Kim Cloud
Pride bursts through Kim Cloud’s bright smile and words as she reflects on the past 34 years she's spent building her business. Not pride from personal or monetary success, but from those she’s connected with through her creation of Cloud9 Salons and Charities. “I hope I never forget what all it took to get here,” she says with a grin. The success of her salon allowed her to create Bedtime Rescue, a non-profit that takes families off the street and provides a safe place to stay. Her accomplishments are undeniable as seen through her new, state-of-the-art salon space and recent announcement of merging Bedtime Rescue with a larger charity, allowing even more good to come from her creations.
Kathy O’Keefe
Whether it was 3 p.m. or 3 a.m., Kathy O’Keefe would answer the phone. She would listen for hours, show up whenever needed and give whatever was asked of her. When O’Keefe’s son passed away from an accidental overdose in 2010, instead of letting her grief consume her, she chose to remember him each time she supported those who experienced the same through her and her husband’s organization Winning the Fight. “She was the kind of person who knew what you needed before you did,” her friend Kathy Travis said through tears. “She loved so fiercely and never left without saying ‘I love you.’” O’Keefe passed away in December of 2024, but her legacy will live on through the thousands of lives she touched.
Abby Germer
In a profession that could easily become overwhelming, Abby Germer continues to smile. After discovering her passion on a mission trip to help women exposed to the red-light district overseas, Germer realized the problem was right at home too. “We think we live in a bubble, but we don’t,” she says. Ten years ago, Germer joined Refuge for Women, a faith-based organization that provides housing and care for women who have escaped trafficking or exploitation, where she now serves as President. Her passion is evident when she speaks about her inspiration for her continued career. “The women we serve - on my worst day, they are my heroes.”
Rachel Joy
Though her mornings are hectic getting four children out of the house, when Rachel Joy pauses to reflect on her family, cheerful tears well in her eyes as she says, “They’re living out their identity and purpose.” Helping others find their mission was exactly Joy’s goal when she created Sparrow Collective, a ministry that empowers women struggling with difficult circumstances by employing and funding them at the retail store, design house, production studio or event venue that make up Sparrow. Joy speaks with intention and love about her team and those they help “identify their God-given significance and connect them to meaningful work in their cities.”
Missy Phipps
Though a self-proclaimed introvert, Missy Phipps’ reach to the community goes far beyond the comfort of her home. After hearing news of her friend Allyson Hendrickson’s terminal diagnosis in 2014, all Phipps could think about was how she could help Allyson and her family. Though at a crossroads in her own life, Phipps answered the call to put her focus elsewhere and created Ally’s Wish, an organization that provides “a last ‘wish’ to young, terminally ill mothers with small children.” Whether it’s a trip to Disney World or a published book like Ally’s, Phipps and her team have created unforgettable memories for hundreds of families since then, thanks to her big heart and go-getter mentality.
Andrea Vasquez
Soft spoken, but certainly never silent, Andrea Vasquez has spent the last fifteen years of her career giving a voice to the voiceless. “There are a lot of places where people don’t have a voice,” she says with a gentle smile, “I feel called to advocate in those spaces.” Vasquez joined Christian Community Action last year as the Director of Development, raising money and campaigning for the organization that rescues, heals, educates and feeds local families in need. Vasquez lives her life by demonstrating “love in action,” a motto she lives by to back up her words with actions to help those around her and influence others to do the same.