The Champion Award recognizes individuals and organizations who go above and beyond in supporting Fountain Hill Center’s mission to provide accessible, compassionate, and community-centered mental health care.
2025 Friends and Champion Award is presented to Zach Van Baren of Calvin University and the StreetFest program. StreetFest, held each year during new student orientation, connects students, faculty, and staff with over 50 community organizations and churches in Grand Rapids for a day of service and learning.
For the past 11 years, Calvin students have supported us through projects like landscaping, house cleanup and more. Zach's personal journey with StreetFest is especially meaningful. From his first experience as a participant during orientation week at Calvin, to serving as a tow-time Orientation Leader, he has not only embraced the program but also inspired others to do the same. His leadership and passion for service has made a lasting difference.
"StreetFest introduces students to the city of Grand Rapids and to the concept of service-learning, igniting their passion for service and justice and motivating them to engage n service-learning opportunities and the local community through their time at Calvin and beyond!" - Calvin University website
Calvin News - Calvin's StreetFest Program receives Friends and Champion Award
Former Friends & Champion Award Winners
- 2024 - Filip Zadro
- 2023 - Pastor Ruth Fitzgerald
- 2022 - Linda Bylsma
- 2021 - no nomination
- 2020 - no event
- 2019 - Mishelle Comstock
- 2018 - Dan Beelen
- 2017 - Tom Roe