(Baton Rouge, LA) - The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation (Louisiana Blue Foundation) is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of The Angel Award®, which recognizes everyday Louisianians who have distinguished themselves by improving the health and lives of our state's children.
Too often, the extraordinary efforts of those serving children go unnoticed. The Angel Award honors these acts with recognition and resources, empowering honorees to continue making a lasting impact. This year, the Foundation will make a $30,000 grant to a local nonprofit chosen by each honoree.
“Each of these Angels shows us what it means to care for Louisiana’s children. What unites them is a deep love for our state and a willingness to give of themselves so that every child has the chance to grow and thrive,” said Michael Tipton, president of the Foundation. “We are proud to honor them and grateful for the example they set for all of us.”
The Angel Award Honorees:
• Bonita Armour of Dry Prong, the founder and president of B22 Sports Complex, which offers mentorship, employment and life skills to youth in central Louisiana through sports and community connection.
• Divine Bailey-Nicholas of Opelousas, the founder and executive director of Community Birth Companion, which provides culturally aware, evidence-based maternal health support to families in rural Louisiana.
• Barry Jackson of Baton Rouge, a longtime teacher and coach at Tara High School, where he guided over 1,500 students to graduation and provided stability in a high-needs school.
• Rheneisha Robertson of New Orleans, the CEO of Covenant House New Orleans, which offers shelter, support and opportunity to youth experiencing homelessness, helping them reclaim safety and hope.
• Dr. Dawn Stanfield of Monroe, the program director of Academy for Collaborative Education, North Louisiana’s only school for autistic children, which offers specialized education and family support.
• DeWanna Tarver of Lake Charles, the founder of DeWanna’s Closet, which ensures students and teachers in Calcasieu Parish have access to school essentials like uniforms, shoes and hygiene items throughout the school year.
• Kelli Todd of Shreveport, the executive director of Volunteers for Youth Justice, which helps keep children out of the justice system and provides the tools they need to stay safe, stable and in school.
• Cherry and Sherry Wilmore of Houma, the co-founders of CHeriSH Times Two, which supports foster youth with education, mentorship and resources to support housing stability and systemic change.
Each year, the Foundation also recognizes a Blue Angel, a Louisiana Blue employee who has made a difference in the lives of children through volunteer service.
This year's Blue Angel is Matthew Vicknair of Baton Rouge, an analyst in the Value Based Operations division. Vicknair volunteers and serves on the board of Front Yard Bikes, where he mentors at-risk youth and helps them build confidence and community through bikes.
Call to Action: Celebrate and Support Angel Honorees on Oct. 20
The Louisiana Blue Foundation will recognize and celebrate the 2025 honorees of The Angel Award at a special ceremony on Monday, Oct. 20. The event will be streamed live starting at 6:30 p.m. on the Foundation’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LABlueFoundation.
Members of the public can watch the broadcast, learn more about each Angel, and share their stories.
"Our Angels remind us that real change happens when a community comes together," said Tipton. "We invite everyone to tune in, celebrate with us and take part in the work they’ve started. Sharing their stories is an easy way to help their impact grow stronger.”
About the Louisiana Blue Foundation
The Louisiana Blue Foundation makes grants to improve health outcomes for Louisiana’s people. Its grant programs are particularly focused on the social determinants of health, which are the everyday circumstances that influence a person’s health.
Since 2020, the Foundation has made more than $40 million in grants to nonprofits addressing public health, COVID-19 response, and natural disasters. The Foundation also facilitates connections between the communities, leaders, and everyday people who are working to make life better for their friends, families, and neighbors. We invite you to learn more by reading our most recent annual report.
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