INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Fever announced today the offseason Anthem Assists award winners.
Aster Bekele – Founder of Felege Hiywot Community
Located at 1648 Sheldon Street in Indianapolis, Felege Hiywot, which means “looking for direction in life,” was founded to serve urban youth of Indianapolis and teach urban farming and environmental preservation. The organization encourages youth to embrace the virtues of community service and through carefully and thoughtfully designed programs, Felege Hiywot offers Indianapolis youth the opportunity to be active members of the community to help develop the skills they need to be self-sufficient.
In 2004, Felege Hiywot Center was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization, and Bekele and FHC have enjoyed giving back to Indianapolis and Ethiopian children in need since the 1970s.
For more information about the Felege Hiywot Community Center, visit their website here.
Mark Watson – Chapter Director of Flashes of Hope
Flashes of Hope is a program of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation that creates free uplifting portraits to honor the unique life and memories of every child fighting cancer.
Dedicated volunteer chapter directors coordinate photo shoots within the nation’s top hospitals and at special events for children with cancer.
Flashes of Hope has partnered with more than 81 pediatric hospitals and dozens of summer camps for children with cancer; presenting free photo packages to an estimated 88,077 children at hospitals and camps across the U.S.
For more information about Flashes of Hope, visit their website here.
Maureen Leisure and Bob Broughton – Co-Founders of Changing Footprints
Changing Footprints realizes the great need for shoes around the world as protection from diseases and a gateway to education. Changing Footprints collect new and gently used shoes for distribution to homeless, disaster-stricken, or underprivileged individuals locally, nationally and internationally regardless of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity.
As a nonprofit, registered 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2005, Changing Flashes of Hope operates out of five locations in Rushville, north and south Indianapolis, Hancock County, and New Haven, Indiana. Distributions have been made to social service agencies, church missions, medical relief teams, military personnel, and disaster relief teams, requesting shoes for their missions.
For more information about Changing Footprints, visit their website here.
“Aster, Mark, Maureen and Bob embody such a selfless spirit to help contribute and uplift so many needed individuals in their separate areas. We are incredibly honored to be able to recognize all of their accomplishments as they continue to move forward in their commitment to help people flourish,” Fever President Dr. Allison Barber said.
ANTHEM ASSISTS AWARD INFORMATION
To nominate a community leader, friend, student, co-worker, neighbor, relative or volunteer that is making a difference through their commitment to inspiring change, please visit the nomination link here. Each Anthem Assists Award recipient will receive four (4) Tickets to a select Indiana Fever game, an Indiana Fever Gift Bag, in-game recognition and more.
Anthem Assists will honor individuals throughout the state of Indiana who have made an overwhelming impact in the lives of others by advocating for equity and inclusion in education, health & wellness, female empowerment and corporate citizenship.
PREVIOUS ANTHEM ASSISTS AWARD WINNERS
Kareem Hines – July 15, 2022 – New Breed of Youth
Mary Stumpp – June 15, 2022 – The Can Lady Project
Michael Prage – May 15, 2022 – Indiana Foster Care
Consuelo Poland Lockhart – April 18, 2022 – Latinas Welding Guild
Daniel and Kelly Cox – February 23, 2022 – Archie’s Promise
Nicole Wesling – October 8, 2021 – Horizon House
Cheria Caldwell – September 3, 2021 – Community Alliance of the Far Eastside
Sharrona Moore – August 28, 2021 – Lawrence Community Gardens, Inc.
Danyette Smith – July 9, 2021 – Silent No More, Inc.