2025 Angels
Bonita Armour
Bonita Armour is the founder and president of B22 Sports Complex, a community hub in Grant Parish that brings people of all ages together through fitness, education, recreation and opportunities. What began as a small workout group in her garage has grown into a vibrant campus that serves thousands each year and continues to expand its reach across the region.
Growing up in a parish with few opportunities, Bonita dreamed of something that would change that reality. Guided by her faith, she has turned that dream into a thriving network of programs — from youth sports leagues and literacy workshops to public speaking classes and workforce training.
B22 Sports Complex has become far more than a place to work out — it’s where young people discover their potential and turn it into action. Bonita uses sports, fitness and health education as tools to build confidence and character, while programs like mentorship, workforce readiness and community events create opportunities that reach far beyond the gym. Each new effort reflects her belief that true wellness is more than physical health; it’s about growth, connection and a stronger future for the next generation.
Everything Bonita does is centered on helping people reach their potential and building a stronger community around them. Guided by faith and determination, she creates programs and spaces that open doors — from young people discovering their strengths on the field to adults pursuing new paths. Because of her vision, families now have access to resources that once felt out of reach, and a community that once lacked opportunity has a place to grow and thrive together.
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Divine Bailey-Nicholas
Divine Bailey-Nicholas is the founder and chief executive officer of Community Birth Companion, a nonprofit dedicated to improving infant and maternal health. The organization provides childbirth education, breastfeeding counseling, doula services and advocacy to help families before, during and after childbirth. As a certified lactation counselor, doula and midwife apprentice, Divine brings culturally informed and holistic care to every family she serves.
Divine launched Community Birth Companion in 2012 after witnessing the alarming rates of infant and maternal mortality in her community. Determined to change those outcomes, she set out to provide families the support and care they often lack during pregnancy and early parenthood. Her expertise and compassion shape an approach built on trust and empowerment.
Community Birth Companion addresses critical gaps in maternal health by providing free education, one-on-one support and trained doulas to families who might otherwise go without. Programs like Café au Lait Breastfeeding Circle and doula trainings offer hands-on guidance and create networks of support for mothers and babies. Through outreach and advocacy, Divine is improving health outcomes and helping families make informed decisions and feel supported every step of the way.
Divine’s work is transforming maternal health in St. Landry Parish and beyond, building a space where families feel supported and prepared for the future. Her dedication shows in the trust she’s built, the barriers she’s removed and the lasting impact of care that continues well beyond birth.
Barry Jackson
Barry Jackson has spent his career shaping not only students’ education but also their character. A recently retired teacher at Tara High School and still an active coach, Barry has dedicated decades to guiding young people toward success both in the classroom and beyond. His impact reaches far beyond the classroom, shaping a culture of discipline, accountability and resilience built on one core value: integrity first.
For Barry, teaching has always been more than academics — it’s about unlocking potential. He’s spent his career showing up for students, setting high expectations and refusing to let them settle for less. His classroom at Tara became a space where students felt challenged, supported and prepared for whatever comes next.
At Tara, the students Barry taught and coached achieved a 100% graduation rate — a powerful milestone in a state where many face barriers to finishing high school. His lessons in perseverance and integrity still echo in their lives, shaping their choices, careers and futures.
Barry’s dedication has created a ripple effect that will last for generations. Former students still turn to him for guidance, celebrate milestones with him and credit his influence for shaping their lives. His legacy lives not just in diplomas but in the character, confidence and resilience of the young people he’s helped prepare for lives of purpose and success.
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Rheneisha Robertson
Rheneisha Robertson is the chief executive officer of Covenant House New Orleans, a refuge and resource for youth and young adults under 22 who are overcoming homelessness, abuse, trafficking and other crises. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, the organization meets young people exactly where they are and offers them relentless support and respect as they rebuild their lives.
With decades of experience in youth development, health and equity, Rheneisha has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for those too often left behind, especially women, youth and communities of color. She understands that behind every young person’s story is a history of barriers and trauma, but also untapped potential. Her mission is to create the conditions where that potential can flourish and where every young person is met with the belief that they are worthy of care, dignity and opportunity.
At Covenant House, safety is only the beginning. Rheneisha has helped strengthen a continuum of care that addresses the full spectrum these young people need — including counseling, education, job readiness programs, legal services and medical services. Stable housing, life-skills training and mentorship give youth the tools to move beyond crisis and toward lasting stability. Through this holistic approach, Rheneisha and her team are breaking cycles of homelessness and creating pathways to brighter futures.
