Latest news with #PhilanthropistoftheYear
American Press
7 days ago
- General
- American Press
Local pair recognized as Youth of the Year by Family & Youth
1/6 Swipe or click to see more Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School kindergarten class was honored by Family and Children on Tuesday at L'Auberge Casino and Resort with the Light of Hope Award. (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press) 2/6 Swipe or click to see more Hathaway senior Ryleigh Leger (center) was named as two Youths of the Year by Family and Children on Tuesday at L'Auberge Casino and Resort. He is flanked by 2022 recipient Alonnie Celestine and Phillips 66 public relations director Megan Hartman. (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press) 3/6 Swipe or click to see more Family and Children named retired Calcasieu Parish Sherriff Tony Mancuso as its Philanthropist of the Year on Tuesdsay at L'Auberge Casino and Resort. (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press) 4/6 Swipe or click to see more Doug Gehrig speaks during the annual Family and Children meeting and awards celebration at L'Auberge Casino and Resort on Tuesday. Gehrig and his late wife Gay were named the Humanitarians of the Year. (Chad Moreno/Special to the American Press) 5/6 Swipe or click to see more Retired CPSO Sherriff Tony Mancuso (right) was named Philantropist of the Year by Family and Children on Tuesday at L'Auberge Casino and Resort. Pictured with Mancuso is Sam Liprie, P.D. (Nuc.), 2022 recipient and Phillips 66 public relations director Megan Hartman and Sam . (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press) 6/6 Swipe or click to see more St. Louis Catholic senior Jonah Austin (center) named as two Youths of the Year by Family and Children on Tuesday at L'Auberge Casino and Resort. He is flanked by 2024 recipient Benjamin Duplechin and Phillips 66 public relations director Megan Hartman. (Chad Moreno / Special to the American Press) Hathaway High School senior Ryleigh Leger and St. Louis Catholic's Jonah Austin have dedicated themselves to better their schools, peers and communities. They were honored as the Youths of the Year at the Family & Youth annual meeting and awards celebration at L'Auberge Casino Resort on Tuesday. Family and Youth first presented the Youth of the Year award in 1980. Stephen Perez, market president for First Horizon Bank and chair of the Family Foundation, said the award puts a spotlight on 'those leaders who have given their time, talent, and leadership skills to making the future chapters of our community look brighter than those that came before.' 'This award honors them for their commitment and dedication to becoming the true leaders of tomorrow. In that same spirit, it drives us to fill the critical gaps in our community through services like leadership development.' Leger fills her busy schedule with multiple activities and organizations, including the Leadership Center for Youth's Advisory Council, first vice president and vice president of service learning at the state level and as president of her local chapter of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. She is also the Hathaway Hornet mascot, donates stuffed animals to the Children's Advocacy Center, and is a member of the Library, French and Beta clubs. She was presented the award by 2022 recipient Alonnie Celestine. 'She has consistently shown strong leadership through her community service and her commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others,' Celestine said. 'Riley has taken on many leadership roles that show her dedication to both her school and her community. 'She values service to others and shows this through volunteering in her community, always eager to lend a helping hand and positively influence those around her. Her involvement with these organizations is a testament to her dedication to service and her desire to better Southwest Louisiana.' Austin balanced sports and academics while maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average. He was an 800-meter runner for the Saints' track and field team and a member of the TLC Youth Advisory Council, helping Rise Against Hunger, Mistletoe and Moss, ABC Pregnancy, and the Junior League's Touch a Truck. One of his many contributions to his school included beautifying the campus, including planters and benches. 2024 award recipient Benjamin Duplechin presented the award to Austin. 'Our next Youth of the Year exemplifies what it means to be a leader with heart, purpose, and integrity,' Duplechin said. 'As a senior at St. Louis Catholic High School, Jonah Lawson balances academic excellence, athletic achievement, community service, and strong personal values with humility and grace.' He also shares his talents, kindness and desire to serve others at Mueller's Vintage Store. 'At Mueller's Vintage Store, he works independently, managing operations and customer service with professionalism and maturity,' Duplechin said. 'But what truly sets him apart is his kindness. Whether engaging with elderly customers or befriending local homeless, Jonah demonstrates genuine empathy and respect for everyone he meets. Jonah is not only a role model to his peers, but a reminder to us all that leadership begins with kindness, service, and a drive to make the world better.' Three other awards were given at the meeting. Doug and the late Gay Gehrig were named the Humanitarians of the Year. The Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School kindergarten class received the Light of Hope Award, while retired Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Tony Mancuso was named the Philanthropist of the Year. The Gehrigs assisted many organizations and causes for decades in the area, including Bark to Life Dog Park, Live at the Lakefront, Calcasieu Soccer Club, Whistle Stop, Abraham's Tent, the Arts and Humanities Council, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Children's Museum, Tasting on the Terrace and Family and Youth. 'It's been a pleasure, and I think one of my strong beliefs is that everybody needs to give of themselves,' Doug Gehrig said. 'Family & Youth is probably, in my opinion, the best organization in Lake Charles. They do so much good … and giving your money to Family and Youth is probably the best place in Lake Charles you can put your support, be it time or money.' Mancuso started to work for the CPSO in 1984. In addition, he was a part of the Domestic Violence Law Enforcement Task Force, the Governor's Advisory Board of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and the Louisiana Law Enforcement Commission. He also gave his time and efforts to United Way, Boys Scouts of America, Dixie Youth Baseball, Ride to Literacy at Ralph Wilson Elementary and helping the surrounding community through multiple hurricanes. 'You know, there's so many people in our community that do so much, but I don't think there's anybody that does as much as Family & Youth,' Mancuso said. 'Let me tell you, from a law enforcement standpoint, what they've done in our community… (We) send the worst poor victims of our community of child abuse, and sexual abuse, to them to be interviewed to help us to solve crimes. And it's amazing the work that they do. And that's just part of it. That's just one little part of it.' In 2023, Bishop Noland Episcopal Day School started a program to help kindergartners learn the importance of sharing and giving. Students would select a stuffed animal and give it a name. Eventually, the stuffed animal is donated to the Children's Advocacy Center to provide comfort for those going through tough situations. 'As a teacher, we feel a purpose to light a spark in each one of our children,' EDS kindergarten teacher Parker Bradley said. 'And we hope that with the proper help, they can grow that spark into a flame and light up the world.'
