Meet the 2023
Classy Award Winners
Social Innovation
The 10 groundbreaking nonprofits, selected by the Leadership Council.
412 Food Rescue
Food Rescue Hero
To end food waste. End hunger. And fight climate change.
Food Rescue Hero is a people-powered technology platform that effectively redirects surplus food from landfills and redirects it to feed people. The app alerts volunteer drivers about surplus food nearby and guides each donation pick up and delivery every step of the way. Since 2016, Food Rescue Hero has empowered 49,000 volunteer drivers to redirect more than 137 million pounds of perfectly good food from the waste stream to those who need it. Food Rescue Hero, based in Pittsburgh, measurably impacts food insecurity with 15 partner organizations across North America. In support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 2, 12, and 13, its goal is to scale food recovery in 100 cities by 2030.
412foodrescue.org
Animal Rescue League of Boston
Wellness Waggin'
To prevent animals being surrendered to shelters due to cost of care. Keeping pets healthy and with the people who love them.
The Wellness Waggin’ is a mobile veterinary clinic that provides low-cost wellness exams for owned pets. The program operates at four sites hosted by our partner, Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), a human service organization that assists people experiencing poverty. The Wellness Waggin’ aims to serve people and animals who may not otherwise have access to a veterinarian due to location, cost, inflexible work schedules, limited/low English proficiency, or other factors. We also hope to provide animals with preventative care to improve their health and decrease the need for emergency care (which could lead to surrender or euthanasia).
www.arlboston.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
BIG Futures
To create a path to economic empowerment for all young people, through career readiness training and mentorship.
BIG Futures is a college and career readiness initiative designed to equip young people for post-secondary success through mentorship, education, and access to key opportunities. This nationwide movement comprises a network of programs delivered by 122 local BBBS agencies to help empower every kid on the path to graduation—with a plan for their future and mentorship opportunities with lifelong impact. It provides young people with life skills by engaging them in resume writing, mock interviews, career panels, college visits, workplace visits, job shadowing, and aptitude exploration. Many BIG Futures participants can access scholarship and internship opportunities through innovative corporate partnerships.
www.bbbs.org
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Intervention and Mental Health Support Via Text
To foster human connection with a scalable, high-quality and low-cost solution that meets people where they are.
We provide free, 24/7, high-quality, confidential mental health and crisis intervention via text, web chat, and WhatsApp in English and Spanish. Texters send a message to 741741 to connect to a volunteer Crisis Counselor, who receives 30 hours of comprehensive training that includes de-escalation techniques, active listening, collaborative problem-solving, and safety planning. We use machine learning and data analytics to triage conversations in order of severity, not time. All conversations are overseen in real-time by clinically trained supervisors with degrees in mental health-related fields who provide additional support when necessary. Conversations end when the texter is empowered to identify and use their coping mechanisms—and is in a cool, safe place.
www.crisistextline.org
Everyone for Veterans
No-Cost Comprehensive Dental Care Program
To improve and transform the lives of our nation's veterans who have suffered from poor health for too long.
Everyone for Veterans collaborates with civilians and professionals to provide free comprehensive dental care and other services to veterans and their families nationwide. We recruit dental professionals to provide pro-bono dental services in the communities where the veterans live. Our veterans often spend a lifetime at low-cost dental clinics but never accomplish a healthy dental state. E4V's comprehensive care model not only resolves current dental issues but sets them up for long-term oral and overall health, breaking the cycle of perpetual urgent care.
www.everyoneforveterans.org
Fistula Foundation
Life-Transforming Surgeries To Heal Childbirth Injuries
To ensure that every woman has access to quality health care that will eliminate the needless suffering caused by fistula.