Rheneisha believes no young person should be defined by their circumstances, and with the right support, they can move beyond survival to truly thrive. Her leadership has turned Covenant House into a launchpad for stability and success, where thousands have found hope in crisis and have built lives they once thought impossible.
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Dr. Dawn Stanfield
Dr. Dawn Stanfield is the program director and special education coordinator at the Academy for Collaborative Education (ACE), a specialized charter school serving students with autism from kindergarten through sixth grade. Her work ensures that ACE is more than a school. It’s a place where students can thrive in an environment created to support them and their needs.
Dawn’s purpose in this work was shaped by her experience as a mother to a child with autism. When her daughter was diagnosed, Dawn quickly realized how difficult it was to find a place that could truly support her child’s learning needs. Even after her daughter’s passing, Dawn has worked to support programs that reflect the care, understanding and opportunity she wanted for her own child. Her daughter’s memory continues to guide and inspire every decision she makes, and her legacy lives on in the countless children whose lives have been changed through ACE.
As the only school of its kind in North Louisiana, ACE fills a critical gap for families seeking specialized education and support for children with autism. Dawn helps translate that mission into meaningful change, ensuring that services are tailored to each child’s strengths and challenges. The individualized approach she helps lead means progress looks different for every child, but it always moves them forward. Because of Dawn’s work, children leave ACE with a stronger sense of who they are and what they’re capable of accomplishing.
The impact of Dawn’s work can be felt in every classroom and every small victory, creating a place where children with autism are not just supported but truly seen. Her work honors her daughter’s memory by opening doors for others, creating opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom. Because of her dedication, countless families now believe in brighter futures for their children.
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DeWanna Tarver
DeWanna Tarver is the driving force behind DeWanna’s Community Closet, an organization that makes sure students have what they need to succeed in school and beyond. She has built a system that schools and educators rely on. What began with a small collection of extra uniforms in her closet has grown into an essential resource for Calcasieu Parish schools that helps thousands of students and teachers each year.
A simple decision to buy a few extra uniforms during a back-to-school sale opened DeWanna’s eyes to a much larger need. Conversations with teachers and community members soon revealed how widespread the need was, with many students missing essentials that created barriers to learning. As she learned more about those challenges and realized her own husband had faced the same growing up, she felt inspired and called to do more.
Today, DeWanna’s Closet provides far more than clothing and school supplies. It helps students feel prepared and able to focus on learning without added worries. Working directly with teachers and staff in Calcasieu Parish, DeWanna’s Closet provides essentials like uniforms, food and classroom materials, as well as weekend meals through its Food for Thought program. By meeting these needs, it removes obstacles that stand in the way of education and gives students the chance to succeed with confidence — all components critical to their education and health.
DeWanna is known for her generosity, persistence and deep commitment to the children in her community. Her work has shaped the educational journey of countless young people, creating opportunities they might not have had otherwise. And with every uniform, backpack and meal delivered, there’s a reminder of one woman’s determination to make sure no child is left behind.
Kelli Todd
Kelli Todd has dedicated her life to making sure children and families have the support they need to build stronger futures. As executive director of Volunteers for Youth Justice (VYJ), she leads a team that stands up for vulnerable kids, supports caregivers and helps families navigate difficult times. Today, VYJ has become a trusted place for people to turn when they need guidance and hope.
Kelli’s passion for this work started with firsthand experience. She began as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), speaking up for children in the foster care system. Later, she became a foster parent herself and saw how much of a difference it makes when families have someone in their corner. Those experiences showed her that every child deserves to feel supported and believed in. They continue to inspire her to make sure no family faces those challenges alone.
Under Kelli’s leadership, VYJ offers programs that both meet immediate needs and create lasting change. Through CASA, Teen Court, mentoring, truancy prevention and The Harbor — a hub that connects families to important services — the organization helps children stay safe, engaged and on track. Kelli has also led new efforts like the Calming Studio and school-based programs that bring trauma-informed care directly to the people who need it. Each program reflects her belief that families do better when they have ongoing support and real solutions.
Kelli is known for her steady guidance and deep compassion. Her work builds trust and gives children space to grow up believing in their future. Because of her, thousands of families have found strength in their hardest moments and the courage to keep moving forward.
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Cherry and Sherry Wilmore
Known in their community as “Everybody’s Favorite Twins”, Cherry and Sherry Wilmore have dedicated their lives to making sure young people aging out of foster care never feel alone. As cofounders of CHeriSH Times Two, they’ve built a safe and steady source of support for those stepping into adulthood without family by their side.
