CANINE COMPANIONS: Leading the service dog industry, "Canine Companions" expertly trains puppies to become skilled assistants for adults, children, and veterans with disabilities.none
THE GAME CHANGER: Phyllis Lyon and her late wife Del Martin have a long legacy of fighting for change. In 2004, they were the first same-sex couple to be legally married in SF.none
SWAN DREAMER: Aesha Ash travels the country with the message that talent shouldn’t be constrained by race or socio-economic status.none
RAISING THE BARRE: SF Ballet’s youngest male principal dancer, Benjamin Freemantle, is also a self-taught barber who offers free haircuts to those who are down on their luck.none
Oakland Ballet Company Artistic Director Graham Lustig is making a difference in the lives of his dancers and the community around him.KGO
Sixteen-year-old Shreya Ramachandran isn't just TALKING about saving the planet, she's taking her own steps online, in the classroom and on the international stage.none
Fashion and footwear designer Devlin Carter's sneakers have blown up on Instagram. But he's not just a creator, he's also a teacher. On the weekends he teaches kids how to sew!none
ABC7 Star, Stacey Hoffman's wants to transform lives through music. She is the co-founder of Oakland non-profit, Living Jazz.none
Inspired by her son, this ABC7 Star is giving back through a love of growing.none
Lauren Kobashigawa helps kids in the Dominican Republic.none
Jesse Harrison-Noonan makes it easier for people to keep their pet companions.none
Chef Olive is an ABC7 Star who's changing lives one scone at a time.KGO
For decades, John Hammond has been volunteering with the USF Dons baseball team, at church, for political campaigns, professional volleyball tournaments and countless other events.none
Jordan Langer is a gearhead for good. He helps at-risk youth rebuild their confidence while restoring classic cars.none
Ally Loo shares comfort and kindness with kids who have suffered abuse.none
Kate Robinson knows how to keep kids safe. This ABC7 Star directs Safe Passage Program for the Tenderloin Community Benefit District.none
Serena Meyer wants to make breastfeeding support accessible to more mothers.none
Judith Smith is the founder and director of Axis Dance Company, where dancers with and without disabilities perform side by side.none
Liz Kane started Shire House to help young adults on the Autism spectrum learn the life skills needed to live on their own.none
Nafy Flatley's goal is to provide an inexpensive, accessible and healthy food for people in the Bay Area and around the world.none
ABC7 Star Teresa Goines founded Old Skool Café in San Francisco, a place where at-risk youth find hope for a better future through a creative mix of food and fun.none
Ninive Calegari has a profound belief in young people. She’s known for taking learning to new heights and inspiring kids to read.none
Dr. Joseph Marshall, Jr. was tired of seeing his bright students end up on drugs, in prison or dead. So he did something about it. We're proud to honor him as an ABC7 Star.none
GUARDIAN SCHOLARS: Sonja Lenz-Rashid and Xochitl Sanchez have created a unique support system to help former foster kids succeed, in and out of the classroom.KGO
Maria Guevara and her team of volunteers navigate the streets of their community, delivering lunches to people in need. That's just one of the many reasons she's an ABC7 Star.none
When the North Bay wildfires were burning, Meredith Elliot and her team of Sandwich Angels showed up to help feed first responders.none
Vicki Abadesco helps kids connect and work problems out together. She co-founded Soul Shoppe; a group that teaches respect and empathy as a way to battle bullying.none
When life takes an unexpected turn, a little support can do a lot of good. That's what unstoppable ABC7 Star Stan Rosenfeld does best; provide support.none
ABC7 Star Jimmy Ford is a retired boxer who started Fire in the Ring; a boxing gym in Brisbane, Calif. that's also a safe haven for at-risk youth.none
Andrew Stoloff, the owner of Rubicon Bakers, is seen in this undated image.none
RECOVERY ATHLETE: Despite his mobility challenges, Theo St. Francis is charging ahead on a new mission…to give back.none
Dr. Alan Wong opened a welcoming home for families who need an extended-stay at local hospitals.none
At a very young age, Michael was diagnosed with autism, which has made it difficult for him to communicate with others. So Michael found his own way to communicate - he sings!none
Raquel Fajardo offers haircutting services for the homeless and anyone in need. She calls her free services, Tender Cuts, after the Tenderloin neighborhood where her clients live.none
CINEMATIC CHAMPION: Budding filmmaker Alex Gomez struggles with Crohn's but she refuses to let it rule her life. She's learning the art of filmmaking!none
Dwayne Chenevert helped launch the Oakland youth center DreamCatcher and still works there every day.none
Guiding Light: Dr. Monica Gandhi is an expert in infectious diseases and the medical director of Ward 86, the oldest HIV/AIDS clinic at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital.none
MASTERFUL MENTOR: We all have that one teacher who left a lasting impression. For many Bay Area students, that teacher is Patti Carothers.KGO
GIVING GROWER: Kelly Carlisle is growing a better community one kid at a time.KGO
THE CARING CREATIVE: "Cancer sucks. Art heals." Purvi Shah has been living that motto since her son Amaey, who has passed away, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 3.KGO
EARTHY ARTIST: Sometimes tackling a serious issue just takes the right perspective. Conservation artist, Linda Gass knows that well.KGO
ALL-STAR TEEN: Do you know any hockey players that can also twirl a baton...or three batons at once? We do. Meet Amelia DiPaola.KGO
