Meet the Hearst Gives Back Service Awards 2026 Honorees

The Hearst Gives Back Service Awards celebrate a deeply rooted commitment to serving others and supporting causes that matter.

The stories reflected in this year's nominations demonstrate how giving back is a shared value that shapes colleagues' lives across our global organization. From acting during times of crisis and contributing professional expertise, to advocating for causes with personal meaning, raising funds and volunteering, colleagues show up for their communities in powerful ways.

"These stories are a powerful reminder that Hearst's values are lived every day, far beyond our offices," said 2026 Service Awards judge Karen Bisgrove, vice president, human resources, MOTOR & Black Book. "I'm proud to be part of a company that fosters a culture of volunteerism and giving back, and proud to call every nominee a colleague."

2026 judge and Hearst Television Executive Vice President Kyle Grimes added, "Given the ethos of Hearst, it shouldn't be a surprise that so many of our colleagues are so deeply connected and supportive of their communities. But the quality and volume of that engagement seen in the nominations was overwhelming in the best way imaginable."

Melissa Sader, Fitch Group employee communications managing director and 2026 judge, shared, "Seeing the impact these honorees are making through volunteerism was incredibly moving. Their generosity of time, talent and heart is creating real change in communities and in people's lives. I was truly honored to serve as a steward of this year's Hearst Gives Back Service Awards and to help recognize the extraordinary difference these individuals and teams are making every day."

You can see the full list of the 2026 nominees.

"What particularly stood out to me about this year's honorees is how many of our colleagues are giving back to communities they are personally connected to. Their work, which often spans multiple years, demonstrates such a deep commitment to service and seeing how they bring their lived experiences to bear on how they serve their communities is truly inspiring," said Christine Gartland, service awards judge and counsel, Office of General Counsel.

In recognition of our honorees' commitment, individuals receive $2,500 in their Hearst Gives Back or Fitch Community giving accounts to pay it forward, and teams receive $5,000 to donate to the 501(c)(3) organization of their choice.

Molly Renaud, 2026 judge and director, community engagement, Times Union, shared, "Serving as a judge for the Hearst Gives Back Service Awards is a powerful reminder that philanthropy isn't a side initiative at Hearst; it's part of our culture, lived every day across teams and geographies. I'm honored to help recognize colleagues whose service reflects the best of Hearst, using our time, talent and resources to strengthen communities around the world."

The 2026 honorees are:

Community Champions

• Todd Baldi, director, Fitch Ratings, founded an annual winter coat drive serving Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods in partnership with The Ark of St. Sabina Church and community outreach group Purpose Over Pain. To date, more than 5,600 coats have been distributed to children impacted by gun violence and shelter insecurity, meeting urgent community needs. "I am honored to work at Fitch Ratings as they espouse the same commitment to volunteering that I do. While it is nice to be recognized, the opportunity to serve my community, helping those who need a hand and knowing that even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference has been the most rewarding for me," Todd shared. "Contributing my time is a small way to support that mission and stand with those who are working tirelessly to bring healing and change to Chicago."

• Joe Fehr, technology operations manager for Hearst's Office of General Counsel, is based in New York City and combines hands-on service with innovation through his work with Achilles International, acting as a guide for athletes with disabilities and designing custom and open-source assistive devices to expand accessibility more broadly. "Working alongside athletes with disabilities has shown me that many limitations stem not from individuals, but from environments designed for an assumed average user. With an engineering background, I feel a responsibility to apply design thinking and technical problem solving to close those gaps," Joe said. "I volunteer to help ensure that independence and participation are not limited by physical barriers, but enabled through intentional and inclusive design."

• Amy Gaeth, executive assistant at WISN-TV, Milwaukee, WI has been a leader and advocate with Autism United of Wisconsin since 2018, raising more than $80,000 and serving on the board. Drawing on personal experience, she has translated advocacy into meaningful statewide impact for individuals and families navigating autism. "Receiving the 2026 Hearst Gives Back Service Award makes me feel incredibly honored and grateful. To be recognized for giving back - especially within a company that values community impact so deeply - is truly meaningful," Amy shared. "My husband Dave and I have an adult son on the autism spectrum. I began volunteering at Autism United of Wisconsin in 2018 as an opportunity to give back and support other parents, families and individuals. While our goal as parents is to advocate for Matthew, we are also committed to improving the quality of life for children and adults on the autism spectrum as well as their families."

