Celebrating Our 2025 Impact Award Winners: Community in Action at Our New York Donor Reception

At SixDegrees.org, connection isn’t just a concept; it’s a mindset and a daily practice.. It shows up in the people who stand with us, dream with us, and roll up their sleeves to build communities where everyone is seen, supported, and empowered.

Connection and collaboration make everything we do possible, and this year, we decided to honor that in a tangible way by establishing the SixDegrees.org Impact Awards!

These awards celebrate some of the changemakers, partners, advocates, and collaborators who make the heart of our work beat louder. Each award recognizes a distinct expression of community care, and together they reflect the strength of a movement powered by many.

These leaders remind us that collective impact begins with people who choose, again and again, to show up with courage, compassion, and authenticity.

Local Champion 

Recipient: Corey Fox, Yards Brewing Company

The Local Champion Award honors a partner whose on-the-ground dedication strengthens community connection and brings bold ideas to life. This year’s recipient, Corey Fox of Yards Brewing Company, has been the driving force behind our Six Degrees of Fermentation initiative.

Corey was the first person we connected with in Philadelphia, and his enthusiasm quickly turned one idea into a citywide collaborative give-back program. He introduced us to an incredible community of local partners, championed our mission at every turn, and helped us build something truly special.

Corey also led the creation of SixDegrees.org’s first-ever beer, Six Degrees of Fermentation. He and the Yards team brewed the beer, distributed kegs and six-packs to participating partners, and even designed the label, inspired by our founder’s filmography. He then opened the Yards taproom for a launch event that brought together more than a dozen local nonprofits to celebrate community, creativity, and collaboration.

Corey embodies what happens when someone on the ground believes deeply in the work. His passion and partnership made this initiative possible, and we are grateful to honor him as this year’s Local Champion.

Community Connector Award

Recipient: Susan Keightley, Main Street Child Development Center

The Community Connector Award goes to a changemaker or network partner who has gone above and beyond in their collaboration with SixDegrees.org. This award is for the individual or team who is consistently bringing more to the table, saying “yes, and,” and asking, “what else can I do.” Their involvement enhances our effort and exemplifies the true spirit of collaboration.

This year’s recipient, Susan Keightley of Main Street Child Development Center, is the definition of community in action. When we were searching for a network partner in our home community of Fairfax, Virginia, Susan stepped in with remarkable intention. She secured an ideal space for a major activation, rallied volunteers with ease, and infused every moment with her signature warmth and energy.

Susan welcomed us fully, letting us take over her office with stacks of snack bars, toothpaste, and kit supplies, and kept the team laughing by sending selfies with every delivery driver who dropped off materials. Her joy, generosity, and hands-on approach made the entire experience smoother, lighter, and deeply connected.

Susan embodies what it means to build community through collaboration. Her partnership has already strengthened our work in meaningful ways, and we are honored to recognize her as this year’s Community Connector Award recipient.

Community Builder Award (BKxKB Champion of the Year)

Recipient: Cat Carlos, loanDepot

The Award goes to an individual or organization whose partnership on Building Kits by Kevin Bacon (BKxKB) has had an especially extensive effect on their community and/or the program. The recipient has been a champion of BKxKB at every turn, supporting SixDegrees.org and other partners and expanding impact. The awardee is passionate about empowering grassroots nonprofits through resource distribution and encouraging community connection and engagement through service. The Award recipient is continuously leveraging their connections, knowledge, and resources to curate a successful activation and remains engaged long after the final kit is packed.

This year’s award goes to Cat Carlos, Senior Manager of Meetings and Events at loanDepot, who has championed BKxKB at every turn. Cat first reached out in late 2024 with the idea to bring BKxKB to her Joint Venture Team’s Annual Meeting in Phoenix. That build supported victims of the devastating LA wildfires and set the tone for a long and meaningful partnership.

Cat welcomed our team with open arms, whether setting up tables, breaking down boxes, or slinging backpacks. She also recommended us to her colleagues at SageView Advisory Group, where we built kits again this spring. And she didn’t stop there. She showed up in person to help her friends pull off their activation and will be joining forces with us again in 2026.

Cat is what community in action looks like. She leads by doing and brings people with her, and we are so grateful to know her.

Amplifier Award (causEvolve Champion of the Year)

Recipient: Scott Turner Schofield

The Amplifier Award goes to an individual or organization who has been a true champion of causEvolve programming throughout the year. The recipient leverages their passion and network to curate meaningful social impact productions that touch hearts and minds and inspire and engage audiences.

This year, we honored Scott Turner Schofield, award-winning storyteller, advocate, and beloved SixDegrees.org board member. Scott’s commitment to LGBTQIA+ communities shaped some of our most powerful content for Pride Month.

Scott connected us with grassroots leaders building affirming, life-saving spaces for queer youth. He welcomed us to Shepherdstown, West Virginia, for the community’s first Pride parade, where he hosted four Six Pack episodes featuring local advocates. Scott also co-hosted our Pride Month Impact Lounge conversation, “Faith, Fear & Family: Bridging the Gap for LGBTQ+ Youth,” which became our highest-performing Impact Lounge to date.

Scott brings heart, humility, and courage to everything he touches. His leadership is a gift to this community.