PEACEMAKERS: Heidi and Gary Kuhn started a movement from the basement of their own home in 1997. From the beginning they had one big idea - do something to promote world peace.KGO
TRUE BELIEVERS: Life changed for Daquan Jackson after he met Yvonne and Lee through a very special program called CASA.KGO
LIFE SAVERS: The Bodega Bay Fire Protection District saved a 4-year-old boy who fell off a cliff.KGO
BRAVE VOLUNTEER: After a disaster, people like Red Cross volunteer, John Saguto jump right in to lend a hand.KGO
AERIAL EXPLORER: Cris Benton has spent the last 18 years photographing San Francisco Bay. His vantage point is unique and his equipment is unconventional.KGO
THE FANS: San Francisco Giants fans came from different parts of the Bay Area, but our guess is-these fans have one GIANT thing in common.KGO
GOOD NEIGHBOR: Gail Goldyne is a good example of what community spirit can accomplish.KGO
COMFORT DOG: When you're scared or nervous, it helps to have a best friend. Good thing Faber is a trained professional!KGO
BIRTHDAY GIRL: Kris Dufala thinks every kid in the world should have a happy birthday, and she's doing whatever she can to make that happen!KGO
HORSE RESCUER: Monica Hardeman always dreamed of dedicating her life to caring for horses. She never imagined a personal tragedy would set her on a path to fulfilling that dream.KGO
TRUE PROTECTOR: In addition to raising awareness about child exploitation and sex trafficking around the world, Andy Blalock is bringing his community together to help!KGO
THE GREEN GUARDIAN: Dedication and a LOT of help! That's what it took to make the 4-H Million Trees Project a success.KGO
THE HELPING HAND: Julia Tognotti is on a mission, and she'll do anything she can to make sure you know about it!KGO
THE SUPER SWIMMER: Jack Zembsch has never won a race, but that doesn't stop him from swimming on one of the most competitive teams in the Bay Area!KGO
THE TEAM BUILDER: Cheryl Anne Napier's story began with one small move to make a big difference; deciding to walk in AIDS Walk San Francisco.KGO
THE ARTFUL SCHOLAR: For Pleasanton's Annie Wu, graduating with Foothill High School was just the beginning. She is also part of the 50th class of of U.S. Presidential scholars!none
AN AMERICAN HERO: The late General Henry Arnold is one of only nine American officers who have worn five stars on their shoulders. His story is one for the history books.none
THE DECORATED VETERAN: From Pearl Harbor through the Korean War, US Marine Corps Retired Lieutenant Colonel John Stevens lived this history many of us only studied in books.none
LIFE-SAVING HERO: Iria Wolnick of San Jose is being honored for her extraordinary courage after saving the life of an unborn baby on the side of a desolate highway in south Texas.none
AND THE AWARD GOES TO: East Oakland teacher Laura Strait is one of 4 teachers nationwide to win the 2014 Fishman award for her work with her students at Aspire ERES Academy.none
SUPER SNIFFERS: Highly trained and super dedicated, Laser is with a unique non-profit called Dogs 4 Diabetics. ABC7 gives two paws up to all dogs that protect and serve.KGO
DETERMINED VOICE: From a young age, Zina Jawadi had to learn to be heard and since then, she's never stopped speaking out. We see a bright future for this ABC7 star.KGO
THE SCHOLARLY ATHLETE: Akintunde Ahmad has a 5.0 GPA, 2100 out of 2400 on the SAT, plays 3 instruments and basketball. He's truly a star!KGO
WHIZ KID: Natalie Ng received a $30,000 award at the Intel Science Talent Search 2014 for developing a diagnostic tool to more accurately predict the spread of breast cancer cells.none
THE SHOOTING STARS: This is no ordinary cheerleading squad! Livermore High School's Shooting Stars are known to spark the biggest cheers of the night, regardless of the score.none
THE ROCK STAR PHOTOGRAPHER:Jay Blakesberg is the biggest rock-n-roll legend you've never seen. He's made an art of blending into the background to photograph iconic music moments.none
THE AWARD-WINNING TEACHER: Suney Park is ready to "school" you on the real world. She teaches science with a lesson plan focused on practical solutions.none
TEAM PLAYERS: Vivek is team captain and goalie of Mostly Old Guys United, an East Bay soccer club. Cheers to all the weekend warriors!none
THE DEDICATED VOLUNTEER: Nita Juelich has 95 years of life under her belt. She's spent the last 25 volunteering at Project Open Hand, which feeds 2,500 people in need every day.none
THE HUSTLERS: Funkanometry is a non-profit hip-hop dance troupe that really hustles...for charity. Their mission: to entertain, unite and educate all through the love of dance.none
THE SURVIVOR: Danny's smile says it all. He's overcome cancer twice in his 27 years, with some loving support from his friends at Camp Okizu.none
THE EXPLORERS: Twins Nairobi and Jakobi love to explore...and what better place to satisfy curious minds than the Exploratorium?! ABC7 is a proud partner of the Exploratorium.none
THE TECH LOVERS: People in the Bay Area love their technology and their pets! Meet #yogiethedog from Oakland. Share your pet pics with #abc7pets and maybe you'll see them on TV!none
THE DEVOTED DAD: Jeff Loving and his wife Brenda adopted 4 beautiful children from Ethiopia. Sadly, Brenda passed away shortly after their family was complete.none
THE DREAM CHASERS: Andy and Erin chase their dreams right into the record books. In fact, together this couple holds more than 20 World, National and Guinness World Records.none
OUR LITTLE HERO: Where were you the day Batkid saved the City? Who knew that Miles' wish would make everyone stop, enjoy the moment and spread the joy. Best day ever!none
QUEEN OF COUTURE: Azadeh's designs are literally fit for a queen. She created garments for the Royal family of Saudi Arabia before styling her way to the Bay Area.none