• Audrey Green, associate director, partnerships, Hearst Magazines is based in New York City and helps preserve and share the stories of Holocaust survivors through her work with Living Links. By training others to carry forward these histories, she ensures that remembrance and understanding endure across generations. "I'm incredibly honored. As the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor, I'm motivated by the responsibility to help ensure these stories continue to be told. Storytelling remains one of the most powerful ways we can preserve history and inspire understanding," Audrey shared.

• Grayson Martin, account executive at QGenda, turned her personal recovery journey into sustained service, leading initiatives with Shepherd Center in Atlanta, supporting individuals experiencing shelter insecurity and organizing holiday efforts benefiting children in need. "What motivates me to volunteer is knowing firsthand how much hope and human connection can matter during the hardest seasons of life," Grayson shared. "After my accident and recovery at Shepherd Center, I promised myself I'd keep showing up for others - whether that's fundraising for patients, cooking breakfast and hosting bingo to give families a reason to smile, handing out care packages to those experiencing shelter insecurity or rallying my community to donate bikes for kids during the holidays. I'm grateful for this honor, and I'm excited to keep turning it into action that serves Atlanta and the people who call it home."

• David Mitchell, senior infrastructure project manager, Hearst Technology Services, is based in London and has volunteered with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for nearly 20 years as a search-and-rescue commander, contributing to life-saving maritime operations and humanitarian response efforts. "I'm incredibly honored to receive this recognition. Volunteering with the RNLI has been one of the most meaningful commitments of my life, and it's humbling to have that service acknowledged," David shared. "2026 is a significant year for me - it marks 20 years of RNLI service and my retirement from helming our D-Class lifeboat at Walmer. While that chapter is closing, my commitment isn't. I'm excited to continue serving on our larger lifeboat, mentoring future crew, managing launch operations and participating in international search-and-rescue collaboration."

• Matt Rocheleau, data editor for Hearst Connecticut Media Group and Times Union, became a national advocate for ALS research and patient representation following his own ALS diagnosis while continuing his work as a journalist and mentor. His resilience has strengthened awareness and support for those affected by ALS nationwide through his partnerships with I AM ALS, NEALS and the ALS Association. "I'm so honored to receive this award. I can't express enough how much gratitude I have for all of the support and generosity from everyone at Hearst. Working here truly feels like a family, which means so much to my wife and me as we fight ALS," Matt shared.

Motivating Mentor

• Caitlin Hiscock, implementation consultant at QGenda, mentors children of incarcerated parents in Atlanta through Kidz2Leaders, supporting long-term programming that builds resilience and helps break cycles of incarceration. "This is a beautiful honor! I am thrilled because I know that this award will allow several kids to go to camp this summer. Kidz2Leaders not only provides a safe spot for kids to just be kids once a summer, but also a lifetime of being known, kept up with and supported. This can be the change a family needs to break generations of incarceration," Caitlin said. "My Christian faith motivates me. It's a gift to see these kids surrounded by community and filled with hope for their futures."

• Katherine Keeler, associate testing editor at Hearst Autos in Ann Arbor, MI, serves as lead mechanical mentor and board member for Pioneer High School's FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC), known as The PiHi Samurai (Team 1076). Katherine guides students in hands-on engineering, including tool skills, interpreting drawings and troubleshooting robot issues, and through her board work, she helps ensure the program's long-term growth and sustainability. "I volunteer as a mechanical mentor because teaching young people hands-on tool skills and building a robot from a pile of raw materials is simply fun. My own technical skills didn't develop until later in life, so I love helping students discover that same confidence early on. These are foundational skills - not just for engineering, but for creativity, problem-solving and believing in what you can build," Katherine said. "Watching the students grow year after year is incredibly rewarding, and I'm grateful for the time I get to spend with the team and for the recognition from Hearst."

