Ken Ross

Founder and president, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation

Death was a popular topic around the dinner table when Ken Ross was growing up. His father was a neuropathologist and his mother, Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, was the psychiatrist who pioneered the hospice care movement and developed the five stages of grief.

Ross was her caretaker during the last nine years of her life, fielding countless visitors, from celebrities like Muhammad Ali to perfect strangers.

“A few days after my mother died, a woman showed up who’d flown from Mumbai to meet her,” Ross says. “I took her to my mom’s room, let her sit on the bed and told her stories for hours. She said she felt so inspired from hearing those stories that she was going to go back to Mumbai and open a hospice.”

It was then Ross knew he had to continue his mother’s legacy. He founded the Elisabeth Kübler-Ross Foundation (www.ekrfoundation.org) in 2006 to further her groundbreaking humanitarian work, transforming how people care for the dying and grieving.

Now with chapters across four continents, Ross considers his international work to be the most rewarding. There are already thousands of hospices in the U.S., he says, but opening just one in a country with few can create generational change.

“We initiated the first pediatric hospice program in Chile, and we’ve just broken ground in Guatemala on one of the first indigenous hospices,” he says. “That’s something my mom would’ve been very proud of – we’re starting hospices that are completely built and structured around local customs, not imposing Western medicine or beliefs.”

For Ross – also a professional photographer who has traveled to 112 countries for his nonprofit and photography work – the most inspiring part is still the stories.

“Wherever I go around the planet, I hear so many stories about how my mom changed people’s lives, how they decided they’d devote their life to something meaningful because of her. With all her work on death and dying, I just love going out and seeing life.”

Sarah Grado

CEO, notMYkid

Sarah Grado knows better than anyone that vulnerability is power.

“If a topic is hard to talk about, chances are someone else is carrying the same burden, and I want them to know they’re not alone,” she says. “As a teen, I struggled with depression that eventually led to substance use, addiction, running away from home and living in my car. At 19, after becoming a teen mom and nearly losing my life to an overdose, I hit my rock bottom. An arrest became the turning point that pushed me to finally ask for help and receive professional treatment.”

Grado has never shied away from using her experiences to connect with those facing similar struggles – not when she first started working with notMYkid (www.notmykid.org) in 2009 as a volunteer, and not now, as the nonprofit’s newly-appointed CEO.

Grado – whose background is in prevention science, adolescent brain development and fundraising – says notMYkid is currently entering a critical chapter as all-new challenges emerge in the lives of young people.

Her focus is on growing counseling and outpatient treatment programs, developing innovative prevention and early intervention strategies, and increasing fundraising efforts. It’s all in the service of helping kids take their first step toward healing, giving parents the support they need, and building a healthier community for all.

As a mom of five, Grado hopes her own kids are able to see how she turned her hardest experiences into hope for others, leaving a legacy of courage and honesty.

“This cause is so close to my heart because I’ve lived the pain, shame and fear that so many families face. I know what it’s like to feel lost, and I know what it takes to rebuild. notMYkid gave me a platform to transform my past into purpose and now, stepping into the CEO role as we celebrate 25 years and begin a new chapter feels both surreal and exactly where I’m meant to be.”

Dennis Robbins

Executive director, Scottsdale Charros

Dennis Robbins was hooked on becoming a Charro from his very first Charro Ride in 1994.

“My dad became a Charro in the 1970s. He always shared great stories about the Charro Rides, working with amazing leaders in our community, and giving back to Scottsdale,” says Robbins, who was invited to join the all-volunteer group of community leaders in 1995.

Robbins’ background means he’s been well-positioned to make an impact over the years. In addition to practicing law and running a family business, he served two terms on the Scottsdale City Council – a lifelong goal as someone who grew up across the street from and closely followed the career of Herb Drinkwater.

When it comes down to it, Robbins’ heart has always been for community service. After serving as a member of the Charros for over two decades, Robbins assumed the mantle of executive director. In his 10 years in the role, his life has been just as greatly impacted by the organization as the people they serve – no small feat, considering the Charros have donated over $20 million to worthy local nonprofits.

