Previous Unsung Hero Winners
2025 Winners
Rolanda Woolfork - Legacy Hero
Rolanda Woolfork is a passionate and tireless advocate for her community, whose leadership has touched lives across Lexington. She has served as the Vice President of the Georgetown Street Area Neighborhood Association, coordinated initiatives like Prayer in the Streets and Jazz Nights in Douglass Park, and been a member of multiple City and nonprofit boards. Rolanda’s dedication extends to providing essential resources such as food, clothing, and medical assistance for those in need. In recognition of her service, February 10th was declared “Rolanda Woolfork Day,” celebrating her selfless commitment to building a stronger, more equitable community.
Judith Humble - Community Hero
Judith Humble, a lifelong Lexington resident and licensed clinical social worker, has spent her career helping individuals overcome life’s challenges while fostering systemic change. Since 2013, she has channeled her concerns about climate change into action through her leadership in the Sierra Club. Judith co-founded the Zero Waste Team and Bluegrass Climate Action Team, focusing on collaborative solutions to reduce waste and mitigate climate change. Her work, which emphasizes education and partnerships with faith communities, restaurants, and local government, inspires hope and progress in creating a more sustainable future. Judith’s efforts reflect her deep love for Lexington and her unwavering belief in the resilience of its people.
Justin Royal - Education Hero
Justin Royal has spent his career empowering young people to discover their passions and find purpose. Justin spent ten years working in alternative education before joining Bryan Station High School, where he has been a teacher for over a decade. His classroom is a space of encouragement and connection, fostering leadership and community-minded values in his students. Justin’s dedication to his students is rooted in his belief in guiding them to “always walk toward that which is greater than you.”
Gale Reece - Social & Family Services Hero
Gale Reece has dedicated her career to improving the lives of seniors and addressing the challenges of aging with dignity. As the founder of ITNBluegrass, Gale established a transformative senior transportation service that has provided over 125,000 rides to older adults and the visually impaired. Her leadership extends to creating the annual I Know Expo, a hub of resources for caregivers and families, and spearheading innovative housing solutions through the organization Reimagining Home. Gale’s passion for service is matched only by her dedication to her family, including 12 grandchildren, and her vision for a community where seniors thrive.
Remy Simpson - Community Hero
Remy Simpson is a lifelong advocate for animal welfare and the founder of Paws 4 the Cause, a regional animal rescue organization. Over the years, Remy has saved thousands of animals, working tirelessly to address hoarding cases, find homes for pets, and advocate for better animal protection laws. Despite a battle with cancer, Remy has remained a beacon of hope and resilience, continuing his mission to improve the lives of animals and people alike. His plans to establish a low-cost veterinary clinic and community center exemplify his enduring commitment to creating a legacy of compassion and service.
Amy Ross - Lifeline Hero
Amy Ross, a veteran police dispatcher with nearly 25 years of service, is a cornerstone of Lexington’s emergency response system. Her calm demeanor and ability to manage high-pressure situations have been instrumental in critical incidents, from officer-involved shootings to major disasters like the Comair Flight 5191 crash. Beyond her professional excellence, Amy’s resilience and compassion shine through in her devotion to her family and her diverse interests, including painting, travel, and spirituality. Her resilience is shown in her unwavering commitment to public safety and her community.
Lanance Martin - Community Hero
Lanance Martin is a dedicated and resulted-driven Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Team Leader at Kinder Drug Delivery, with extensive experience in quality control, effective communication, and team leadership. With a strong work ethic and a positive attitude, she thrives in high-pressure environments and is known for her ability to motivate and support her team to achieve excellence. In addition to her role at Kinder Drug Delivery, Lance is a proud mother of two, and an active TikTok influencer who shares her passion for life, personal growth, and supporting others. Whether she’s leading a team at work, supporting her children as their #1 fan, or inspiriting others online, Lanance’s drive, and positive energy make her a standout in everything she does.
Edward Dove - Civil Service Hero
Edward E. Dove has dedicated his career to advancing civil rights and social justice through advocacy, education, and compassion. Serving as an attorney for the Human Rights Commission, Edward has been a steadfast ally for marginalized communities, addressing issues of discrimination and inequity. When Edward is not working with the Human Rights Commission, he represents clients in Education Law, Civil Litigation, and Criminal Law. Edward owns his own private practice which serves Central and Eastern Kentucky, including, but not limited to, Fayette, Scott, Bourbon, Madison, Jessamine and Woodford Counties. His work not only uplifts individuals but also strengthens the fabric of Lexington’s community by fostering inclusivity and equity.
