May 5, 2026
The Pulte Family Charitable Foundation is pleased to announce the category finalists for the Inspired By Their Stories Award.
Category finalists will be announced April 27–30, with one category announced each day:
Five finalists have been selected in each category. Public engagement and voting over the next week will help inform the winning story in each category.
From Hardship to Hope: A Story of Service
Leading the ministry that lifted her out of homelessness.
It’s difficult being homeless anywhere, but especially in Alpena, Michigan, along the shores of Lake Huron. Average low temperatures in the dead of winter hover around 13 degrees. Snow and ice storms can cripple the area for weeks. Yet sadly, homelessness has quietly intensified in Alpena in recent years because of a lack of affordable housing.
Christina Kihn, an Army veteran, knows this reality personally. Years ago, after becoming estranged from her husband, a veteran who was struggling with PTSD, Kihn lost her job of six years as a field auditor. The mother of two boys under the age of 5 wound up homeless. At one point, the three lived in a friend’s unheated attic, huddled together on a mattress to stay warm.
During this time, she found physical and spiritual nourishment through the Friendship Room, a soup kitchen at the Center of Charity. This ministry is hosted by All Saints Catholic Church—a parish Catholic Extension Society proudly supports.
While the Center of Charity fed Kihn and her children, she was eventually able to secure housing and employment. She went on to land her “dream job” as director of this very place that once brought her warmth and a fresh meal. “God gave me the Center of Charity to really work His mission,” she said.
Kihn’s goal is to empower people toward greater stability, whether they are battling hunger, housing insecurity, addiction or abuse. Her team consists of 153 volunteers who serve thousands annually. This large-scale operation provides temporary lodging, meals, health care and other essential resources to low-income and homeless members of the community. It also offers connections to social, mental health and substance abuse services. Children and teenagers fleeing abuse also find refuge here, as do individuals with physical limitations that hinder them from maintaining employment and housing.
Kihn knows from experience that the homeless don’t need pity, but empowerment: “I try to motivate people through empathy and kindness and with a can-do attitude,” she said. “Make sure that we’re a team, we’re there for them and that they know that God’s there for them.”
One man had been homeless for seven years, struggling with strokes and seizures, and went to the center after repeatedly being denied housing. Kihn and her team collaborated with local agencies to secure him an apartment and essential household items.
When you meet Kihn you realize that this is not social work to her. The people she helps are not “clients.” They are her brothers and sisters in Christ.
The center’s efforts have not only alleviated immediate suffering but have also strengthened the social fabric of the community by fostering a culture of empathy and solidarity.
Catholic Extension Society is proud to support Kihn and her beautiful ministry of compassion. She is one of hundreds of inspiring Catholic leaders that we support who are making a real impact by caring for the most vulnerable and overlooked people in the poorest regions of America.
Expanding Access to Education for Girls
Hope for Madagascar
Alice + Convoy of Hope
In Madagascar, where the rolling green hills meet the dusty red earth, life is dictated by the rhythm of the soil. Most families here are farmers, working tirelessly to coax a living from the land. Yet, for many, the harvest isn’t enough. For the children of these communities, the pangs of hunger were once a daily companion, making the simple act of learning feel like an impossible mountain to climb.
Alice Rahelimalala always knew she wanted to serve her country. After studying in the United States as a Fulbright Scholar, she returned to Madagascar, driven by a desire to help her people but uncertain of where to begin. That path became clear when she joined Convoy of Hope.
Alice and her team saw the devastating impact of malnutrition firsthand. “When kids are malnourished, they are not really motivated to do things such as studying,” says Ando, a volunteer. Malnutrition doesn’t just empty a stomach; it drains the spirit and dulls the mind.
In the village of Mahabo, the local school (EPP Mahabo) has become a sanctuary. Every day, from Monday to Friday, the air is filled with the aromatic steam of large communal pots. Parents and volunteers gather to prepare nutritious lunches, ensuring every child has the fuel they need to grow.
The change has been nothing short of miraculous. Arina, a young student, recalls crying when she thought she would miss lunch, often skipping school because she was too hungry to focus. Now, her brain “starts to work better,” and she’s back in the classroom where she belongs. Teachers like Hanitriniaina Andreno have noticed a surge in “strength and intelligence” among their students. The community has rallied together, with parents actively participating in the feeding programs, turning a challenge into a collective victory.
For Convoy of Hope, these lunches are a foundation for a brighter future. By fighting malnutrition, they are unlocking the potential of an entire generation. “We are not just bringing food to communities,” Alice explains. “We are bringing hope.”
As the Convoy trucks navigate the rugged island roads, the children wave and smile, knowing that help is on the way. In their laughter and their newfound energy, you can see the light at the end of the tunnel—a promise that every child in Madagascar deserves the chance to thrive.
Three years ago, Alice and her team of local church heroes set out to bring hope to Madagascar. Today, that hope is 10,122 children being fed daily, 1,654 farmers seeing record harvests, and 2,290 women and girls finding their strength. But they aren’t just providing aid; they are building an inheritance. As these local farmers and businesswomen take the reins of the school feeding programs, Alice and Convoy will bring their sustainable model to the next community in need.
Convoy is on track to feed one million school children daily by 2030; helping families in 39 countries escape hunger and experience the gospel. Since 1994, God has used Convoy of Hope to serve over 350M people here in the US and around the world.
