These power philanthropists and innovators do more than just champion a cause—they revolutionize the world along the way.
Washington, D.C.-based artist Maggie O’Neill launched Vote for Your Daughter.
Washington, D.C.-based artist Maggie O’Neill founded the nonprofit Vote for Your Daughter (voteforyourdaughter.com) and the Our Daughters’ Future Fund (ourdaughtersfutures.com), a nonpartisan campaign that encourages people to consider their daughters’ futures when voting in local, state and national elections based on four key issues: healthcare, education, representation and equal pay.
What prompted you to launch Vote for Your Daughter?
When you look at my body of work, I’ve always been inspired by—and painted—women change-makers.
I became endlessly inspired by the ‘Fearless Girl’ statue facing down the ‘Charging Bull’ statue in the Financial District in NYC. That one little girl staring directly at power really moved me, and I began painting versions of her. Soon, this image became a cornerstone of the movement. With the reversal of Roe v. Wade bringing national attention to women’s healthcare and bodily autonomy, I wanted to do something with my art that could start a conversation.
Please discuss the “Forever Fearless” installations.
These are life-sized, That-packed statues of young girls, each representing the spirit of resilience and hope. These powerful symbols were part of our original installation that stood in front of the Supreme Court and the U.S. Capitol. You can now find them in key locations, including universities and public spaces in swing states.
What has been the reaction to the campaign?
Our goal was to stay nonpartisan in our outreach, and one of our earliest indications of success was the number of supporters from both sides of the aisle and artists who wanted to participate in and join the campaign.
What keeps you motivated?
I recently attended the Oslo Freedom Forum and sat with six artists-activists from Cuba, Venezuela, Syria and Iran. They had been jailed, exiled and lost their loved ones to defending democracy or speaking truth to an authoritarian government.
I was so moved by the stories of sacrifice, risk and love of their country. As long as I’m free to create art and express myself to defend democracy, truth or justice, I must exercise this opportunity to be a part of the solution and never forget or underestimate what a privilege it is to be free to do so.
Kendra Scott is partnering with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Multifaceted designer, philanthropist, entrepreneur, author, shark and speaker Kendra Scott (kendrascott.com) has revolutionized the world of charitable causes in Austin, across the nation and internationally.
Collectively, your company has donated over $70 million to local, national and international causes. What is your advice regarding giving back?
My biggest advice is to start small and start early. When I first started, I didn’t have much, but I knew that giving back was a nonnegotiable part of my journey. In those early days, I contributed what I could—making earrings or necklaces for charity auctions. The key is having a giving heart and finding ways to align your business with causes that matter to you. It doesn’t have to be grand gestures from the start; every small effort counts.
How excited are you about the Kendra Scott and Make-A-Wish Foundation partnership?
For years, our regional stores have supported local Make-A-Wish chapters, but taking this partnership to a national level has been a dream come true. In just six months, we’ve already raised over $350,000. This partnership exemplifies the kind of community impact we strive for and reinforces our belief that collaboration can drive meaningful change. I can’t wait to witness the joy these experiences will bring to those incredible families.
What is the next big goal for you as far as philanthropy goes?
I’m incredibly excited to deepen our commitment through the Kendra Scott Foundation and continue growing our initiatives that support women and youth in health and wellness, education and entrepreneurship, and empowerment. What began as a small idea—to bring the joy of our Color Bar experience to pediatric hospitals—has grown into a nationwide effort, now reaching over 45 hospitals. Watching children light up as they create their own pieces of jewelry has been one of the most fulfilling parts of our work.
Under Khan’s leadership, Embarc students have achieved a 97% graduation rate over the last five years, with 83% of Embarc graduates enrolled in a postsecondary success pathway.
A Chicago Public Schools graduate and former CPS teacher, Imran Khan established Embarc (embarcchicago.org) to help counter systemic inequities in the lives of his Black and brown students via a robust education model of experiential learning. Now, as the org celebrates its 15th year, the CEO and co-founder reflects on how far Embarc has come—and the exciting path to continued growth ahead.
