The lasting impact of our ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award winners
— ERIN HANSON
WE ALL KNOW THE SPA COMMUNITY is fortunate to have leaders who are noteworthy for their compassion and resilience . Every year , the ISPA Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual who embodies this spirit . One of the refreshing things to watch is how our previous recipients continue their meaningful work long after being honored .
Doc Hendley , our 2010 honoree for his work with Wine to Water , is a tremendous example . Once again ,“ Doc ” rallied his resources earlier this fall to support those communities devastated by Hurricane Helene . His dedication is a reminder of what we aspire to be : a unified industry that supports one another and responds with “ all hands on the rope ” when disaster strikes . To learn more about the amazing things Doc and his team are doing , please check out wtw . org . We loved Justin Wren last year — he moved so many in the ISPA audience to join his journey to Fight for the Forgotten ! And we cannot forget Mick Ebeling , our 2019 honoree for his amazing work with Not Impossible Labs , who continues to change lives every day for so many people around the world ! Of course , we have lost several of our recipients — but Sir Sidney Poitier ( 2008 ), Dr . Maya Angelou ( 2006 ) and others continue to inspire us with their ongoing legacies of service .
The impact continues and we are simply over the moon for Colorado Springs next March , when our 2025 award recipient Amy Purdy will be center-stage . Her incredible journey of overcoming adversity continues to uplift and encourage us all to be the best versions of ourselves .
Recognizing these true heroes reminds us the spirit of giving back is not a one-time act but a lifelong commitment . We celebrate their achievements and are proud to have them in our community . We all have a part to play in making the world a little bit brighter — and kinder . n
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LYNNE WALKER McNEES
LYNNE MCNEES , ISPA PRESIDENT
PULSE n DECEMBER 2024 / JANUARY 2025 64