Meet the finalists: 2023 ELEVATE Volunteer of the Year
The Volunteer of the Year award will be given to a young professional volunteer whose unselfish and dedicated service has made meaningful and lasting impact in Central Indiana and has demonstrated outstanding service, leadership and commitment to a nonprofit organization.
This year's finalists each bring something special to Central Indiana, and we’re excited for you to do brunch with them next month.
Now, let's get to know our five finalists. Bringing their best disco moves to a community-based organization near you, it's time to boogie-oogie with:
Waleed Al-Hamed, IndyHub:
Waleed, or Wally, makes it his personal commitment to ensure others feel like they belong. Whether that’s through his work with IndyHub, Indiana Sports Corp, 500 Festival, Indianapolis Monumental Marathon, Indianapolis Colts or others, he wants people to feel at home in Indy. Most recently, he served on the planning committee for IndyVolved, connecting his passion for civic engagement with his desire to help his peers find a place to belong in their city.
Connect with him on LinkedIn and vote Waleed for People’s Choice.
Alexandra Chamberlain, Putnam County Mural Project:
Being an independent contractor means wearing many different hats, and Alexandra practices that in her philanthropy as well. She has a passion for bettering the lives of her peers, especially in Putnam County. Most notably, she shared her talents and leadership for the most recent Putnam County Mural Project. Her willingness to complete even the smallest of tasks ensured that artists and volunteers alike felt seen, heard and respected. The community benefited from Alex thorough her work ethic and now has her to thank for the latest murals in their community.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and vote Alexandra for People’s Choice.
Christina Cheeks, Eskenazi Health:
Being an Indy transplant, Christina knew the best way to learn the city – and make an impact – was to volunteer her time and get connected to local organizations. In her four years in Indianapolis, she has provided her talents to ArtMix, Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, MCCOY and others. During the workday, you can find Christina going above and beyond her job description at Eskenazi Health – serving on their young professionals committee and diversity task force.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and vote Christina for People’s Choice.
Katelyn Juerling, Kids’ Voice of Indiana:
Katelyn uses her legal prowess for good by serving as a guardian ad litem for Kids’ Voice of Indiana. In this role, she passionately advocates on behalf of the best interests of children who are the subject of custody disputes. She trains other volunteers and helps families understand advocacy. She has earned many recognitions for her legal work, including being named as one of Super Lawyers Rising Stars for 2022-2023. Outside the courtroom, she also serves on the board of the Indianapolis Shakespeare Company – making a difference wherever she can.
Connect with her on LinkedIn and vote Katelyn for People’s Choice.
Josh Lemieux, Ultimate Kronos Group:
After two years without an in-person Pride parade and festival in Indianapolis, Josh had the daunting and exciting task of leading the volunteer responsibilities for Indy Pride in 2022. That means he helped execute 22 events throughout the year – two of which were brand new. Events in May and June hosted over 100,000 attendees. In addition to his leadership with Indy Pride, he serves as the PRIDE Midwest Chapter lead for Ultimate Kronos Group’s PRIDE Employee Resource Group as well as a member of the company’s philanthropy committee.
Connect with him on LinkedIn and vote Josh for People’s Choice.