Diego Abente, Emily Brown, Kelly McGowan, Ciearra “CJ” Walker, Evonnia Woods
Missouri Foundation for Health (St. Louis, MO)
Missouri Foundation for Health (MFH) has announced the five inaugural recipients of The Spark Prize, a bold new award investing in Missourians who are leading transformative work to improve health and well-being in Missouri. Each winner will receive $200,000 in unrestricted funding to support their leadership and vision. The Spark Prize awards differ from traditional grants because they are flexible, trust-based funding for individuals, not organizations.
Awardees were selected for their potential to create long-term impact in Missouri. The five recipients were chosen from more than 170 nominations representing diverse backgrounds, regions, and sectors across Missouri.
2025 Spark Prize Winners:
- Diego Abente—President and CEO of Casa de Salud, expanding access to culturally responsive clinical and mental health care for immigrants and uninsured communities in Missouri.
- Emily Brown—Co-founder and CEO of Attane Health, pioneering food-based health care solutions to address chronic disease and create healthier communities.
- Kelly McGowan—Founder and Executive Director of Transform 314, using creative education and neighborhood-based solutions to reimagine how residents connect with local government.
- Ciearra “CJ” Walker—Founder and CEO of the Community Health Worker Coalition, building a statewide career network to strengthen frontline health leadership and drive community-rooted change.
- Evonnia Woods—Organizer and movement builder creating new infrastructure for racial, reproductive, and economic justice across Missouri.
This year’s recipients are tackling challenges ranging from maternal health and housing to mental health, policy engagement, food justice, and culturally responsive care. Many work outside traditional institutions and have built new models rooted in lived experience, innovation, and deep community ties.
The foundation also recognized four “Leaders to Watch” with $25,000 each for their promising contributions to health and well-being across the state.
- Nicole Brown, Executive Director of One Joplin
- Hopey Fink, Attorney, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri
- Lawrence Simonson, Executive Director, Missouri Immunization Coalition
- Liza Weiss, Founder and Executive Director, Missouri Appleseed
To view the winners’ bios,click here.
Contact: Daniel Waxler at 314.345.5580 or dwaxler@mffh.org.
Nominate Leaders for the John Barnard Uplifting Communities Award
Vitamix Foundation (Boyton Beach, FL)
The Plantrician Project and the Vitamix Foundation have launched the John Barnard Uplifting Communities Award, a new honor recognizing exceptional leaders who are transforming communities through plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine. Named in honor of John Barnard, retired long-time CEO of Vitamix and founding member of the Vitamix Foundation Board of Directors, this award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to improving community health, particularly in underserved communities.
The inaugural John Barnard Uplifting Communities Award honoree will be announced at the International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference, September 5-8, 2025, in Palm Desert, California. The recipient will also be recognized at the HELP Conference, held October 10-12, 2025, in Jupiter, Florida.
John Barnard’s legacy is rooted in a deep commitment to advancing the accessibility of plant-based whole food nutrition. This award amplifies his vision by recognizing and supporting leaders who are actively driving change in their communities, working to eliminate health disparities, and creating a lasting impact through education, advocacy, and innovation.
The award recipient will receive:
- A $25,000 grant to expand plant-based community initiatives.
- A co-branded award commemorating their contributions.
- Professional development opportunities, including travel and recognition at two national conferences.
- A feature profile in The Plantrician Project and Vitamix Foundation publications, as well as the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention.
- Opportunities to collaborate with The Plantrician Project and Vitamix Foundation to further their mission.
Honorees for this award demonstrate:
- Community Impact – demonstrated, measurable improvements in community health through plant-based initiatives.
- Years of Service – a track record of at least two years of dedicated work in whole food, plant-based nutrition, and lifestyle medicine.
- Commitment to Underserved Communities – initiatives focused on bridging gaps in nutrition access and reducing health disparities.
- Leadership and Innovation – a proven ability to inspire, lead, and implement meaningful change.
- Collaboration and Connectivity – efforts to build networks and partnerships that amplify community impact.
A selection committee composed of experts from The Plantrician Project and the Vitamix Foundation carefully reviews all nominations, and the 2026 nomination process will open in the fall of 2025.
For more information about the award and its mission, click here.
Contact: Abby Szabo at 216.678.2355 or aszabo@vitamixfoundation.org.