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.
Shoshana Hallowell
Operation Breast Density is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving breast cancer detection and survival through education, advocacy, and access to care. The organization raises awareness about the critical impact of breast density—a factor that not only increases a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer but also makes it more difficult to detect cancer on mammograms. Read more>>
Amari Strange
Everyone knows how busy animal shelters across the country are- at least, they think they know.
Animals shelters are packed. There’s so many dogs (and other pets), and many of them are shutting down mentally. Many of them aren’t getting the attention and exercise they desperately need and deserve.
To help with this issue, I’ve started partnering with animal shelters to go in and run the shelter pups on my off time. I’m only one person, but I run as many pups as I can when I’m there. Read more>>
Imran Mohsin
Yes — Wicked Boxing proudly serves an underserved community rooted in boxing culture, especially in places like Oxnard, California. Oxnard is a working-class, largely Latino agricultural town where boxing isn’t just a sport — it’s a way out, a source of pride, and a lifeline for many young athletes and their families. We started Wicked Boxing after seeing local families — many of them farmworkers — walk into our tiny shop, looking to buy gear for their kids. These parents were spending hard-earned money to support their children’s dreams, even when the gear they needed was often priced far out of reach. Read more>>
Charmain Johnson
Yes. Not only do we go out of our way to promote and hire women and people of color, we tell diverse stories that help resonate in underserved communities. It matters to spread stories that people can relate to that are not prominent in mass media- women, lgbtq, black and brown communities. Read more>>
Kenny Rogers
Yes, I do, in the capacity of our nonprofit, Rogers Generational Foundation where I serve as cofounder, with my wife and rock Alexis Rogers, and through my work with the Town of Hope Mills. I currently serve as Chair of the Hope Mills Prime Movers, a millennial committee, and on the town’s Homeless Advisory Board. Read more>>
Falasha Harrison
Her Legacy Co. was born from a place of pain, purpose, and holy conviction. I didn’t create this organization to check a box or follow a trend. I built it because I was tired of watching systems fail us—especially families fractured by incarceration, cycles of abandonment, and generations of unhealed trauma. Read more>>
Jarryd Loyd
Yes, our business directly serves an underserved community—small and midsize businesses (SMBs), particularly those owned by minorities, women, and individuals in low-to-moderate income areas—who have historically faced barriers to accessing capital, wealth-building tools, and high-quality financial advisory. Read more>>
Sara Cathey, Janet Chikofsky, Amy Kryston, Kimberly Maddox, Rebecca Ainis, Chloe Coletta, Kate Price
Switchback’s primary focus is serving communities that have been historically and actively marginalized in outdoor spaces, be it due to limited resources, discrimination, stigma, or lack of community. Our vision is rooted in liberation: the idea that everyone deserves the opportunity to be in nature on their own terms, regardless of income, status, or identity. Ourwork ensures access to the gear and knowledge required to recreate outdoors safely and comfortably, and access to a community that is inclusive and welcoming to people with all levels of outdoor experience. Read more>>