How has Embarc evolved since you established it in 2010?
Embarc started as a program in one school, Harper High School on the South Side of Chicago, and has grown into a nationally recognized education program that has served more than 10,000 students across 29 Chicago public schools. We have been recognized by prestigious institutions, including the University of Chicago Consortium, for designing some of the best developmental experiences in the country, so I think the biggest evolution since we established Embarc has been from serving one classroom at a time to transforming entire schools and school systems.
What have you learned in the past 15 years?
I’ve discovered that the strategies and approaches we developed as teachers, in our efforts to support students, are, in fact, supported by the latest educational research and scientific findings. Experiences are one of the most powerful forces that shape us. I’ve come to realize that, even in a world increasingly focused on AI and technology, human development is still deeply rooted in experiential, relational and hands-on learning. While the physical classrooms of today continue to change, the demand for real-world learning experiences will only grow ever stronger.
What are you most excited about for Embarc in 2025?
Recently, we partnered with the Native American Community Academy (NACA) and Indigenous education leaders in New Mexico, where we’re discovering powerful new ways for communities to use these experiences to improve outcomes for their young people. So, we’re excited to scale our work through partnerships across Chicago and beyond.
Indré Rockefeller hopes The Circularity Project will help cultivate solutions to reduce the fashion industry’s environmental impact.
Fashion insider and climate activist Indré Rockefeller is launching The Circularity Project (circularityproject.org), a new nonprofit to champion circular design strategies in the fashion industry.
What is the mission of the Circularity Project, and why is it so important?
The mission of the Circularity Project (TCP) is to foster creative, design-led solutions to reduce the fashion industry’s environmental impact. By starting at the design stage, TCP addresses a critical phase where most of a garment’s environmental footprint is set. As a nonprofit, we aim to serve as a key creative link in the sustainable fashion ecosystem by building a vibrant creative community, facilitating the exchange of ideas, and making circular and sustainable design concepts more accessible and desirable.
Why is this mission more important now than ever?
Fashion is a dynamic and expressive industry that, at its best, forges deep emotional connections with its customers. Yet, its current path—depleting natural resources, fueling pollution and generating excessive waste—is unsustainable. One statistic that shocked me is that every second, a garbage truck’s worth of fashion waste is burned or buried in a landfill.
The good news is that fashion is full of creative, innovative people who thrive on thinking outside the box. Some are developing low-impact materials, designing for repair and reuse, and finding new ways to recycle fibers from old garments. The Circularity Project was founded to amplify the creative work underway and bring more people into the conversation—no matter where they’re starting.
What can people who want to support the mission do to get involved?
We’d love your support! You can email [email protected] to support the work we’re doing. If you’d like to sign up for our content or make a donation online, you can do so on our website
Michael and Sheila King attend Dinner on the Diamond at Petco Park in San Diego.
In late September, San Diego Padres pitcher Michael King and his wife, Sheila, launched the King of the Hill Foundation (kingofthehillfoundation.org), a donor-advised fund managed by the A+C Foundation (athletesandcauses.org) that champions research and therapy to delay or prevent the onset of Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases. Inspired by his wife’s diagnosis and her family’s history with the disease, Michael and his family hope to be part of the winning strategy against striking out Type 1.
Tell us about the launch of your new organization and what inspired its creation.
My wife, Sheila, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at 23 years old; her mom was diagnosed at 20. It’s become apparent that they were both genetically predisposed to the disease. There were so many things that were written on the wall for them to get diagnosed because of how much it runs in their family, but they didn’t know it. If you look at all the diabetes research foundations, it’s all about finding a cure; of course, that’s the main goal. But, when I talked to Sheila about it, she was passionate about finding a way to delay or prevent the onset because she would have given so much to have even six months of everyday life back. I would also give so much to have my kids have a year, two years, three years. And there could be a cure in those years that you’re delaying the onset. So, I think our goal is to give these individuals a little bit more time for everyday life, and we hope that a cure or better technology will come out within that time.
Why is philanthropy and giving back an essential part of your life?
