Spirit of Hope Honorees
Spirit of Hope Award
Individuals serving as a beacon of hope for many and one who lifts up others and inspires people to make a difference.
Thomas Burke worked as a cell block officer at Jackson Prison at a block was known for being the unit where teenagers were being sent to serve time in an adult prison facility. Seeing this first-hand inspired Burke to help, founding the Save Out Youth program. Starting out, the program initial mission focused on mentoring the youth who were serving time at Jackson Prison and also mentoring youth whose parents were incarcerated.
David Andrew Merritt is a gifted and talented visionary, entrepreneur, mentor, pastor and community advocate. He served alongside of his family throughout his life to support people to be engaged in making a difference in their communities. After graduating from the University of Michigan, where he walked on and later became a captain of the basketball team, he launched a cause-based fashion brand and store named Merit Goodness. Every purchase shapes the fate of students in need and helps send them to college as 20% of the company’s profits fund Meritt’s youth program, FATE.