Everyday Heroes: Top honoree to be named Wednesday
The 2021 class of Everyday Heroes will be honored during a television broadcast Wednesday — with one of them chosen as this year's top honoree.
The program will air on NBC4 (WCMH-TV) at 12:30 p.m.
Started in 2017, the Everyday Heroes program honors those who make a difference in Greater Columbus by healing, uniting and improving their communities.
The process of choosing the 2021 group of 25 Everyday Heroes started months ago when the Dispatch asked for nominations. The five finalists and 20 semifinalists were then featured in a special publication last month by the Dispatch, Dispatch Magazines and Thisweek Community News.
The sponsors are AEP, Atlas Butler, the Columbus Foundation, CME Federal Credit Union, COSI, NBC4 and the United Way of Central Ohio.
“These quiet, unselfish acts are sorely needed during this time of a global pandemic, social unrest and political division. The compassion and kindness of our Everyday Heroes are inspiring - and give some measure of hope,” said Ray Paprocki, publisher and general manager of Dispatch Magazines who oversees the Everyday Heroes program.
This year's finalists include: h Dave Baker, an activist who shares his story of living with AIDS to spread awareness to marginalized communities.
h Debra Mccauley, who has been preparing meals in her tiny North Side apartment for the past year and delivering them to some of the poorer pockets of the city.
h Olivia Nathan,a pharmacist works to vaccinate communities of color and educate Black women on HIV prevention.
h Mark Sigrist, who has used his energy and organizational skills to start a 5K for charity and worked to include and boost those with special needs.
h Ram Upreti, who works for Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services and has dedicated himself to helping refugees from his homeland get through the pandemic. mwalker@dispatch.com @micah_walker701