As an athlete, I have a much bigger platform than I’d say the average person is given, and I never knew exactly what I would get into or what I would use it for. When I started dating my wife, who was already diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, it became clear. Her story is captivating, and I hope it will open the eyes of scientists, researchers and doctors. It’s always been instilled in me, whether it’s from fellow players or family members, that giving back is important, not only because of how it makes you feel but because it’s about leaving the world a better place.
Who are you inspired by?
My father-in-law, Peter Hill. He was the president of the New York chapter of JDRF, now known as Breakthrough T1D. He’s run countless marathons in support of diabetes. He’s been a big inspiration for me in getting into this field.
Actress Connie Nielson is the president of Bay Area-based Human Needs Project.
Hollywood actress and philanthropist Connie Nielsen co-founded the Bay Area-based Human Needs Project (humanneedsproject.org) over a decade ago to empower people in places like Kibera (Africa’s largest slum) to break out of poverty by providing them with the essential infrastructure they need to succeed. The star of films like Gladiator, Wonder Woman 1984, and Gladiator 2 (released this month) serves as the nongovernmental organization’s president.
What prompted your mission?
While filming in Kibera, Nairobi, in 2010, I worked alongside a large group of residents of this informal settlement, the largest in East Africa. It was obvious that talent, intelligence and drive were equally distributed among these colleagues, and equally obvious that opportunity was not.
A group of elders approached me and asked if I could build them a well. They showed me the unsanitary conditions and unfairly expensive and time-consuming water services available to the hundreds of thousands of people living there. This issue was in addition to the many other unfair disadvantages the extreme poor must deal with, which clearly kept them trapped in generational poverty.
What milestones have you marked?
This year, we’re celebrating 10 years of operations at our clean infrastructure center—the Kibera Town Center—[producing] millions of liters of pristine water. Thousands use our dignified toilets and showers, and thousands of young people have gone through our IT and job skills/placement program and graduated into the burgeoning local tech economy and a path out of poverty.
What other programs are you proud of?
Our entrepreneur program and bank have provided business education and access to credit for hundreds of local entrepreneurs. Our laundry provides clean clothes for young professionals who need to go to work while living in mud huts without sanitation or running water.
Our high-speed internet provides reliable connectivity and enables communication for our community members and our IT department, while our art hub provides a creative space and technology for recording musicians, film and photography. The community members run the project with technical and management know-how.
Sarah Arison serves as president of the Arison Arts Foundation, chair of the board of the YoungArts Foundation and MoMa board president.
Sarah Arison, president of the Arison Arts Foundation, plays a pivotal role in Miami’s cultural landscape as chair of the YoungArts Foundation (youngarts.org), based in Miami. Inspired by her philanthropic grandparents, she fosters emerging talent through strategic partnerships with top institutions. An accomplished film producer, she has backed notable projects like Desert Dancer and The Price of Everything, enriching Miami’s vibrant arts scene, and was recently appointed board president of MoMa.
Since taking on the role of board chair at YoungArts, what has been one of your greatest lessons?
One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned is the importance of fostering an environment of collaboration and listening. It’s about embracing different perspectives, supporting innovation and staying open to the endless possibilities that arise when talented individuals come together. Each day brings a new opportunity for growth.
What milestones have you marked?
We’ve had the privilege of celebrating many milestones that reflect our commitment to artists. From expanding our reach to deepening the suite of resources we provide throughout artists’ careers, each step forward strengthens our resolve to champion artists and support their livelihoods in meaningful ways. It’s an ongoing journey, and I’m more excited than ever about what lies ahead.
What are you most excited for the coming year?
I’m so excited to support leadership in experimenting with bold new ways to program and use our resources to best meet artists’ needs today. Artists are at the very core of everything YoungArts does, which means our work is constantly evolving to stay in tune with their needs.
Photography by: JONATHAN THORPE; CARLY SNOOK; STUDIO THIS IS PHOTOGRAPHY; COURTESY OF SUBJECT; MATT THOMAS/SAN DIEGO PADRES; COURTESY OF SUBJECT; ABBEY DRUCKER