Elisha Mutayongwa - Community Hero
Elisha Mutayongwa is the founder and executive director of the Marafiki Center, a vital organization that fosters cross-cultural understanding and celebrates Lexington’s vibrant African and Swahili-speaking communities. Through programs like Swahili Day, the Summer Swahili Camp, and AfroLex, Elisha creates spaces for cultural celebration, professional development, and integration. His leadership extends to civic engagement, serving on boards such as the Mayor’s International Affairs Advisory Commission and the New American Initiative Board of Directors. Elisha’s work has garnered widespread recognition: he received the Grassroots Black Leadership Award from the Lexington Black Prosperity Initiative in 2021, and in 2023, he was honored as a Community Influencer by Sneaker Ball Lex.
2023 Winners
Martin Ashford - Lexington Unsung Hero
A member of the Lexington Fire Department for 9 years, FF Martin Ashford serves as an EMT and Hazmat Tech. When he isn’t busy studying to complete his degree in Fire Science Technology at BCTC and speaking students across Lexington at career fairs and panels at his alma mater Bryan Station High School, the Boy Scouts, and the Team Mack AAU program, FF Martin coaches basketball at the Dunbar Community Center. He is a member of the Lexington Professional Black Firefighters and is a noted leader discussing the vision of the organization and recruiting efforts that address underrepresented minorities in the department.
Christina Howard, MD, FAAP - Community Hero
Dr. Christina Howard became chief of Pediatric Forensic Medicine at Kentucky Children’s Hospital in September 2015. In the eight years since, she has expanded the team from one physician and registered nurse to a team of 15, made up of physicians, registered nurses, licensed clinical social workers, and a patient navigator. She and her team in Pediatric Forensic Medicine at Kentucky Children’s Hospital provides services to approximately 700 children each year from Lexington and across Kentucky who ave experienced alleged maltreatment or abuse. The team works tirelessly to care for every child that comes into the clinic, listening to each patient and providing trauma-informed, specialized care. Kentucky’s kids are safer, healthier, and happier because of her expertise and selfless service.
Carla Guthrie - Dedicated Hero
For over 25 years, Carla has been active in serving families and individuals dealing with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Her career began as a volunteer with the Best Friends program after helping her father who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. In addition to her job, Carla continues to serve this population as a volunteer, leading independent support groups, fundraising and helping develop other services providers in the field. She freely gives her time in counseling and coaching families to help them deal with the life and family changes brought on by this disease.
Michael Price - Distinguished Hero
Having completed 25 years of service with Fayette County Public Schools in 2023, Michael Price served the last 12 years as principal of Breckinridge Elementary School in Lexington. Principal Price has held many roles during his tenure at FCPS: teacher, writing coach, assistant principal, and principal. He’s an advocate for access and opportunity for all children, especially those from underserved populations in Lexington, and goes above and beyond to ensure that students have equitable opportunities for learning and growth. Michael works hard to spread joy to kids at Breckinridge Elementary and every day he sets out to bring a smile to those he encounters, always looking for ways to help those around him, students, and teachers alike, learn and grow.
Jeff Herron - Emerging Hero
As the Manager of Lexington’s Office of Homelessness Prevention & Intervention, he spearheads the community’s response to homelessness by fostering collaboration among individuals and services to identify and address needs. The respect the community and his peers have for him can be seen in the responsiveness of partners when he calls - even on late Friday afternoons - problem-solving the emergency shelter needs of residents as he did in the middle of winter when temperatures were set to fall into the negatives for days on end. Despite having limited staff and budget resources, Jeff is recognized as a positive and solutions-oriented leader who consistently makes a significant impact.
Dr. Mark Dougherty - Lifeline Hero
Mark Dougherty, MD, is an epidemiologist at Baptist Health Lexington, the largest not-for-profit health system in Kentucky. In practice for 35 years, Dr. Dougherty founded Lexington Infectious Disease Consultants, and independent practice that works with local hospitals. He, as well as the other members of his practice, are also on staff at CHI St. Joseph and CHI St. Joseph East. He collaborated with other Lexington hospitals and partnered with the University of Kentucky and Norton Healthcare in Louisville on Johnson & Johnson’s clinical research study for a viable COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Dougherty’s expertise was sought out by the national media including CNN, The Washington Post, and other news outlets.
Raul Garces - Administrative Hero
Lexington Public Library’s mission is to connect people, inspire ideas, and transform lives. At Northside branch that means providing food to our community in partnership with God’s Pantry; helping people access resources for jobs, social services and entertainment; being a welcoming space for all; and providing enriching programs. Raul plays a pivotal role in each of these. He communicates with customers, moving seamlessly between English and Spanish, when the language barrier is an obstacle. In the last year, Raul has been hosting a popular ESOL Conversation group at Northside. He regularly acts as a welcoming interpreter to customers as they complete online job applications and onboarding paperwork, is a customer favorite for movie recommendations, and keeps staff morale high with homemade Cuban treats and kind words.