Building Health, Confidence, and Hope
Maryam Oviedo started at the Amigos Academy in Nicaragua as a level one preschooler in 2022. She lives in a rural community in Nicaragua with her parents and two younger siblings. Though she was a sweet and well-behaved child, Maryam rarely finished her meals and was malnourished. She suffered from immense anxiety, not allowing her instructors to approach her and struggling to make friends with other students.
Our health staff worked one-on-one with Maryam and her family, ruling out any medical concerns that could be the root of her malnutrition and developing strategies to increase her consumption of nourishing foods. Over the course of the 2025 school year, thanks to a specialized nutrition plan and her work with the school psychologist, Maryam gained weight and moved from malnourished to underweight to now being in the optimal nutrition range.
Maryam is thriving at mealtimes and in the classroom now, and her parents are grateful for the intervention of the Student Health & Nutrition Program at the Amigos Academy for walking alongside and supporting Maryam’s health journey.
Where Compassion Restores Dignity
On a frigid December morning, with temperatures hovering around 25 degrees, neighbors across Nashville gathered in line for a food distribution. Among them was Armistead, an 82-year-old neighbor who never imagined he would one day need this kind of support.
Just months earlier, Armistead returned to Nashville from Houston. After losing close family members and facing unexpected hardship, he found himself without stable housing, sleeping in his car for nearly three and a half months. The physical toll was severe, with swelling in his legs, repeated hospital visits, and the impossibility of recovery without a safe place to rest. But beyond the uncertainty of not having a place to call home was a deeper truth: housing instability and food insecurity can affect anyone, at any stage of life.
Armistead’s story reflects the growing need among older adults in our community. Individuals on fixed incomes, often with complex health needs, are increasingly vulnerable to life-altering financial shocks. Many, like him, have spent decades giving back, serving their country, educating others, and strengthening their communities, only to find themselves facing impossible choices between food, housing, and healthcare.
As a community anchor, we serve neighbors like Armistead by providing consistent, dignified access to nutritious food at moments of critical need. But our impact goes beyond meals. By collaborating with Strategic Partners, our goal is to address all the gaps in the Social Determinants of Health our neighbors face beyond equitable food access. At this Mobile Pantry distribution, connection and compassion led to stability. A local church partner, recognizing Armistead’s past generosity, stepped in to cover his rent. A community member, noticing his living conditions, purchased him a bed, transforming not just his comfort, but his ability to heal.
Today, Armistead is housed. Yet what stands out most is not what he has received, but what he continues to give. Even now, he plans to share his food with others still experiencing homelessness. His perspective is simple but powerful: “You get a blessing so you can take that blessing to somebody else.”
This is why our work matters. Food is not just sustenance; it is a bridge to stability, dignity, and connection. It meets immediate needs while opening the door to longer-term support. For Armistead, a box of food represents more than nourishment; it represents the ability to continue living out a lifetime of service.
Our impact is measured not only in meals distributed, but in lives steadied, health restored, and hope renewed. Armistead’s story is a reminder that when we show up for one another, especially in moments of vulnerability, we create a stronger, more compassionate community where everyone has the opportunity not just to survive, but to give back.
“I’m just a steward,” he said. “A doorkeeper. That’s about all I can do. And I’m thankful I can still do that.
Feeding Families, Strengthening Communities
At Feeding GA Families (FGF), our story began in 2010 with a simple, urgent mission: feeding neighbors on the streets of Atlanta. What started as a grassroots effort to provide hot meals has blossomed into a comprehensive support system that treats every person who walks through our doors—or receives a delivery at theirs—as a member of our own family. We serve a diverse community of seniors, veterans, students, and hard-working households across Georgia, responding to the silent but pervasive crisis of food and resource insecurity.
We recognize that hunger rarely exists in a vacuum. To truly empower a family, we must look at the “whole well-being” of the individual. Our work is anchored by our 4 Pillars of Family Care:
Food Security: The foundation of our mission, ensuring no table is left empty.
Housing Support: Providing temporary housing resources and utility assistance to keep families safe and sheltered.
Workforce/Youth Development: Empowering the next generation through student snack kits and adults through our Career*Learning Center to build paths toward self-sufficiency.
Access to Vital Resources: Connecting neighbors to healthcare links, hygiene kits, and even pet food through our “Project Companion” pantry.
True food security isn’t just about calories; it’s about dignity and health. We understand that a “one size fits all” box of canned goods doesn’t work for a diabetic senior or a child with severe allergies. This is why our food security pillar focuses on:
Dietary Inclusions: We are proud to host the Vegantry, a weekly plant-based and allergy-friendly pantry. By providing low-sodium, heart-healthy, and vegan options, we ensure that those with medical conditions like hypertension or diabetes can eat safely without compromising their health.
Accessibility & Delivery: For the homebound, the elderly, or those without reliable transportation, we’ve removed the barrier of distance. Through Operation E.F.F.O.R.T. (nationwide) and our “Meals on Wheels 4 Kids GA,” we provide direct-to-home delivery of fresh produce and groceries. Whether through our drive-thru market or shipped emergency boxes, we meet people exactly where they are.
This work matters because a hungry child cannot learn, and a worried parent cannot thrive. By combining nutritional support with workforce and housing resources, we aren’t just giving a handout; we are providing a hand up. Every delivery made and every meal served is a promise kept to our community: that in their time of need, they are seen, they are valued, and they are not alone.
Pulte Family Charitable Foundation
Pulte Family Charitable Foundation
