KNX Hero of the Week

From hurricane relief in Hawaii and St Croix, to the recent wildfires in Los Angeles - Carmela Burke is making a big difference in our community and around the world! Photo: Carmela Burke helping at an emergency shelter in Westwood, courtesy of Carmela Burke and the American Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/

April is National Volunteer Month, and we are recognizing one of the best! Josh Carranco has been mentoring his "Little Brother" Bryan for about three years now, and together they are enhancing each other's lives! Photo: Josh and Bryan, courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters OC. The waitlist for kids is long, connect and learn more at https://www.ocbigs.org

Compassion Prison Project is changing the lives of thousands of incarcerated people by bringing awareness to childhood trauma, and providing hope for a better future! Photo: Fritzi Horstman, Founder and Executive Director of Compassion Prison Project.

Avid cyclists Mark Scotch (left) and Donor Coordinator Ernie Villalon (right) are cycling April 4th from Santa Monica to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, then to Keck Medicine of USC, to raise awareness for living organ donation! Photo courtesy of Keck Medicine of USC, Mark Scotch and Ernie Villalon.

Angel City Sports is a non-profit based in LA that provides year-round adaptive sports opportunities for kids, adults and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments! Photo: 2-time Paralympic Gold Medalist Ezra Frech and a fellow athlete at last year’s inaugural Youth Weekend! Photo courtesy of Clayton Frech and Angel City Sports. Connect at https://angelcitysports.org

#inspiration He’s re-learning how to walk and swim, but through persistence and hard-work, Andrew is already adaptive-surfing those same waters where he suffered the life-changing stroke. Photo: Andrew poses with a physical therapist, after taking part in an adaptive surfing lesson in the ocean with the non-profit, Life Rolls On. https://liferollson.org/

Both born and raised in Southern California, Cheryl and Craig Matheny are helping build stable foundations for people all over their community and the world, through their charitable donations. Photo: Cheryl and Craig, courtesy of the Matheny Family. Connect at https://thesolidmount.com/

In honor of National Donor Day, we hear the story of a loving husband and father of four, who tragically died after an accident. His family was able to donate four of his organs to people who desperately needed them! His wife also shifted her nursing career afterwards, so she could make a bigger impact to her community. Photo: Genesis Clark-Singh, holding a floragraph of her late husband, Aaron, a...

Meet Girl Scouts of Orange County Junior, Devon Noonan of Troop 7370, who’s helping lead the way towards a better, safer world! Photo: Devon Noonan, helping package holiday gift boxes filled with toys and supplies for the non-profit, Waymakers OC. Photo courtesy of Girl Scouts of Orange County. See more pictures at the KNX Hero story page.

Founder and Culinary Director, Chef Bill Bracken (left), and a few of his volunteers, going above and beyond to help during the recent fire crisis. https://www.brackenskitchen.org/ Photo: Courtesy of Bracken’s Kitchen, based in Orange County.

Klover King Agency mobilized their team of all-star food vendors, did live-streaming on TikTok, and assembled thousands of volunteers in a massive relief effort at the Rose Bowl and Santa Anita Race Track! Photo: "Klover King" Christopher Bailey and Holt Williams. https://linktr.ee/kloverkinglosangeles

Jennifer Alden and her family of four had to evacuate from the Palisades Fire. She also helped a neighbor evacuate, and helped a car crash victim the day before! You can assist the family here: https://gofund.me/3eb1027e #KNXHero (Photo: Jennifer, her husband Bobby, and her kids Asher and Jordan. Courtesy of Jennifer Alden)

Family, friends and volunteers help pack and distribute hundreds of suitcases for kids in foster care in Orange County. Photo courtesy of Debby Thrailkill. Connect at https://www.sco-oc.org/debby-thrailkill-a-case-for-kids/

From swimming around islands... to running over two dozen marathons! Some of our KNX Heroes from 2024 accomplished incredible feats, all in the name of helping others! Heroes include Edie Markovich, Summer Willis, Saara Dang & Rohan Soni, and WWII Vet Joe "Peppy" Sciarra. (Photo: Edie Markovich, courtesy of Glenn Zucman)

Heroic. Compassionate. Giving. So many words describe our incredible KNX heroes who went above and beyond to save a person in need this past year! Photo: Chris Goetze (left) and Larry Brown (right), courtesy of C. Goetze.

Photo: Addie Matthews (far left), at her 5K/Fundraiser for RAD. Photo courtesy of Clara DeLain @claradelainphoto

Dr. Damon Clark is a trauma surgeon with Keck Medicine of USC. He's also making a big impact with several outreach programs, including free tattoo removal for people wanting a new start on life after a negative or traumatic experience. Photo: Dr. Damon Clark, Courtesy of Keck Medicine of USC.

In the right place at the right time, with the right training! Meet Jeremy Aldridge and Daniel Maciel, with Lanark Recreation Center in Canoga Park! [Photo: Recreation Assistant Daniel Maciel (left) and Senior Director Jeremy Aldridge (right), courtesy of Jeremy Aldridge.]

Linda Chiu, Program Chair Pam Hadfield, and members of the Surfside Quilters Guild donate around 400 hand-made quilts a year, all across SoCal! They go to our veterans, patients at Children’s Hospital, and more! Linda Chiu (left) and Pam Hadfield (right) in front of a quilt at a recent meeting.

Dave Drulias runs the horse rescue organization, Because We Can, Because We Care. Healing through connection with the animals, BWC2 helps kids with special needs, first responders and veterans dealing with PTSD. Photo: Dave Drulias at the ranch, courtesy of Dave Drulias Connect: https://www.bwc2.org

Listen as "Peppy" shares more about his time in the Army Infantry, and the decades he spent with the love of the life! Photo: 99 year-old Joe "Peppy" Sciarra of Arcadia, courtesy of Rae Kearney

He's an American treasure! Our KNX Hero of the Week, the courageous, witty and compassionate Joe "Peppy" Sciarra of Arcadia! Photo: Joe Sciarra, recently speaking at the Field of Glory ceremony, captured by Steven Castro of Eagle Photography.

She's giving kids equitable opportunities to learn and grow through the art of music and theatre! And, she's inspiring people of all ages to be great. Meet Debora Wondercheck of Arts and Learning Conservatory in Orange County! (Photo: Debora Wondercheck, conducting a live performance, courtesy of ALC.) https://www.artsandlearning.org

She’s dedicated her life to protecting our oceans, and the animals and people who rely on it to live. Meet Valarie Van Cleave of Orange County, who’s spearheading efforts to preserve our planet’s largest resource! Photo: Valarie Van Cleave with Oceana's Sea Change Summer Party (courtesy of Valarie Van Cleave)

Meet Boxing Coach and Sports Performance Specialist, Aldair Perez! He reached out to an OC mother after hearing about how her son was getting bullied at school. It started with a free class to teach him some self-defense skills, but the teenager is now in regular training, gaining his power and confidence back! Photo: Aldair Perez and 14 year-old Thomas Smith, courtesy of Tamme Smith