KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 18, 2025) – This year marks a major milestone for The Pinnacle Prize: five years of fueling visionary leaders and their commitment to improving the quality of life for all Kansas Citians. Since its founding in 2021, the Prize has invested $1 million in local changemakers—and today, it proudly announces its 2025 winners, Merideth Rose and Nick Allen. Each recipient will receive $100,000, no strings attached, to celebrate their extraordinary impact on our community. 

Meet the 2025 Pinnacle Prize Recipients 

Merideth Rose is a champion for healing individual trauma, building healthy family relationships, and providing support to children and families in the foster care system. As President and CEO of Cornerstones of Care, a nonprofit dedicated to behavioral and mental health, Rose leads efforts that touch more than 16,000 people across the Kansas City region. 

“Transformation often takes root outside of systems, walls and boardrooms. It happens through individuals doing the hard work to make real change,” said Rose. “This prize is such a unique opportunity to celebrate those people, and I am deeply humbled and profoundly grateful to be welcomed into The Pinnacle Prize community alongside so many remarkable changemakers.” 

Nick Allen is rewriting the narrative on how Kansas City supports its unhoused neighbors. As Street Outreach Coordinator for the City of Kansas City, Missouri’s Office of Unhoused Solutions, Allen leads a network of more than 30 organizations and spends five days a week in the field—primarily encampments—connecting with individuals experiencing houselessness, evaluating encampments, and providing critical support.  

“It’s now more important than ever to be out in the community, building trust with this vulnerable population to break down barriers and help them obtain housing,” said Allen. “The Pinnacle Prize shines a light on people driving real change; it’s an honor to be recognized alongside dedicated individuals who give their time and energy to help others.” 

Five Years of Bold Impact 

“Seeing unmet needs in our community, Merideth and Nick have envisioned and driven systemic changes to meet those needs. As a result, countless lives have been improved and—in some cases—saved,” said Maurice Watson, spokesperson for The Pinnacle Prize.  

Over the past five years, The Pinnacle Prize—founded by Kenneth and Ann Baum—has supported and uplifted Kansas City’s most visionary changemakers, honoring bold action and community-driven work, often in times of extreme hardship. “We are inspired by the recipient’s impact on individuals, neighborhoods and movements in our community, and will continue supporting those going above and beyond in Kansas City,” said Watson. 

The 2025 winners will be featured on future episodes of “The Pinnacle Pod,” a podcast series that dives deeper into the stories behind Kansas City’s dynamic leaders. For more about the great work happening in the Kansas City community, and to be notified of new podcast episodes, sign up for The Pinnacle Prize newsletter at pinnacleprizekc.org and follow The Pinnacle Prize on LinkedIn.