We are thrilled to announce our 2024 CarePortal Award Recipients. The following nine awards were presented to the recipients during this year’s Celebration Banquet. Please read about each of our incredible recipients below and note that the data is changing every minute because of the work each of them do. These numbers were pulled at the time this post was published.
2024 Church of the Year Recipients
This category of awards recognizes four CarePortal Churches that display the heart of Matthew 25 in serving “the least of these” in their community.
Greater Works Christian Church
Lancaster, CA | 435 Children Served Since 2023 | $298,804 Economic Impact
Greater Works Christian Church goes above and beyond to serve families —meeting needs regardless of distance and often providing additional items beyond the original CarePortal request. Their consistent, sacrificial care ignites hope and reminds families of God’s faithfulness.
More than meeting material needs, Greater Works builds deep relationships rooted in trust, compassion, and spiritual support. Families are welcomed into a community that offers practical help, encouragement, and a path toward healing.
Their team serves joyfully and relentlessly — living out their calling to love the most vulnerable. Since joining CarePortal in 2023, they’ve served over 430 children, standing as a beacon of light in Lancaster.
CarePortal is proud to partner with Greater Works as they model what it means to care deeply, give generously, and show up faithfully
Rise Church
Indianapolis, IN | 970 Children Served Since 2021 | $553,424 Economic Impact
Rise Church is making a powerful difference in Indianapolis — both for families and the child welfare system. Since joining CarePortal, they’ve served over 950 children, including 251 just in 2024 alone, and have created over $550,000 in community impact.
Their approach is deeply relational. Every family receives a personalized care basket with a small gift and church info, while their dedicated team makes in-person deliveries to connect with families. Larger items like furniture are coordinated by additional team members, reinforcing Rise’s all-in commitment to care. Follow-up is a key part of their process — ensuring families feel seen, supported, and invited into ongoing relationship.
This consistency has built trust not only with families but also with local DCS offices. Caseworkers across the Indy metro area recognize Rise Church as a reliable partner — one that follows through, fosters connection, and helps meet critical needs with compassion and excellence.
Rise Church is a trusted Care-Sharing partner —meeting needs, building relationships, and transforming lives.
Spanish River Church
Spanish River Church is a leading example of long-term, committed Care-Sharing in action. Over the past four years, they’ve served almost 4,000 children and families — often responding to unmet needs across the entire state of Florida, from the Panhandle to Key West.
Their care goes far beyond requests. They follow up, pray with families, provide additional support, and build relationships that stabilize homes and restore hope. Spanish River also invests in other churches, equipping and encouraging them to stay engaged in the mission.
With consistent, gospel-driven care, Spanish River transforms crisis moments into lasting connections —proving that when a church fully embraces Care-Sharing, the impact reaches far beyond what’s visible.
Spanish River Church exemplifies what Care-Sharing looks like when it’s done with faith, excellence, and enduring love.
Together Church
With just twelve adult members, Together Church has made a remarkable impact — serving over 590 children and families and generating nearly $500,000 in community support through CarePortal over five years.
Their secret is simple but powerful: a full commitment to Care-Sharing as their mission. With no mortgage or paid staff, every resource is directed toward meeting needs, building relationships, and sharing the love of Jesus through action.
Their point person also leads the Roanoke Valley CarePortal Monthly Chat — fostering collaboration among social workers, churches, and agencies. From rent assistance to laundry service for a mom with infant twins, Together Church looks beyond the request to offer holistic, gospel-centered care.
They model what’s possible when a church leads with compassion, consistency, and a heart fully invested in others.
2024 Agency of the Year Recipients
This category of awards recognizes two CarePortal Requesting Agency partners that protect the trust through submitting vetted requests and honor the church’s place at the point of care.
Juvenile Defense Panel
Riverside County, CA | 520 Children Served Since 2022 | $254,259 Economic Impact
The Juvenile Defense Panel is a standout advocate for children and families in crisis. With 520 children served and an 89% request fulfillment rate through CarePortal, their impact is both measurable and deeply personal.
Averaging support for 15 children per month, their team consistently writes powerful, detailed requests that resonate with churches and community partners. Their willingness to collaborate — especially with local churches — and educate others about the foster care crisis strengthens the entire Care-Sharing network.
What truly sets this agency apart is how well they know the children and families they serve — by name and by story. In a field where heavy caseloads can limit personal connection, their intentional advocacy reflects deep care and commitment. The Juvenile Defense Panel doesn’t just process cases— they build relationships, meet needs, and bring dignity to every child they serve.
