Rita Valenciano developed an attitude and approach to community service and was influenced by her activism with the United Farm Workers while in college during the late 1960's and early 70's. The basis for her community service and advocacy is summarized by her adopted theme: Si Se Puede! Yes We Can!

Ms. Valenciano is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Kansas City with a B.A. in sociology and an M.P.A with an emphasis in human service and nonprofit administration. Past President of the Board of Directors of the Coalition of Hispanic Organizations (COHO), Ms Valenciano chaired COHO's Civil Rights Committee and served as the spokesperson for the Latino Civil Rights Task Force, which took up the challenge to the appointment of an active member of the Minutemen on the KCMO Parks Board.

Ms.Valenciano served two terms as President of the Board of Directors of MANA de KC, a Latina organization . She has also chaired the Board of Directors of the Guadalupe Center, Inc. and the Kansas/Missouri Advisory Board of Project Equality, Inc. a race relations organization. Ms. Valenciano volunteered on numerous nonprofit boards of Directors, among them Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City; served as the HCF board liaison to the REACH Foundation Board of Directors; and was a board member (and later interim Executive Director) of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Greater Kansas City, Mattie Rhodes Counseling and Arts Center, Truman Medical Center; Campfire, Inc.; UMKC Alumni Board; United Way Community Care Panel; and the Wyandotte Community Health Council.

Since Clyde and Katie Wendel moved to Kansas City in 1997 from St. Louis, they have been tow leading philanthropists and advocates for the power of diversity and the importance of inclusion. The significance of this commitment is apparent in the long list of organizations they have embraced. After a long career with Bank of America, Clyde joined the leadership team at UMB as President of Asset Management and Vice Chairman in 2006. Clyde has served on the boards of the Central City School Fund and Truman Medical Center. While at Bank of America, Clyde directed the efforts in the redevelopment of 18th & Vine Historical District and was instrumental in Bank of America's refurbishing Satchel Paige Baseball Stadium. Clyde is Vice Chairman of the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Institute and President of the Board of Trustees of Rockhurst University. He is currently chairing the capital campaign for the Samuel U. Rogers Health Center which provides services to those most in need.

Katie is a board member of DeLaSalle Education Center where she mentored a student for the past two years, seeing her through to graduation. Previously a board member of the Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Katie co-chaired the Benefit '07 and Gala '08 for Arts Education. Both events raised money for educational programs for young people in the urban core. She currently serves as co-chair of the Ailey Camp/Education Committee. Katie is also on the board of directors for the Francis Family Foundation which supports pulmonary research, life-long learning and arts and education. She serves as a trustee of the Kansas City Art Institute and recently danced in "Dancing with the Stars - Kansas City" to raise funds for tuition assistance for Cristo Rey School. Katie is a member of the Trustee's Education Committee of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and is a part-time educator at the museum working in a unique program, "New Dimensions" for urban youth.

At the 56th annual Humanitarian Awards celebration, the Hoffman Legacy Award will be given to John Hoffman. Over two generations, the Hoffman family has been steadfast in building an inclusive community. John Hoffman has spent over twenty years on the board of directors of Harmony and NCCJ and has served in several leadership roles. He and his wife Sharon have taken the mission of Harmony to heart through their philanthropic efforts and personal relationships.

Harmony's Board of Directors has distinguished John and the Hoffman Family, including father Bernard and sister Stephanie Hoffman Jacobson, for special recognition by naming its highest honor bestowed as an organization, the Hoffman Legacy Award. This award, unlike Harmony's Humanitarian Award, will not be awarded annually, but will be given to those individuals or families who live up to the legacy of leadership and service represented by the Hoffman family, individuals who visibly support the mission of Harmony in building a more inclusive city.