7 employees making an impact in their local communities

Our Endurance Award winner is Vivek Thomas. He’s the food deliveries director managing Citylight Church’s pantry in partnership with Food for Others. Since October 2022, he’s overseen the logistics of food delivery and distribution to low-income families in the Falls Church, Virginia, area. Each month, Citylight Church receives over 2,000 pounds of groceries, including produce, frozen items, and nonperishables, to distribute to Falls Church High School students and families. Through his efforts, which include over 200 hours of service, a number of students have been able to remain in school and graduate as their families no longer rely on them for financial support.

Our Local Hero Award winner is Lauren Phillips. She’s been a consistent volunteer at the Central Texas Food Bank, helping to prepare over 7,000 meals for people in need. Over the past three years, she’s supported the food bank’s mobile food pantry services and warehouse operations. Inspired by her commitment, Lauren rallied dozens of ICFers in Austin, Texas, to join her in regular volunteer opportunities. She now coordinates routine team events that allow members to bond and help combat food insecurity. In total, Austin-based employees have volunteered over 300 hours at the food bank.

Our Platinum Award winner with a humanitarian focus is Manorama Adhikari. She’s an avid supporter of students at the Shree Azad Secondary School in Nepal. After a devastating earthquake hit Nepal in 2015, Manorama mobilized friends and colleagues in the Netherlands to donate £10,000 to rebuild homes in the Danuwar community in Baluwa, Kavre, Nepal. Since then, she’s gathered a community of friends to help her sponsor education for 33 children each year. Through her efforts, children in Nepal have been able to complete their education rather than dropping out of school at the primary level.

Our Platinum Award winner with a sustainability focus is Tonya Redfield. She volunteers as an animal care crew member at the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, California, where she started as a volunteer at age 16. Tonya has spent almost 500 hours over the past year tending to elephant seals, California sea lions, Guadalupe fur seals, sea otters, and other marine animals. Her duties include preparing food, preparing medications as prescribed by the onsite vets, cleaning enclosures, weighing animals, and teaching baby seals how to learn to eat fish—all in support of the center’s goal to rehabilitate and release the animals back into the wild.

Our Rising Star Award winner with a humanitarian focus is Taylor Hamlet. She volunteers at the SECU Family House at the University of North Carolina Hospitals in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Partnering with ICFers from our Durham, North Carolina, office, Taylor prepares and serves meals for patients and their family members, many of whom travel long distances to receive life-saving procedures and treat serious illnesses. Her hospitality always puts others in good spirits and her thoughtful menu themes add a special touch to residents’ dining experience.

Our Rising Star Award winner with a sustainability focus is Rachel Sarner. She supports the equine sanctuary Horses of Tir Na Nog. Since 2022, she’s spent time monthly supporting operations that include tasks from cleaning corrals, grooming horses, to even fundraising. She’s now a “Bucket Buddy,” responsible for prepping over 100 buckets of food for each horse that includes a mixture of specific grain, pellet mixtures, and medical supplements. This year, Rachel sponsored an abandoned pony named Josie and has committed to donating $3,000 annually for Josie’s upkeep.

Our GivingPlace Champion Award winner is Tom Lock. He manages the Bassingbourn Village College Parents and Friends Association. The charity covers needs for the Bassingbourn Village College High School that are not met through government funding. Tom serves as chief fundraiser, accountant, meeting organizer, head of communications, as well as copywriter for newsletters, web content, and PR pieces. He’s spent almost 300 hours over the last year helping raise over £9,100. Under Tom’s guidance, the school has been able to renovate their audio and lighting capabilities, a necessity for music concerts, art showcases, and dance shows. He’s now working with the school to create an outdoor classroom which will allow students to grow fruits and vegetables for the school canteen.