerging Leaders of the Year:
Casey Crouse, GadellNet Consulting Services
Peter Hanscom, Free Press Indiana
Mai Khin, Dr. Bawi M Lian, Lian Sang, Thla Tial, Burmese American Community Institute (BACI)
Samantha Miller, Gene B. Glick Company
Derion Searcey, RJL Solutions
Nonprofit Employee of the Year, presented by Delta Faucet Company:
Alyssa Brelage, Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter
David Carpenter, Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana
Sarah Daniel, Unconditional
McKenna Houston, STARTedUP Foundation
Michelle Turchan, Riley Children's Foundation
Volunteer of the Year, presented by The National Bank of Indianapolis:
Stephanie Marshall, Brendon Park Civic Association
Logan Metzger, Adjutant Solutions Group
Josie Pipkin, Indiana University
Matt Waweru, Dittoe Public Relations
Katie Wefler, Cunningham Restaurant Group
United Way Champion of the Year:
Brandon Cobb, Eli Lilly & Company
Rachel Maxey, MDwise
TJ O'Neil, Walker Information
Adrienne Roman, Illumina
Anna Sherrill, DePauw University
The winners will be selected by panel of judges:
Brandi Davis-Handy, president, AES Indiana
Eric Hessel, vice president of programs, Hendricks County Community Foundation
Alberta Jose, manager of recruitment and admissions, Per Scholas
Andrea McGordon, community development manager, Sr, VP, Old National Bank
Jimmie McMillian, chief diversity officer, Penske Entertainment Corporation; United Way board member
Andrea Neely, president and CEO, Simon Youth Foundation
Mike Simmons, founder and CEO of Bridge Builder Strategies; adjunct professor at Butler University
All finalists also are eligible to win the People’s Choice Award, presented by Katz, Sapper & Miller. Members of the public can vote for their favorite finalist at uwci.org/elevate.