As a professional mentor with Friends of the Children, Phalon Carpenter works with second and third graders facing high levels of adversity. She is committed to mentoring this group of students from kindergarten through high school. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Phalon has broken boundaries to make sure her mentees don’t fall behind as school has gone virtual. She trained students’ caregivers and families to use technology for the children’s online schooling. As parents have had to balance work and their children’s education, she developed a routine for her mentees to make sure they can be ready for classes every morning.
With school back in session, there’s no better time to celebrate the incredible education professionals that contribute to our communities. The American Red Cross of Illinois celebrates the everyday heroes among us and honors their acts of great bravery, dedication, and service through their annual Heroes Breakfast event. The event also serves as a way for the organization to highlight partnerships with corporations, like William Blair, that make the lifesaving mission possible. The Red Cross is prepared to respond to more than 60,000 disasters nationwide because of the support of leaders like William Blair.
As the sponsor of the 2021 Education Hero Award, William Blair believes an investment in education yields nothing but positive returns. William Blair’s charitable contributions are 100% employee inspired and their colleagues prioritize equitable access to education and youth development in their giving. William Blair employees also support Red Cross disaster relief efforts through employee matching, volunteer grant programs, virtual volunteerism, blood drives, and ongoing campaigns. William Blair is proud to honor Phalon Carpenter, the 2021 Education Hero Award recipient, for her extraordinary mentorship and ongoing commitment to her students.
Learn more about the 2021 Red Cross Heroes, and how you can help.
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Ann Marie Scheidler is a freelance writer who lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and five children. She tends to be where her kids are, but if you can’t find her there, she’s proudly supporting Beacon Place as one of its newest board members. Beacon Place is a nonprofit organization that has changed the lives of 4,000 children and families in Waukegan. Their innovative programs take a whole child and family approach to education, enrichment and healthy lifestyles support.
