Meyer and Aguirre among United Way of Central Indiana finalists for 2026 ELEVATE awards

The finalists for the 2026 ELEVATE awards advocate for inclusivity, fight food insecurity and ensure all voices have a seat at the table.  

They serve as caregivers for the aging, tutor students experiencing homelessness, and help jobseekers earn credentials and find work.  

They advocate for literacy, ensure access to education and support immigrant communities.  

On Monday, United Way of Central Indiana named 24 finalists for the ELEVATE awards, an annual event that honors the region’s top young philanthropists, advocates, nonprofit employees and volunteers between the ages of 21 and 41. Now in their eighth year, the awards also serve as a fundraiser for United Way’s basic needs initiatives, which help provide food, housing, transportation and health services to Hoosiers who need it most.  

Winners will be announced at the event, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21, 2026, at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields. This year’s ELEVATE, sponsored by Old National Bank, carries the theme “Emerging Masterpieces.”  

Tickets starting at $65 can be purchased at uwci.org/elevate.  

An external committee composed of volunteers from the community selected the finalists from a pool of nominees. The 2026 finalists are:  

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Advocate of the Year, presented by Glick Philanthropies:    

• Nicole O’Neal, Free Press Indiana

• Casey Springer, Salesforce

• Darrell Williams, Eli Lilly and Company

• Per Scholas Indianapolis: Tommy Arvo; Danielle Cox-Eland; Alberta Jose; Stephen Lewis; Theron Wilson

Emerging Leader of the Year:    

• Melanie Allen, Green Loop Marketing

• Hope Coons, Community Foundation of Boone County

• Marc O’Leary, Elevate Endurance LLC

• Ephraim Sy Palmero III, LISC

• Khara Smith, BU Wellness Network

• Maria Yuquilima, Indiana Army National Guard, Indiana University McKinney School of Law

Nonprofit Employee of the Year:  

• Karen Adan, Morning Light

• Neysa Meyer, Putnam County Community Foundation

• Veronica Onofrey, Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana

• Kristopher Subler, Ascend Indiana

United Way Champion of the Year:  

• Vincent Aguirre, Distinct

• Maddie Augustus, Faegre Drinker

• Rachel Bragg, Eli Lilly and Company

• Julie Singer, Bluestar Wealth Advisory of Raymond James

Volunteer of the Year:  

• Annie Cole, Riley Children’s Foundation

• Loren Dent, Johnson, Grossnickle and Associates

• Megan Mioduski, Women for Riley

• Randy Pease, Teach For America

• Bailey Peycha, Conrad Indianapolis

• Emily Sandberg, Indiana University

The winners will be selected by a panel of judges:  

• Amanda Bonilla, owner, ICN Solutions; United Way board member

• Ivan Cropper, vice president of marketing and communications, Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana

• Peter Hanscom, chief development officer, Free Press Indiana; 2025 ELEVATE Emerging Leader of the Year winner

• Andrea McGordon, community development MGR, SR, VP, Old National Bank

• Cassie Mecklenburg, executive director, Sheltering Wings

• Nate Spangle, founder, Get Indiana

All finalists also are eligible to win the People’s Choice Award, presented by Katz, Sapper & Miller. Members of the public can vote for their favorite finalist starting Jan. 5 at uwci.org/elevate.