Moontower Ball | February 4, 2023

Celebrating change, illuminating changemakers in our community.

February 4, 2023

JW Marriott Austin

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2023 Changemaker Award Winners

Found

Innovative For Profit

View Our 2022 Winners

rising changemaker

Awarded to a community leader under 35 with integral work across for and nonprofit spaces.

Nico Ramsey

An active philanthropist in Austin, Nico has worked with Central Texas nonprofits that focused on breaking the cycle of poverty, providing access to affordable health care, and administering safe animal adoption and rehabilitation services, as well as organizations with strategic goals in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Racial Justice Champion

Awarded to an Austin leader committed to racial equity and addressing systemic racism.

Denise Hernandez

The first openly gay Latina Judge to serve County Court at Law #6 in Travis County, Denise has dedicated her career as a lawyer and advocate to serving the community, fighting for equity and inclusion, and building solutions for our most pressing social issues.

Affordability Champion

Awarded to an active advocate for equitable, affordable housing in Austin.

Nora Linares-Moeller

Driven to action by the 2013 “Keep Austin Affordable” Housing Bond campaign, Nora began consulting with HousingWorks, an affordable housing advocacy organization that aims to increase the supply of affordable housing in Austin.

Community Champion

Awarded to community builder prioritizing care, support, and resources for marginalized people.

Mike Nellis

Mike is Chief Executive Officer of Austin Community Foundation, a catalyst for generosity in Austin bringing together philanthropists, dollars and ideas to build a better Austin today and tomorrow.

Innovative Startup

Awarded to an Austin-based startup that centers around impact and provides solutions to industry and community problems.

Civitech

Civitech develops technological infrastructure that enables organizations to recruit people to run for office, and then enables candidates and advocacy organizations to manage their campaigns from one central platform.

Innovative Nonprofit

Awarded to an organization with a unique business model used to provide programming and services to under-resourced Austinites.

Code2College

Founded in 2016, Code2College is on a mission to dramatically increase the number of minority and low-income high school students who enter and excel in STEM undergraduate majors and careers.

Innovative For Profit

Awarded to an impact-leaning company with a mission to drive major industry change.

Found

Found is dedicated to improving people’s overall wellbeing by making evidence-based weight loss accessible & affordable for all.

Janice Omadeke
Rising Changemaker

Chas Moore
Racial Justice Champion

Walter Moreau
Affordability Champion

Dr. Colette Pierce Burnette
Community Champion

ClosedLoop.ai
Innovative Startup

DivInc
Innovative Nonprofit

ICON
Innovative For-Profit

Philip and Donna Berber
Philanthropic Champion

2023 Highlights

2023 Keynote Speaker:
Amanda Nguyen

Amanda Nguyen is the founder of Rise, a 2019 Nobel Peace Prize Nominee and a 2022 TIME Woman of the Year. Her civil rights activism and social entrepreneurship brings people together to create change.