The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation established the Community Leadership Awards to support the philanthropic and volunteer activities of financial advisors. Financial advisors from across the nation are nominated by their peers for exemplifying outstanding leadership qualities in the industry and actively volunteering to improve their communities and make a difference in the lives of others.

Hundreds of nominations for the Community Leadership Awards are received each year and reviewed by a diverse panel of leaders in the financial services industry. This year’s applicant pool was particularly strong. Those receiving honorable mentions were selected based on their level of involvement, contributions and the impact of their efforts.

iThirst is a nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to raise awareness and sustainable resources, supporting the mission of already established “on the ground” partner organizations called to help provide clean water to the world’s one billion people who currently go without.

Alliance Benefit Group’s mission as an organization is to provide financial services that helps to achieve a sustainable financial future for the American worker. Grant Arends, president of Alliance Benefit Group of Kansas City, believes that everyone deserves a chance for a sustainable future and for 1 billion people that starts with a glass of clean water. Therefore, iThirst was founded to help be a part of the solution with the distinct mission to only partner with organizations and projects that are deemed long term, renewable, and sustainable by an extensive due diligence team of lawyers, water engineers, and technology specialists.

Since inception, iThirst has supported the installation of 150 wells and providing more than 20,000 people with clean water.

“We are deeply grateful to be honored among financial advisors and the foundations that take part in efforts locally, nationally, and across the globe to strengthen communities,” Arends said. “It’s encouraging to see others in our industry that believe our calling as organizations is to not only invest client assets, but to use our talents to invest in all people that need our help both at home and abroad.

“It is our belief that all of these philanthropic missions change both the lives of the people served, but change the lives of those who serve.”