Cherry and Sherry spent 12 years navigating the foster care system themselves, often separated from one another and facing challenges that shaped their understanding of what support truly means. What started as their shared promise to make things better for the next generation has become a lifelong calling to walk alongside youth as they discover their strength and potential.
Through their Transitional Love program, CHeriSH Times Two provides the essentials that help young people take their next steps, such as laptops, dorm supplies, transportation and mentorship. But the heart of their work is in the care and consistency they show. They celebrate milestones, attend graduations and remain a presence long after a young person leaves foster care. Their work opens doors that might otherwise stay closed, helping youth avoid the barriers of homelessness, early parenthood or incarceration and instead pursue education, employment and independence with confidence.
Cherry and Sherry’s compassion and resilience have transformed their own story into a source of hope for others. They’ve turned pain into purpose, and what was once their greatest challenge is now their greatest gift to the world. For hundreds of young people stepping into adulthood without family support, they are more than mentors. They are advocates, cheerleaders and family.
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Matthew Vicknair
Matthew Vicknair has always believed in the power of service, devoting his time and energy to helping others. As an employee of Louisiana Blue and board treasurer for Front Yard Bikes, he volunteers and supports programs that give young people in Baton Rouge the tools and confidence to succeed. No matter the task, Matthew is quick to step in and offer his help wherever it’s needed most.
Matthew’s drive to volunteer comes from a deep belief that showing up for others can create meaningful change. That belief grew stronger after watching The Angel Award gala online, where the honorees’ stories inspired him to get even more involved. He first connected with Front Yard Bikes through a board service training and soon after joined its board, eager to support a mission that aligns with his passion for youth development and community growth.
Front Yard Bikes is more than a bike shop. It’s a place where young people learn responsibility, leadership and practical skills while building confidence and connection. Matthew not only helps guide the organization’s growth as treasurer but also volunteers his time to support events and mentor youth. His steady presence and hands-on support make him a trusted part of the team.
Matthew doesn’t look for recognition. He shows up ready to help, because he knows that’s how communities grow stronger. Through his work with Front Yard Bikes and beyond, he’s helping to build a brighter future for young people in his community.
Frederick Burgess
Stop the Violence
“Frederick is a man on a mission, driven by the heartache of losing so many young people to gun violence and other crime in Alexandria. He was raised here and has worked as a reserve law enforcement officer for years. So, he loved the community enough to do something about it.
In 2018, Stop the Violence opened its doors in partnership with the Alexandria Housing Authority, and the impact was immediate. Children from all over the city flocked to the Charles Hayward Activity Center knowing that it would be a safe place to gather with their friends and neighbors to play basketball, eat snacks, study, and just be a kid for a few hours after school. Their parents encouraged them to keep coming back consistently for the tutoring and education opportunities. It kept them off the streets and out of trouble.
Mr. Fred and his small team of volunteers have put an incredible amount of personal attention and encouragement on these 1,100+ young people. Their grades improve not just because of the tutoring, but because they know he’s watching their grades, checking in with their teachers, and giving them a push when they need it.
He loves to show off ‘his’ kids. He celebrates them when they achieve success – which could be making the honor roll, pulling up a failing grade, when a truant student starts attending school regularly, someone goes to college, or someone who has dropped out finishes their GED and starts to learn a trade. He is truly an angel to these young people, and we are so very blessed to have him on our side.”
Mary Barrios
Town of Farmerville
“One of the things I hear Mary say often is ‘Everyone deserves to be at the table.’ She believes that all voices matter, and that communities are better when everyone feels welcomed and are all looking out for each other.
As a Community Outreach Coordinator for the Town of Farmerville, Mary works incredibly hard to create spaces where people learn about each other. She is the visionary behind a festival celebrating Latino culture, Black History Month events, bilingual reading and education programs, and so much more. She brings people together because, as she says, ‘It’s hard to hate up close.’
Mary cares for people and their children as if they were her own family. If there’s a new family in town, she’ll give their kids rides to the library, go to their homes to volunteer translation services for those who don’t speak English, and attend back-to-school programs with students whose parents work nights. People are always reaching out to her for help and advice.
Her father, Miguel, was a Latino missionary who ministered to migrant workers and brought Spanish-speaking churches to our parish. Many people looked at him as a father figure. Once Mary moved back to Union Parish to care for her mother — and especially after both of her parents passed away — she inherited that role. People see Mary as a matriarch in the community, and they come to her for everything. She’s an angel to them and to me.”
Lisa Conly Cronin
Common Ground Community, Inc.
