ITASCA, Ill. (Sept. 29, 2025) — The Gift of Hope Community Foundation is honored to present its 2025 Passionate People Awards during the Gift of Hope Community Foundation’s 5K Run, Walk and Roll in Glen Ellyn on Sept. 28.
Established in 2018, the Gift of Hope Community Foundation raises funds to support Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network’s (Gift of Hope) mission to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation. The Foundation’s Life Changer Passionate People Award recognizes individuals whose personal journeys reflect extraordinary resilience, and whose work uplifts communities while advancing the mission of organ and tissue donation.
This year’s honorees are:
- Barbara Creed, honoring the lung transplant receipt for her dedicated service as a volunteer and supporter of Gift of Hope’s mission.
- Andrea and Brandon Elion, in recognition of their ongoing work as Community Ambassadors since the loss of their beloved son, Ezra Hill, Jr., The Elions have carried forward his legacy through tireless advocacy, community education, and outreach.
- Cyndi Grobmeier and Frank Grobmeier, in recognition of their ongoing advocacy through the Maddog Strong Foundation honoring their daughter, Maddie “Maddog” Grobmeier, a donor hero who saved and enhanced lives through organ and tissue donation.
- “Our 2025 Passionate People awardees embody what it means to transform tragedy into purpose,” said Audrena Spence, executive director of Gift of Hope Community Foundation. “Their efforts have made a lasting difference in the lives of many and continue to encourage others to explore organ and tissue donation, make their decision known, and share that choice with loved ones.”
The annual Gift of Hope Community Foundation’s 5K Run, Walk and Roll is not only a gathering of supporters and families, it is a celebration of lives saved and hope shared. All proceeds further Gift of Hope’s education, outreach, and awareness efforts around organ and tissue donation.
To learn more about the Gift of Hope Community Foundation or to support its mission, please visit giftofhope.org/give.
About Gift of Hope Community Foundation:
Established in 2018, the Gift of Hope Community Foundation raises funds to support Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network’s mission and programs, to save and enhance the lives of as many people as possible through organ and tissue donation. Learn more about the Foundation at giftofhope.org/give
About Gift of Hope
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is the nonprofit organ procurement organization (OPO) that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana. As one of 55 OPOs that make up the nation’s organ donation system, Gift of Hope works with 180 hospitals and serves 12 million people in its donation service area. Since 1986, its work has saved the lives of more than 29,000 organ transplant recipients and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of tissue transplant recipients. For more information, visit giftofhope.org