THAT DESERVES A CROWN

Whitney Small, alongside her husband Jason and family, have fostered many children, including medically fragile children, through the years. Now an adoptive family, they continue to support foster families in a variety of ways including helping start a local support group for families caring for children. In addition, Whitney has helped mobilize the community in caring for children, most recently in helping biological families with critical needs through CarePortal, in conjunction with Hands of Hope and their local faith community. Whitney has helped bring hope, safety and love to many vulnerable children through the years…that deserves a crown!

Andrea is responsible for engaging community groups and leaders to increase awareness about veteran homelessness throughout Indiana. Being a wife of an Army veteran, Andrea knows firsthand the struggles veteran families face when their loved one comes home after serving. As a public speaker and published author, she shares her personal experience to bring attention to issues vulnerable veterans in our community face and how the community can take action to help. Andrea is also a Colts superfan and this will be her first game she's ever attended!

Claire is a case manager serving veterans enrolled in HVAF's Rapid Rehousing program. This housing program provides short-term rental and utility bill assistance to Hoosier Heroes and their families in our community who are currently homeless or facing eviction. Over 200 veteran families are served each month through this program. Claire works with these veterans offering compassion and a much needed helping hand as they work together to address and overcome the barriers that are preventing them from being stably housed.

Barb Bush has been taking steps to provide shelter dogs at IndyHumane with enrichment for 12 years! She began volunteering after her dog passed away from cancer. Barb missed her dog terribly, but wasn't ready to have another dog, so being around shelter dogs helped her get through her grief. Once she started seeing those tails wag, she was hooked! She worked her way up to an Advanced Canine Companion (ACC) over the course of a year. ACCs provide enrichment for the homeless dogs at IndyHumane, exercising and spending quality time with dogs held in evaluation rooms and adoption rooms.

Barb provides daily walks and basic skills training for the larger and more challenging dogs, which is a huge help to the staff. She volunteers 4 days each week, 9:30am to 3:30pm and often adds a fifth day if she has time!!! She has accumulated over 8,100 hours. Enrichment is essential for shelter dogs. It helps maintain housetraining, promotes the human-animal bond, provides exercise and mental stimulation, and provides dogs opportunities to learn basic skills – all which helps them be more attractive to adopters and avoid mental deterioration.

Barb has adopted one dog from IndyHumane during her volunteer tenure – a puppy named Sunny, on 9/22/12. Sunny won "Top Dog" honors as largest fundraiser for IndyHumane's Mutt Strut in 2015. IndyHumane is grateful for Barb's selfless service to Indy's homeless canines!

LeeAnn Harris, Chief Operations Officer for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indianapolis, is a living definition of a champion of service. With almost 35 years of experience with Boys & Girls Clubs, both in Tennessee and Indiana, she has served in various roles. No job is too big or too small for LeeAnn, who has dedicated her life to youth development. She is a true service warrior who stands by our mission and values. We thank her for her commitment to mentoring past, present, and future Club kids and team members while helping push this organization to be the very best