Tom Bagamane, founded The Giving Spirit in 1999 and has led it as Chairman and CEO during its 20+ years of service to the homeless of Greater Los Angeles.

Ezra Frech, was born with congenital limb differences, missing his left knee, left shin bone, and fingers on his left hand.

Bahar Soomekh, is an accomplished actress, advocate, and proponent of healthy, mindful living. Soomekh starred as Dorri in Crash, the Academy Award-winning film.

Clayton Frech, is a disability advocate, social entrepreneur, and frequent speaker on the intersection of disability, sport and human rights.

Sven-Olaf Lindblad, founder of Lindblad Expeditions, was born in Switzerland, son of renowned adventure-travel pioneer Lars-Eric Lindblad.

Kristin Hettermann is recognized for her underwater and adventure travel photography and awareness efforts surrounding important environmental and social causes.

Karen Hawkins is a self-described Chinese-Japanese goofball born in Singapore. Here is her story: I’m 5′ 3-1/2″, small but fiesty, funny, and loveable…

Kenneth A. Carlson directed and produced the feature length documentary, THE HEART OF NUBA, profiling the courageous and selfless efforts of Dr. Tom Catena, the sole doctor for a million patients in the war-torn Nuba Mountains of Sudan

Tom “Dr. Tom” Catena was born in Amsterdam, New York. He went on to study mechanical engineering at Brown, in the U.S., before enrolling at Duke to study medicine on a naval scholarship.