There’s a concept of the Matthew Effect which uses math to illustrate what folks have lamented about for thousands of years – the rich get richer while the poor get poorer. Take tech for example – the rich and poor often have different problems, but because it’s more profitable to solve problems for the wealthy a disproportionate share of tech innovation focuses on solving problems for the affluent. However, it doesn’t have to be this way – and we have been blown away by the thousands of members of our community who have devoted their lives through their businesses, organizations and art to serve the underserved.

Sharonda Lang

My business is dedicated to serving the underserved community. So many black and brown children and adolescents with developmental disabilities do not receive timely or culturally aware care. Children are often diagnosed late, misdiagnosed, placed on long waitlists, and offered services that overlook their cultural identity and family values. This disparity not only delays progress but also erodes trust in the system. Read more>>

Rhonda Bear

She Brews Coffee House and Transition Program was created to provide job training for Justice impacted women, those exiting prison, jail and rehabs. Oklahoma has always had a high-rate of female incarceration. Many mothers are sent to prison for substance abuse and children are left to survive in the system of Dept. of Human Services or with friends or next of kin. With over 30,000 kids in Oklahoma with an incarcerated parent, a task force was appointed under Governor Mary Fallen and the study shared that 7 out of 10 kids with an incarcerated parent would follow in their parents foot steps. After being in prison myself, and fighting to get my children back, it became my mission to save other children in Oklahoma by saving their moms and even dads sometimes. She Brews Coffee House & Transition Program is my tool Read more>>

Kainalu De Costa

Here on the Big Island of Hawaii ,there is a huge anime fan and anime appreciation community however there is little to no representation, shops, events , or really anything to serve the community that finds join and comfort in this hobby. that being said my business “Da AnimeHub ” Aimed and will continue to aim to serve them and fill that gap! I have had many customers come and mention how they are thrilled to have a anime shop on island where shipping is not something that is needed to be dealt with to get anything they like. Read more>>

Margaret Babyak

Our work is rooted in serving an often-overlooked and deeply underserved community: disaster survivors. More than 70% of our clients live in poverty, and when disaster strikes—whether it’s a house fire or a large-scale event—they are hit hardest and have the fewest resources to recover. Read more>>

Carol Jung

We serve families that have children with disabilities facing challenges and barriers in the public school system in obtaining the educational services that their children need in order to participate fully and benefit from their education. Often these children are overlooked and undervalued unless their families are strong advocates on their behalf. However, it is difficult navigating the system on their own and difficult finding competent assistance.  Read more>>

Stephanie Bowman

My name is Stephanie Bowman, and I’m the Founder and CEO of One Heart for Women and Children, based in Orlando, Florida. But before I became the leader of one of the largest food providers in Central Florida, I was a mother fighting for my life, my children, and my future. Read more>>

Lauren Slade

Our work at Arukah is deeply rooted in serving underserved families in Detroit—specifically in neighborhoods like Dexter-Linwood, Riverdale, Outer Drive-Hayes, Fitzgerald, and Brightmoor—where resources like nourishing food, health education, and holistic support are often out of reach. Our mission is to empower families and create thriving neighborhoods by taking a holistic approach to healing—addressing physical, mental, and financial health. Read more>>

Siddarth Sikakolli

Yes. Our whole objective was to serve one community that’s not only underserved, but overlooked. ProjectVikas, the initiative I have been running for a while now, is geared toward serving individuals in rural parts of India with access to legal aid and underfunded legal clinics across rural India. When we think of problems in India, we think of hunger and poverty. An Issue that stems from this is the lack of legal representation, a fundamental right every human being must have in order to survive this generation that’s full of uncertainties. Read more>>

Nathan Stowe

Absolutely—and the wild part is how obvious the need is. Just the other day, a new client found me on Google and said, “Are you seriously the only trainer in Austin who specializes in people over 50?” I laughed—but she wasn’t wrong. In a city of nearly a million people, nearly 1 in 3 adults is over 50. That’s hundreds of thousands of people… with almost no one serving them. Read more>>