His standout memories include cooking dinner for families dealing with medical challenges at the Ronald McDonald House; awarding over 40 scholarships to local students each year; and the annual Charro Education Banquet, which honors outstanding teachers in the Scottsdale Unified School District.

The Charros also manage the annual Parada del Sol Parade & Trail’s End Festival, which will take place Jan. 31 in Old Town. This year, in addition to celebrating Scottsdale’s Western heritage, the parade will observe the city’s 75th anniversary.

“The best part of the job is working with all the people who make a difference in our community,” Robbins says. “This includes teachers and administrators in our schools, staff and elected officials in Scottsdale, tourism professionals who promote our great city, and the citizens and businesses that call Scottsdale home. It takes each one of us to make this a great, livable city.”

Kim Humphrey

CEO & executive director, Parents of Addicted Loved Ones

For nearly a decade, Kim Humphrey and his wife struggled to navigate their sons’ opioid addictions – until they learned about Parents of Addicted Loved Ones (PAL).

“This was the first time that we did not feel alone – that someone understood what we were going through and did not judge us but were willing to walk alongside us on this journey,” Humphrey says.

They left the meeting feeling not just supported, but educated, equipped with evidence-based tools. Over the years, Humphrey’s involvement grew as he facilitated meetings and, after retiring from over 30 years on the Phoenix Police Department, helped PAL’s founder transition the organization to a nonprofit in 2015. Three years later, Humphrey was named executive director, a big step for the formerly volunteer-only organization.

Today, PAL (www.palgroup.org) hosts weekly in-person meetings in 40 states, community education seminars and virtual meetings that reach people around the globe, in addition to offering facilitator training for those looking to start a group in their area.

“Most people do not understand the magnitude of this issue – it is the largest health crisis in the history of our country. More people suffer from substance use disorder than all cancers combined. Unfortunately, the families are collateral damage in this and the stigma keeps people from seeking the help they need.”

Last year, the organization celebrated its 10th anniversary of becoming a nonprofit, with many more years ahead of providing hope and resources to families facing addiction.

“My hope is that the stigma and shame will be eliminated, and people will seek out help for the disease just like they do if they find out they have cancer. There is hope – people do get better and families can be restored,” Humphrey says. “I have heard so many personal stories where people thought all hope was lost, but then found PAL and now have their life back. There’s a name behind each story and sometimes we simply can’t believe how these things work out.”

Becky Bell Ballard

CEO, Rosie’s House

It’s no stretch to say that Becky Bell Ballard’s life has been devoted to music, from playing piano and French horn in school to serving as CEO of Rosie’s House: A Music Academy for Children (www.rosieshouse.org).

“The privilege – and, frankly, expense – of my music education was made possible because of my dad’s career as a research scientist. He had an unlikely path to his career – he grew up with great financial need in rural Idaho as the son of a blacksmith,” Ballard says.

Her dad reminded her throughout her childhood how music changed his life, taught him to focus and introduced him to the wider world. “That’s why I serve in my role – so that every child, regardless of their financial background, can have the same life-shaping opportunity that music gave to my family.”

With over 20 years of nonprofit arts experience, Ballard – who previously oversaw the Phoenix Symphony’s community engagement department – has been well-equipped to oversee change at Rosie’s House. During her tenure, the nonprofit has expanded its free, year-round programming for children of all ages; acquired its current building and campus in Downtown Phoenix in 2022; and will soon celebrate its 30-year anniversary. The plan for coming years is to continue expanding its resources to reach the over 400 families currently waitlisted, with the goal of enrolling 1,000 youth by 2027.

For Ballard, it’s all about expanding access to creativity, a fundamental human right, not a luxury, which helps young people build confidence, empathy and courage. “When creativity is nurtured, innovation follows. When access to creativity is equitable, opportunity multiplies.”

Ballard says she hopes her work is remembered for elevating young voices and removing barriers. One of the most moving aspects of the job is witnessing the ripple effects of Rosie’s House as alumni make their impact across the Valley. It’s just like one mom recently told Ballard – “Rosie’s House believes in your child before the world does.”