Legacy of Leaders

Legacy of Leaders

Legacy of Leaders is our annual celebration of the people whose service and generosity strengthen our community. Each year, Foodies Care honors volunteers and nonprofit leaders across Northeast Florida who give their time and leadership to organizations working to address hunger and homelessness.

Honorees are put forward by the people who see their work first hand: colleagues, neighbors, and the organizations they serve. Volunteer honorees direct a grant to the nonprofit where they volunteer, and nonprofit leadership honorees receive a grant for their organization. Every honoree is recognized with an award and celebrated alongside their peers.

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Past Nonprofit Leadership Honorees

Dee Wilcox

Lifetime Achievement Award

AnnieRuth Foundation

Edward Perez

Legacy Impact Award

Three Grains of Rice Missions

Headshot of Fred Berley

Fred Berley

Servant Leader Award

City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department

Greg Chapman

Community Catalyst Award

Fellowship of Christian Athletes

Joey Leik

Nonprofit Impact Award

Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville

Headshot of John Bear

John Bear

Compassion in Action Award

Five STAR Veterans Center

Headshot of Melissa Lockhart

Melissa Lockhart

Mission Excellence Award

Changing Homelessness

Michele McManamon

Visionary Leadership Award

Operation New Uniform

Headshot of Michelle Joy Nixon

Michelle Joy Nixon

Bridge Builder Award

Joy in Reading Initiative

2026 Nonprofit Leadership Finalists

Each of these leaders was named a finalist by the people who see their work first hand. We are grateful for all of them.

Tanya Adams

Chief of Strategy and Development

Ability Housing

Ron Armstrong

Founder

Grounds of GRACE

Nicola Barnack

Senior Director of Development

American Heart Association

Christy Brinson

Speech-Language Pathologist

Jacksonville Speech and Hearing Center

Lindalee Cookingham

Chief Operating Officer

Girl Scouts

Bobby Cowart

President

Voices4Vets

Lori Delgado Anderson

Chief Executive Officer

Beaches Council on Aging

Deanna Ellison

Chief Operating Officer

MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation

Frances Fisher

Southeast Regional Director

SCORE Mentors

Arthur Hairston

Founder and Chief Executive Officer

Strive Youth and Family Services

Coretta Hill

Chief Operating Officer

United Way

Nancy Hogshead

Champion Women

Kim Hyatt

President

Cathedral Arts Project

Jackie Krug

Development Director

Quigley House

Mark LeMaire

Vice President, Strategic Donor Initiatives

The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida

Lonnie Marts

Executive Director

Level the Playing Field Leadership Academy

Chandra Manning

Jacksonville Speech and Hearing Center

Jennifer Paulk

Executive Director

The Arc Nassau

Erik Sacks

Executive Director

Operation Lifeline

Gracie Simendinger

Chief Executive Officer

Leadership Jacksonville

Rebecca Smith

Founder and Executive Director

R.E.S.T.O.R.E.

Mara Webb

President

Broad Street Children's Foundation

Event Recap

Previous Legacy of Leaders Events