“By trade, Lisa is a practicing attorney. Since 2009, she’s also served as the volunteer executive director of Common Ground Community, Inc., a local nonprofit that focuses on improving the lives of children and adults living in the Cedar Grove neighborhood of Shreveport.
Common Ground builds community through compassionate outreach, genuine care, and acceptance of all people. They serve a community meal each week, run a clothes closet, and provide a food pantry for the community at large. The organization helps kids with school readiness by providing tutoring, a free summer day camp, and youth programs that build community while teaching kids how to be of service.
The organization is almost entirely volunteer-driven, and Lisa’s persistence and dedication inspire others to join. She’s purchased textbooks out of her own pocket, provided transportation for students, helped their families fill out financial aid forms for school, and has personally seen to it that kids and families have the support they need to be successful.
Lisa is tireless. She spends the first half of the day at the law firm, and the second half at Common Ground. She’s also an adjunct professor and a mother. And despite all of that, she finds the energy to lead by example. Lisa never asks anyone to do anything that she’s not willing to do. She balances the books and makes public presentations, but she also takes out the trash, mops the floors, and plays with children. She radiates humility and graciousness. There are many young people finishing college, entering the workforce, and achieving their dreams who can trace a part of their success back to the support of Lisa and Common Ground.”
Chantelle Varnado
LAUNCH Therapy Center
“Livingston Parish and the surrounding areas have had limited access to the therapeutic services needed by children with disabilities. This includes speech, physical, and occupational therapies. Chantelle started Launch Therapy Center in 2015 to provide a local option for high-quality therapy. It’s a non-profit center that makes it possible for families to get holistic care for their children without having to travel a long way.
Early identification and initiation of therapy services for children with disabilities are crucial in development and treatment planning. Launch Therapy Center is one of only three pediatric therapy centers in the area and is currently the only clinic in the area that provides fully integrated services. They receive hundreds of referrals each year. Chantelle isn’t just the Executive Director, but she’s also a practicing therapist and sees patients.
In her first year, Chantelle hired a staff of therapists and drove a successful capital campaign to build a facility. In 2016, a week after she signed a purchase agreement for a building, the historic floods washed into Baton Rouge — inundating not only the new building, but Chantelle’s own home and the church out of which Launch was operating. It took her just three weeks to get the center back online.
When COVID came, Launch was the first to offer telehealth options. Chantelle is committed to her community in such a way that no challenge will keep her from realizing her vision. She is the person that you know will always be there when you need her, even if you are a stranger. She has a heart for service and unmatched determination in advocating for those with special needs. I cannot think of another individual that has shown so much determination and passion for the community that she serves.”
Tamiko Francis Garrison
Donaldsonville Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council
“Tamiko Francis Garrison is the Manager of Medicare Advantage Compliance at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana. Additionally, she serves as a part-time Justice of the Peace and is very active in the Donaldsonville community, where she and her extended family have lived and served in a number of civic capacities for decades.
As a mother, Tamiko thoughtfully considered what skills her own daughter would need in life to advocate for herself as she became an adult — not just communication skills, but also knowledge of civic processes and how communities function.
This inspired Tamiko to create the Donaldsonville Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, which familiarizes young people with community activism, business leaders, and community leaders at a local, state, and national level. She has been the sole volunteer and coordinator engaging with students, teachers, and administrators at Donaldsonville and Ascension Catholic High Schools.
In addition to training students to be leaders, Tamiko organizes field trips where students can put their skills to use meeting and discussing issues with their own elected leaders — ranging from their school board and city government to national representatives in Washington, D.C.
Tamiko is passionate and seeks to change the world one youth at a time. She is training a generation of empowered, civically engaged young adults who are positioned to make positive changes in their communities, their state, and their world.”
Ellen Doskey
Girls on the Run
“Ellen is a founding board member of Girls on the Run – Bayou Region (GOTR), an after-school program for girls ages 8-13 that provides mentorship and life lessons through a program which creatively integrates running and physical activity.
When GOTR started, there were just a dozen girls. Ellen has been one of the coaches for a decade, and spending time with each girl is how she learns about their lives, their challenges, and what they need. She’s kept up that hands-on approach as the organization has grown across the region to include more than 800 runners.
COVID and multiple natural disasters nearly ended GOTR, but Ellen stepped up as the board president and led fundraising and strategic planning that sustained it until 2022, their big comeback year. The program is now bigger than ever.