Professional Impact

• Brandi Cummings, anchor for KCRA-TV, serves as president of the Sacramento, CA chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. In this role, Brandi mentors journalists, supports professional development and advances representation and excellence in the field. "Receiving the Hearst Gives Back Service Award is incredibly humbling. I've always believed that journalism isn't just about telling the community's stories - it's also about showing up for the community itself," Brandi said. "Through my work and my involvement with the National Association of Black Journalists, I'm constantly reminded of the power of mentorship, representation and creating opportunities for the next generation of journalists. That mission is what motivates me to give back."

• Sebastian Gonzalez, director of photojournalism, WBBH/WZVN-TV, Fort Myers/Naples, FL volunteered his professional storytelling skills, traveling to Uganda with Operation International to document a medical mission delivering essential healthcare to underserved communities. "I'm so grateful to Hearst for paying attention to these important issues that need so much more help. I feel like the biggest lesson I learned in this trip was that there's a lot more we can do to help," Sebastian shared. "What motivated me to join Operation International was the scope of their mission. Seeing the change they can bring to the world is really inspiring."

ERG Energizer

• Women & Allies of MCG (WAM) partnered with IGNITE Worldwide to program events for girls and gender-diverse youth from historically marginalized communities in Seattle to educate them about careers in STEM, hearing directly from software and clinical industry experts on the MCG team. "I'm incredibly proud to represent Women & Allies of MCG and of the work our team has done with IGNITE and other partners to expand opportunities for girls and elevate nursing representation in technology," said Brandie Shaffer, manager, clinical integration & support, care strategies, MCG and executive chair of WAM. "When experienced nurses partner with technical teams, we build better solutions from the start. IGNITE's mission resonates deeply with me and when I speak with girls about STEM, I remind them that the possibilities are endless. Opening those doors is how we create lasting change." MCG Senior Product Owner Sarah Woodson added, "By meeting students where they are and showing them that there isn't just one path to success, we're able to expand what feels possible for them. If we can help even one student see these options and believe their goals are within reach, then the time and effort are absolutely worth it."

Team Together

• Hearst Connecticut Media Group volunteers, Hearst Newspapers. For the fourth consecutive year, 40 colleagues partnered with Connecticut Foodshare, preparing 32,000 meals over four days to support families facing food insecurity across the state. "This award reflects the spirit of our colleagues who show up year after year to serve our community," shared Sarah Dunne, director, human resources, Hearst Connecticut Media Group. "We are proud that partnering with Connecticut Foodshare allows us to turn our commitment to Connecticut into real action for families facing food insecurity."

• Spain Community Champions Group, Fitch Group, plays a vital role in Fitch Community's initiatives, coordinating activities with charity partners including United Way Spain, Kalipay, Open Cultural Center and Inspiring Girls - across the Madrid and Barcelona offices, supporting up to 20 activities each year. "Receiving this honor is incredibly meaningful, but the real reward is seeing the impact of people coming together to help others. We're grateful to be part of a culture that encourages service," shared Ursula del Rio, senior market research associate, Fitch Ratings. "This recognition is both an honor and a reminder to keep going. It reinforces our belief that consistent, practical support - volunteering, fundraising and showing up - can make a real difference."

• Wichita Volunteer Crew, CAMP. Jessica Ciriaco and Stephanie Dryer founded the Wichita Volunteer Crew in 2024, and it has since grown to six members, supporting approximately 100 employees. In 2025, Wichita CAMPers volunteered with Kansas Humane Society, Wichita Habitat for Humanity, RealityU, Sedgwick County Zoo and Salvation Army Angel Tree. They are also focused on sharing best practices with colleagues at other CAMP locations and identifying opportunities for enterprise-wide volunteer activities for CAMP. "It's a joy to show up for our city as a team - we're better together! Huge thanks to Hearst, CAMP and our awesome teammates for making service part of our company DNA," said Jessica, enrollment analyst, ICT Enrollment Team, CAMP.

Thank you to all the nominees and honorees for their inspiring work. Hearst colleagues who would like to support any of the causes noted above can visit Hearst Gives Back or Fitch Community. All regular full- and part-time employees in the U.S. and in the HCM/Oracle system will have their gifts matched dollar for dollar by Hearst.