Oklahoma Human Services
Oklahoma | 38,791 Children Served Since 2015 | $18,413,446 Economic Impact
Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) is one of CarePortal’s first and most impactful agency partners, leading the way in statewide implementation. Through a strategic partnership with 111Project, OKDHS empowered every child welfare worker to submit requests and connected churches across the state to meet needs in real time.
Their leadership extends beyond the platform — fueling foster care recruitment, social worker appreciation, and large-scale community events like a statewide bunk bed build. OKDHS also sponsors access for all child-serving agencies in Oklahoma, ensuring broad collaboration at no cost.
With nearly 40,000 children involved and more requests submitted than almost any other agency nationwide, OKDHS is setting the standard for system-wide Care-Sharing. Families often credit their involvement with changing lives, and workers call CarePortal “the best program Oklahoma Human Services has ever put in place.”
Oklahoma is proof that when public systems invest in community connection, transformation follows.
2024 Community Champion of the Year Recipient
This award recognizes a CarePortal Community Champion who has impacted their local network in a major way, not just with the resources they’ve offered but also the collaboration they’ve modeled and the culture they’ve built within their own team.
The Change Reaction
Sherman Oaks, CA | 1,061 Children Served Since 2020 (as CC) | $519,429 Economic Impact (as CC) | +$650,000 Economic Impact (as SP)
The Change Reaction (TCR) is redefining generosity through a model that places dignity, speed, and relationship at the center of giving. Not only have they served over a thousand families as a Community Champion(CC), but as a Strategic Partner(SP) they have served over 9,000 additional children with an economic impact of $650,000.
Rather than a top-down approach, TCR empowers trusted frontline workers — those already connected to families — to identify real needs. Through CarePortal, donors respond to these vetted needs in real time.
What makes TCR exceptional is their commitment to personal, immediate, and human connection. Families aren’t just receiving assistance — they’re being seen, supported, and valued. Caseworkers and responders are empowered to act quickly and meaningfully, often deepening their relationships with the families they serve.
In over five years of CarePortal partnership, The Change Reaction has supported over 10,000 children with an economic impact of $1,169,429 in Los Angeles as a Community Champion and Strategic Partner —turning everyday generosity into life-changing moments.
The Change Reaction doesn’t just give — they restore dignity and build connection, one urgent need at a time.
2024 Network of the Year Recipient
This award recognizes a CarePortal Network that consistently and effectively pursues meaningful connections, and represents a picture of what’s possible through the CarePortal platform. This network brings together churches, requesting agencies, community champions, and other partners for the common goal of “more than enough care for every child.”
CarePortal - Wichita Region
Wichita, KS | 931 Children Served in 2024 | $471,881 Economic Impact in 2024
CarePortal’s Wichita Region is a shining example of collaboration, innovation, and commitment to supporting vulnerable children and families. The Care for Every Family initiative was launched in Wichita by local community members to address a 30% rise in foster care over the last decade. Their vision: engage 450+ churches to be the hands and feet of Jesus and build a connected, community-led response.
Every partner involved in this initiative is a CarePortal user, leveraging its technology to match needs with responders in real time. Their mission to raise awareness, equip churches, and offer families direct access to support — creates a local safety net driven by connection and care.
CarePortal – Wichita Region is turning shared concern into shared action — proving that real change begins when a city comes together.
2024 Network Leader of the Year Recipient
Ryan Benton was an inspiring example of what it means to develop and lead a network before passing away suddenly in 2018. This award honors a certified network leader (Field Director, Area Director, Regional Manager, Church Ambassador) that has exemplified excellence in their role.
Jen Seiler
Michigan
Since launching CarePortal in Michigan in 2022, Jen has been a driving force behind the service of thousands of children. She tirelessly advocates for families, finds creative solutions beyond the platform, equips churches to serve with dignity, and builds bridges across the community.
Jen is a trusted voice in foster care and adoption circles —showing up consistently as an encourager, ally, and leader. Her humility, courage, and excellence shine through in everything she does. She credits every win to her Creator while boldly casting a vision for what communities can accomplish through Christ’s love.
Jen leads with joy, curiosity, and conviction — modeling the abundance mindset that defines Care-Sharing. Her work is transforming West Michigan, one meaningful connection at a time.