Ellen has been an assistant district attorney in Terrebonne Parish since 1997. She is the sole attorney in the office who handles “Child In Need of Care” cases that involve neglect or abuse. It’s tough work, but Ellen stays focused on the needs of each child. It inspired her to create the first Family Preservation Court in Terrebonne Parish, which is helping dozens of parents with substance abuse issues recover and stay connected to their families.
The way Ellen lives her life reflects one of the most important things that Girls on the Run teaches, which is the value of discipline and a willingness to try again and again. Every day that you show up, you get a little better, until you’ve made a big enough difference that you can’t recognize where you started.”
Dr. Murelle G. Harrison
The Gardere Initiative
“The Gardere Initiative, which has uplifted and supported its neighborhoods in every way imaginable since its inception in 2006, has continued to be one of Baton Rouge's most awe-inspiring nonprofit organizations. This statement could not be true without the incomparable work of its Executive Director, Dr. Murelle Harrison.
The operations of the nonprofit organization flow through her in every way, shape, and form. Dr. Harrison’s utmost goal is the wellness and protection of children she serves in the community through all of the tireless work she provides in Gardere Initiative programs: after-school and weekend programs where kids get help with homework and have safe spaces to play; helping families get access to housing, food, and healthcare; and face-to-face counseling and mentoring that helps people determine their path and pursue it vigorously.
Most families in the Gardere area earn less than the Federal poverty line, and many are Latinx families without access to necessities. The Gardere Initiative does whatever is needed to help people get solid footing, particularly in the interest of providing their children with a better life. They help with job placement and teach ESL classes, and offer places where kids can learn and play while their parents are working.
The most important thing that Dr. Harrison and the Gardere Initiative do is create community. She’s not only brought in civic and church partners to support the area, but she also creates spaces where people can come together safely and joyously. She’s done all of this as a volunteer, never taking pay from the organization over her long tenure. Dr. Harrison serves from a sense of mission. She honors the humanity and dignity of every person she meets and is an inspiring force.”
Melanie Bronfin
Louisiana Policy Institute for Children
“For more than 25 years, Melanie Bronfin has been one of Louisiana's most fervent advocates for young children and their families. An attorney by trade, Melanie has helped to author and get passed some of the most impactful public policy legislation in our state's history.
Melanie founded the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children in 2013 to be a voice for vulnerable children and their families at the statewide policy level. She served as its Executive Director for its first five years and led the Policy Institute to become Louisiana's leading independent source of data, research, and public policy proposals on issues related to young children and their families. Melanie was instrumental in reforming Louisiana's early learning system, which has made it possible for tens of thousands of young children from families with low incomes to get publicly supported, comprehensive, high-quality early care and education.
In all of her pursuits, Melanie not only excels, but gives everything she has to ensure success for children and families. She is the definition of determination and willingness to put everything on the line to help improve the lives of others.
Few have done more in Louisiana to push for the enactment of public policies that support and safeguard the healthy development, growth and well-being of our state's infants, toddlers and preschoolers than Melanie Bronfin!”
Penny Smith and Melva Villard
SPERO
“Penny and Melva are first and foremost devoted mothers who want the best for their children. They are also tireless advocates for the needs of children with developmental and intellectual disabilities; each of them has a daughter with a disability that has made her ineligible for college admission.
Katelyn (Penny’s daughter) and Morgan (Melva’s daughter) are both bright, curious, and engaging young women who think about their futures and want to make independent lives for themselves. Penny learned that there were programs offered on college campuses in South Louisiana that helped students with disabilities achieve those goals. However, there were no programs north of Interstate 10.
Penny wrote to Gov. John Bel Edwards asking for his help in developing post-secondary educational options for young people in Central Louisiana. His response was to ask her to work with LSUA to develop a program. She did just that. Her intervention and her collaboration with LSUA led to the development and launch of SPERO (Special Program for the Enhancement of Resources and Opportunities for Students with Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities).
Melva has also played a vital role in the program’s development. She joined Penny in advocating with school administrators, community leaders, and funders to create and launch SPERO. Both women became members of an LSUA steering committee that met for over two years. They never missed a meeting and provided crucial help and guidance to the other committee members.
SPERO was launched in Fall 2022. Through the program, eligible students are integrated into the campus experience. They audit college-level classes and receive training designed to develop their daily living, interpersonal, and employment skills. They also spend time and make friends with degree-seeking students in their age cohort, bridging their connection to the campus community at large.
Melva and Penny have different approaches and personalities. Melva is more forward, Penny more reserved. But both speak from the heart about their children, have worked incredibly hard to provide opportunities for them, and are opening doors not only for their own daughters, but also for other young people in our region.”
