Meet Our Honorees

These local individuals and companies have shown up for Greater Washington in exceptional ways.

Corporate Hero

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Throughout the pandemic, our community has experienced an unprecedented strain on resources and capacity—particularly in the medical field. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield stepped up to help with its Care, Delivered initiative. 

In partnership with The Community Foundation, CareFirst launched this $5 million public-private sector philanthropic endeavor to distribute personal protective equipment (PPE) to frontline healthcare and social service organizations, at no cost. In total, Care First has distributed 1.6 million units of PPE, including gowns, gloves, masks and face shields, to frontline nonprofit health centers and independent providers throughout our region.

This partnership was also a recipient of the 2020 Citizenship Award, part of the Washington Business Journal's annual Philanthropy Awards program.

“As a leading employer and community champion, CareFirst recognizes the importance of being intentional with our actions to think creatively and act compassionately. As difference makers in our community, we will continue to use our forces for good to remove barriers to care for the individuals, families and partners we serve. CareFirst stands ready and proud to work with other not-for-profit and grassroot organizations to improve the overall health, and increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of healthcare for our communities. We are all better when we act together.” -Destiny-Simone Ramjohn, Vice President of Community Health and Social Impact, CareFirst

Community Hero

Feed the Fight

Feed the Fight began as a neighborhood effort to support local restaurants, while also supporting (hungry) healthcare workers. Within a week, it became a full-fledged network across DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

Now a community volunteer organization, Feed the Fight raises funds to support local restaurants and staff by ordering food for delivery to local health care workers at hospitals and medical centers. To date, Feed the Fight has delivered more than 33,000 meals to health care workers on the frontlines. 

Collaborative Hero

Food for Montgomery

Last year, an already stressed food distribution system was overwhelmed by a staggering increase in demand while food donations plummeted. Realizing the need for a coordinated public-private response to this crisis, the Food for Montgomery initiative was created by the Montgomery County Council & Government, Montgomery County Food Council, and the Greater Washington Community Foundation. 

Today, Food for Montgomery is engaging more than 100 nonprofits and faith communities to expand and coordinate food distribution efforts; support farmers, restaurants, and caterers; and build a more efficient and resilient food-relief system.

Thanks to generous individuals, foundations, and corporations, Food for Montgomery has already raised close to $2 million. 

Civic Heroes

Dr. Monica Goldson, CEO, Prince George’s County Public Schools

Dr. Monica E. Goldson is Chief Executive Officer of Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS). A product of the county schools, Dr. Goldson has spent her entire 29-year career in PGCPS, steadily climbing the ranks from the classroom to district leadership. She previously served as Deputy Superintendent of Teaching and Learning where she led a team that supported schools in the areas of curriculum and instruction, special education, testing, college and career readiness, and student services. 

Dr. Goldson believes in creating experiences that propel students to their highest levels of excellence. As Chief Operating Officer, she managed major divisions and offices, including Student Services, Information Technology, Supporting Services, Business Management and Pupil Accounting and School Boundaries. In this role, she developed and implemented policies and strategies related to service delivery and collaborated with staff to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Dr. Goldson’s leadership also impacts the Prince George’s County community at-large. She currently serves on the board of directors for Nonprofit Prince George’s and Prince George’s Chamber of Commerce. A graduate of Leadership Greater Washington, she has been named to “The Most Powerful Women in Washington” list by Washingtonian and honored by the Washington Business Journal with a “Women Who Mean Business” award. 

Dr. Goldson is a three-time graduate of historically Black colleges and universities with a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Florida A&M University, a master’s degree in Elementary and Secondary School Administration from Bowie State University, and a doctorate in Educational Administration and Policy from Howard University. Prior to becoming CEO, she served as an adjunct professor at The George Washington University, Howard University, and Morgan State University.

Steve Proctor, President and CEO, G.S. Proctor & Associates, Inc.

Gregory “Steve” Proctor, Jr. is the President and CEO of G.S. Proctor & Associates, Inc. Founded in 1995, G.S. Proctor is one of the most highly respected government and private sector advocacy organizations in Maryland, with offices located in Upper Marlboro and Annapolis; and has been consistently ranked among the top ten lobbying firms in the state of Maryland. 

For 25 years, Steve and his associates have provided legislative and administrative lobbying representation to a broad spectrum of clients; including institutions of higher learning, nonprofit organizations, local and multinational businesses, and local and international governmental bodies on the county, state and federal levels.

After matriculating from Towson University, he received his B.A. in political science from his alma mater, George Washington University. He strongly believes in the value of a good education and relishes the opportunity to give back to the community, so much that he and his wife Dianne created the Executive Corporate Partnership Committee at Bishop McNamara High school. Their goal is to help Bishop McNamara bring their vision to life for the new LaReine Science & Innovation Center, which will exponentially further the educational goals of our future leaders.

A family man, Steve and Dianne currently reside in Upper Marlboro, MD, where they raised their four sons: Aaron, Brian, Trey and Troy. When Steve is not helping others, he serves several leadership positions on professional boards, including serving on the Executive Board of The Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Board of Directors at Wesbanco, and the former Chair of the Greater Prince George’s Business Roundtable.

Dr. Alvin Thornton, former chairman, Prince George’s County Board of Education

Dr. Thornton was a faculty member in the Political Science Department at Howard University for 38 years. He was Senior Academic Advisor to the President, Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer,  Associate Provost, and chair of the Political Science Department. Dr. Thornton is the co-author of two books (Perspectives of Political Power in the District of Columbia, and Like a Phoenix I’LL Rise: An Illustrated History of African Americans in Prince George’s County, Maryland, 1696 to 1996) and many scholarly articles.   

Dr. Thornton chaired the Board of Education of Prince George’s County between 2018 and 2020.  He was an elected member of the county’s Board between 1992 and 1999 and was elected chair three times.  In 1999, Maryland’s Governor appointed Dr. Thornton to chair the State’s Commission on Education Adequacy, Equity and Excellence.  The Commission’s recommendations became the design that the State used to fund secondary public education.  

Dr. Thornton is the recipient of numerous outstanding leadership and service awards: including the Howard University Faculty Excellence Award; the Morehouse College National Alumnus of the Year Award; the Prince George’s NAACP Image Award; and a Distinguished Service and Leadership Award from the Prince George’s County Public School System. He is a graduate of Morehouse College (B.A.) and Howard University (Ph.D.).

Senator Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr., in memoriam