The only cure for fistula is surgery. We employ a dual approach to reach as many women as possible with healing care: 1) We partner directly with in-country hospitals and providers who understand how best to serve women in their communities. Along with funding fistula repair surgery, we help build the human and physical infrastructure for expanding fistula care. 2) We create and operate integrated, comprehensive Fistula Foundation Treatment Networks (FFTNs) to eliminate suffering on a national level, increasing access to timely, quality fistula treatment and comprehensive post-operative care. Each FFTN achieves this goal by deepening collaboration between local service partners to form a network that shares responsibility for caring for women with fistula across the country.
www.fistulafoundation.org
Gravity Water
Gravity Water Systems
To turn rain into safe water for schools in last-mile communities through a simple, yet innovative, approach.
Gravity Water works with schools in rural communities lacking safe water access. The organization's technology combines rainwater harvesting, elevated storage, and gravity-fed filtration, providing schools with a source of safe water they can rely on throughout the future. In addition to providing safe drinking water, Gravity Water's technology allows schools to run entirely off rain, increasing the school's climate resilience and water security. Gravity Water's systems are built by local community members using local materials and skill sets, ensuring every project enables community empowerment and is resilient to failure over time.
www.gravitywater.org
HOPE Foundation for Women and Children
HOPE Field Hospital, a safe heaven for women and children living in the Rohingya Refugee Camps
To respond to the devastating refugee crisis, HOPE provides healthcare to the refugees including emergency obstetric care.
In 2018, HOPE Foundation established the HOPE Field Hospital for Women, which delivers on-site free-of-cost lifesaving and essential medical care for refugee women and children—including surrounding communities of the Rohingya settlements in Bangladesh. It is considered a SAFE haven, a true miracle, that saves lives every day, primarily through its 24/7 obstetric emergency services. This hospital is the only one open 24/7 to attend obstetric medical emergencies such as c-sections in the refugee camps, where about 1 million people live in very poor and challenging conditions.
www.hopefoundationbd.org
Refugee Women's Alliance
Domestic Violence Program
To increase the well-being of immigrant women by raising awareness of domestic violence and providing support to survivors.
ReWA’s Domestic Violence program is the only program designed with all immigrants and refugees in mind. With nearly one in four residents of King County being foreign-born, the culturally and linguistically-responsive services the DV Program offers are crucial. Our community needs culturally competent, trained providers to support survivors and their children as they seek safety and rebuild their lives. Together, DV Program staff speak 24 languages and dialects, the most of any domestic violence provider in the Pacific Northwest. Last year, ReWA’s Domestic Violence Program served 700 survivors worldwide, including Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South America, and East Africa.
https://www.rewa.org
TACT
Teaching the Autism Community Trades
To create a world where neurodiversity is embraced and valued. Where every individual can contribute their talents and gifts.
The Autism community is the highest unemployment sector in the US, currently at 90%. TACT’s programs lead to employable jobs and lasting careers that are personally fulfilling and suited to each individual’s strengths. We offer career tracks in carpentry, welding, auto mechanics, electrical and STEM. Plus, STEM for trades for the autism community aged 16+. We conduct workshops offering introductory lessons in various trades and formats for ages 5-18+. We have an 83.3% job placement success rate (vs. the national average of 10%). Our alums average $19.86 per hour, approximately 68% higher than other autism programs transitioning individuals into work.
https://www.buildwithtact.org
People's Choice Award
The nonprofit most deserving of recognition, as voted on by the general public.
Days for Girls International
Menstrual Health Teacher Training, Education and Products in Cambodia
To strengthen menstrual health environments through access to education, menstrual products and increased advocacy.
Days for Girls is working with the Cambodian Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS) to eliminate gaps in Cambodia's menstrual health (MH) education. The project aims to increase access to timely, culturally appropriate MH and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education among students. We equip teachers with the training they need to teach students comprehensive MH and SRH education; and provide washable, locally produced DfG menstrual pad Kits (DfG Kits) to meet students' MH management needs. Following the success of a pilot project in 2022, our objectives for 2023-2025 are to equip 600 teachers with the skills and knowledge needed to deliver MH education to 15,000 Grade 5 and 8 students across 4-6 provinces and to provide DfG Kits to all female program participants.
daysforgirls.org