Rising Tide Award (Degree Shift Champion of the Year)

Recipient: Kim Vincenty, JACK MHA

The Rising Tide Award goes to a changemaker or network partner whose collaboration on a Degree Shift campaign has elevated its impact, reaching wider audiences and engaging additional participants. Inspired by our guiding principle of “A rising tide lifts all boats,” this awardee’s efforts uplift all campaign partners, expanding our sphere of impact and shining a light on the work of several organizations, not just their own.

This year’s recipient, Kim Vincenty of JACK Mental Health Advocacy, is a force of nature. Kim has been a vocal advocate for those navigating OCD and anxiety for years, and her energy around the #IGetIt mental health awareness month campaign transformed the entire initiative.

Kim rallied her network with unmatched enthusiasm. She encouraged the entire staff at Sanford Behavioral Health to share #IGetIt moments and inspired lifestyle brand Natural Life to feature the campaign in a full-team reel. She also showed up for other partners, commenting on and uplifting their content, even those she had only just met through the campaign

Kim reminded us what collective impact looks like. It is generous, collaborative, and community-driven. We are honored to celebrate her as this year’s Rising Tide Award recipient.

Impact Catalyst Award (Corporate Partner of the Year)

Recipient: Calm

The Impact Catalyst Award goes to a corporate partner whose support of SixDegrees.org has propelled our work to new heights, empowered us to deepen our impact in multiple ways, and been a driving force behind a major initiative throughout the year.

This year’s Impact Catalyst Award goes to Calm for their remarkable partnership and continued trust in our mission. Calm made SixDegrees.org the very first organization to receive a charitable gift from the company, providing year-long access to Calm’s mental health resources for first responders in need. Their support became a cornerstone of our #IGetIt mental health awareness month campaign, allowing us to distribute 250 year-long Calm subscriptions to people who downloaded our Mental Health Resource Guide.

Since our partnership began, Calm has helped us support the mental health of more than 3,250 individuals, giving people tangible tools for rest, grounding, and resilience during moments when they needed it most.

What makes this partnership even more meaningful is how it continues to grow. Through our mutual partners at Versus, this collaboration opened the door to new relationships, including a powerful connection with the #MeToo Movement, expanding the reach and impact of our mental health work.

Calm embodies the spirit of true collaboration. Their generosity, intentionality, and commitment to community care have been a catalyst for collective impact, and we are honored to celebrate them with this award.

Root of the Community Award (Network Partner of the Year)

Recipient: Rock to the Future

The Root of the Community Award goes to a network partner whose collaboration with SixDegrees.org is especially innovative, meeting a unique need in their community and building toward a kinder, more connected world. The recipient keeps the community at the center of their work at all times, enabling them to find deeper, more meaningful ways to expand programming and bring more people into the fold. The awardee demonstrates a deep intentionality, never turning away when things get hard. The recipient has partnered with SixDegrees.org on multiple initiatives or on one extensive and deeply meaningful project, and the entire team, not just one changemaker, has played a critical role in the success of the partnership. The spirit of collaboration between SixDegrees.org and this recipient is mutually impactful, and SixDegrees.org’s impact has been significantly extended because of this partnership. 

This year we honored Rock to the Future, a long-standing partner whose dedication to youth, music education, and community connection continues to inspire us.

Our partnership with Rock to the Future began with a collaboration on The Bacon Brothers’ song “Philly Thing” in 2022 and grew into the opening of our inaugural Ruth’s Room at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center in 2025. This past year brought unexpected challenges for their team, yet they remained steadfast, creative, and deeply committed to their community.

Leaders Jessica Craft and Josh Craft, along with their entire team, have poured their hearts into every joint effort with SixDegrees.org. Their collaboration has expanded the reach of essential resources and strengthened community safety nets for young people across Philadelphia.

Changemaker of the Year

Recipient: Ali Borowsky, Find Your Anchor

The Changemaker of the Year Award goes to an individual who embodies the spirit of SixDegrees.org in all facets of who they are and what they do. The recipient has been engaged with multiple SixDegrees.org initiatives and continuously demonstrates a commitment to make the world a kinder, more connected place. They have a heart for social impact and a spirit of collaboration that propels them to engage deeply in their communities, showing up authentically, without pretense. The Changemaker of the Year is someone who SixDegrees.org cannot imagine not being connected to.

This year’s recipient, Ali Borowsky, is the kind of leader who makes everyone ask, “How can Ali be part of this?” Her work building Find Your Anchor, a suicide prevention, education, and awareness movement, continues to inspire us in every campaign and activation. Ali leads with contagious joy, grounded purpose, and an unwavering commitment to suicide prevention and mental health support.

Ali showed up to our celebration carrying those perfectly blue Find Your Anchor boxes without knowing she was receiving an award. That moment said everything. Ali is generous by nature, driven by lived experience, and always ready to deepen impact. We could not imagine SixDegrees.org without her.

Honoring the Heart of Our Mission

Our 2025 Impact Award recipients remind us of something simple and powerful. When people lead with connection, communities grow stronger. When collaboration is rooted in purpose, possibilities multiply. And when changemakers choose to stand together, they create a world where care is the default and no one is left behind.

We are honored to work alongside these leaders and grateful to celebrate them. Their impact reaches far beyond any single project and strengthens the fabric of every community we serve.

To everyone shaping this work with us, thank you for building a kinder, more connected world. It’s an honor to do this work alongside you.