Five Years. Ten Changemakers. One Million Dollars. Local Impact.
For five years, The Pinnacle Prize has honored Kansas City’s boldest thinkers and doers, people who turn passion into action and ideas into impact. The Pinnacle Prize is a love letter to Kansas City, annually awarding two changemakers $100,000 each, no strings attached. The Pinnacle Prize recipients are reshaping neighborhoods, challenging systems, and building a better community. From housing justice and youth empowerment to environmental equity and LGBTQ+ advocacy, their work reflects the leadership, grit, perseverance and heart of Kansas City.
Merideth Rose
Family Support Services | CORNERSTONES OF CARE
Merideth is a champion for healing individual trauma, building healthy family relationships, and providing support to children and families in the foster care system. She is dedicated to addressing behavioral and mental health challenges, and drives efforts that touch thousands of people across Kansas City.
Nick Allen
Homeless Street Outreach | CITY OF KCMO – Office of Unhoused Solutions
Nick is rewriting the narrative on how Kansas City supports its unhoused neighbors. He leads a network of community organizations and spends five days a week in the field—primarily encampments—connecting with individuals experiencing houselessness, evaluating encampments, and providing critical support.