Associated Press
31-01-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Thomas Smith selected as Top Philanthropist of the Year by IAOTP
Thomas Smith honored member of the International Association of Top Professionals will be honored at their annual awards gala in Las Vegas NEW YORK, NY, UNITED STATES, January 31, 2025 / / -- Thomas Smith, President and Co-Founder of Thomas E. Smith Foundation, was recently selected as Top Philanthropist of the Year for 2025 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for his outstanding leadership, dedication, and commitment to the industry. Inclusion with the International Association of Top Professionals is an honor in itself; only a few members in each discipline are chosen for this distinction. These special honorees are distinguished based on their professional accomplishments, academic achievements, leadership abilities, longevity in the field, other affiliations, and contributions to their communities. All Honorees are invited to attend the IAOTP annual award gala at the end of this year for a night to honor their achievements. /award-gala Thomas Smith is the first person in medical history to be paralyzed three separate times and recover. After his third injury, he co-founded the Thomas E. Smith Foundation (TESF), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to address the financial and emotional gaps in healthcare that individuals and families with paralysis experience. Since its inception in 2010, the Thomas E. Smith Foundation has become a national leader for being a catalyst for transformative change in the lives of people living with paralysis by challenging the status quo, developing comprehensive care continuum programs, investing in groundbreaking research, and advocating for equitable access to care. Mr. Smith's foundation is committed to dismantling systemic barriers, empowering individuals, and redefining the possibilities for a life without limitations. TESF believes in a progressive healthcare approach to improving the lives of those with paralysis. With over seventeen years of experience in the industry, Mr. Smith certainly has proven himself as an expert in his field. As a dynamic, results driven leader, Mr. Smith holds two patents for his invention The Look-Up Line, ice hockey's first warning track. To date, The Look-Up Line has been installed in hundreds of ice rinks across America as well as Canada in an effort to decrease the risk of head and neck injury in hockey. In 2015, Mr. Smith created The Reality Ride Challenge, a 38-day cycling event spanning 2,100+ miles from Boston, MA to Miami, FL to raise money and awareness for paralysis research. During this event, he cycled on average 65 miles a day on a bike, 3 miles a day in a handcycle wheelchair in recognition of his three injuries, and walked 1 mile each day for those who can't. On May 1, 2015, Mr. Smith completed the 38-day event, becoming the first person with paralysis to cycle the eastern seaboard. As a result, the Thomas E. Smith Foundation raised $100,000 for research at The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. In 2018, Mr. Smith became the first person who has been paralyzed multiple times to complete the Boston Marathon without the use of a wheelchair. His story became an overnight sensation and was featured on media outlets around the world. Since then, he's completed six Boston Marathons, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for paralysis. Mr. Smith plans to continue to compete in the Boston Marathon every year to raise money and awareness. Today, the Thomas E. Smith Foundation is a paralysis partner to the NHL's Boston Bruins Foundation and in the coming months, TESF will be launching their Care Continuum Program at the world's most comprehensive research center for paralysis, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. To date, the Thomas E. Smith Foundation has donated over $2,000,000 to individuals living with paralysis as well as groundbreaking clinical research. Mr. Smith's story exemplifies what our core values summarize: resilience, determination, and a desire to create positive change. Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Smith has received many awards and accolades and has been recognized worldwide for his accomplishments. This year, he will be considered for a feature in TIP (Top Industry Professionals) Magazine. He will be honored at IAOTP's annual awards gala next December in Las Vegas at the Bellagio Hotel for his selection as Top Philanthropist of the Year. The President of the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP), Stephanie Cirami, stated: 'Choosing Mr. Smith for this honor was an easy decision for our panel to make. He is inspirational, influential, and a true visionary and thought leader. We cannot wait to meet him and celebrate his accomplishments at this year's gala.' Looking back, Mr. Smith attributes his success to his persistence, family, and mentors that he's had along the way. When not working, he enjoys spending time with his family, cycling, and traveling. In the future, he is committed to furthering his influence through various channels, including writing a book, hosting podcasts, and engaging in conversations surrounding healthcare, societal change, and leadership. About IAOTP The International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) is an international boutique networking organization that handpicks the world's finest, most prestigious top professionals from different industries. These top professionals are given an opportunity to collaborate, share their ideas, be keynote speakers, and to help influence others in their fields. This organization is not a membership that anyone can join. You have to be asked by the President or be nominated by a distinguished honorary member after a brief interview. IAOTP's experts have given thousands of top prestigious professionals around the world, the recognition and credibility that they deserve and have helped in building their branding empires. IAOTP prides itself to be a one-of-a-kind boutique networking organization that hand picks only the best of the best and creates a networking platform that connects and brings these top professionals to one place. Stephanie Cirami IAOTP +1 212-634-4427 Facebook Instagram YouTube Legal Disclaimer:
