Outstanding Individual Philanthropist 
Grant Kvalheim 

Nominated by United Way of Central Iowa

With more than four decades of experience at the world’s foremost financial institutions, Grant Kvalheim today serves as the chief executive officer of Athene USA Corporation and a partner at Apollo Global Management. Helping everyone have the opportunity to reach their full potential is not only a professional goal, but a philanthropic goal for Kvalheim, who says he is also motivated in his giving by a strong sense of environmental stewardship.

Kvalheim’s volunteerism and philanthropy have benefited causes that lift up communities, including SolHealth, which conducts transformational public health initiatives in Gambia; The Camphill School, a live-in school and farm in Pennsylvania for children and young adults with special needs; and Des Moines’ Great Outdoors Foundation, which raises funds for conservation activities and outdoor recreation in Central Iowa. He has served as a board member for all three organizations, as well as LIMRA and the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

Through his leadership of the Athene Charitable Foundation, Kvalheim has helped quintuple Athene’s United Way contributions. In 2024, Athene received United Way’s Spirit of Central Iowa award for a fourth consecutive year and sixth time overall. A 10-year Tocqueville Society donor, Kvalheim also served for six years on the United Way of Central Iowa board of directors. In 2024, he received the Tocqueville Society Award for his inspirational, sustained leadership.

Kvalheim holds a B.A. in economics from Claremont McKenna College and a MBA in finance from the University of Chicago. He and his wife, Wendy, have three children.

Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser 
Christine Hensley 

Nominated by WesleyLife 

Christine Hensley’s name has long been synonymous with leadership in Greater Des Moines. As a 24-year member of the Des Moines City Council, she helped drive $3 billion in economic development to the city’s downtown from 1994-2017, including a remarkable transformation of the Des Moines skyline and the development of community gems such as Gray’s Lake and the Pappajohn Sculpture Park. 

A Des Moines native and Drake University graduate, Hensley has served as business development manager for the Midwest Housing Equity Fund, as vice president of Bank of the West and executive director of YWCA of Greater Des Moines, among other professional roles. She has provided board service to the Greater Des Moines Partnership, the Polk County Housing Trust Fund, Des Moines Symphony, Des Moines Art Center, Trees Forever, and Home, Inc.; furthermore, she has led the boards of the Iowa Student Loan Corporation, Iowa League of Cities, Neighborhood Finance Corporation, DART, Metro Advisory Council, Bravo Greater Des Moines, YWCA, and Horizon Science Academy.

In 2017, Hensley was inducted by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women into its Iowa Women’s Hall of Fame and awarded an honorary doctorate degree from Grandview University. She was a 2001 Business Record Woman of Influence and was inducted into the Iowa League of Cities’ Hall of Fame in 2011. 

Hensley met her husband of 56 years when they worked together as teens at Sid’s Bakery. She and Steve today have one daughter and six grandsons.

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy 
Audrey Whalin  

Nominated by Unravel Pediatric Cancer Iowa

Audrey Whalin was just 4 years old when her bestie, Elayna Sandeen, was diagnosed with cancer. Compassionate beyond her years, Whalin accompanied her friend to the salon and cut off her hair in solidarity. 

“While I remember loving my long hair, I loved her more,” Whalin says. “I think this was the moment I knew that, even though I was young, I could begin making a difference.”

It is in memory of Sandeen, who passed away in 2018, that Whalin today is a champion of philanthropy through the nonprofit organization Unravel Pediatric Cancer. A sophomore at Waukee Northwest High School, a member of Girl Scouts Troop 2220, and a gymnastics coach at Emerge Academy, Whalin has already raised more than $25,000 to support Unravel’s mission.

She has supported Unravel through the annual Team Elayna Blood Drive, which Whalin has organized for eight years, and participation in Unravel Pediatric Cancer’s fluttering campaign, which is held every September during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. In 2021, Whalin organized a “Haircut-A-Thon,” which donated more than 100 inches of hair and more than 500 hair and beauty supplies to pediatric cancer patients. She has also fundraised for and donated to St. Jude, DMARC Food Pantry, Animal Rescue League, Blank Children’s Hospital, Waukee Area Christian Services Food Pantry, and Ronald McDonald House.

Whalin is the daughter of Leslie and John Whalin and has one sibling, Georgia. She plans to attend college to become a pediatric cancer researcher.

Spirit of Philanthropy 
J. Scott Raecker 

Nominated by Association of Fundraising Professionals Central Iowa Chapter Board of Directors 

Scott Raecker is committed to positively impacting the lives of others through his professional leadership and public service. He is dedicated to improving civility through character development and ethical leadership as the executive director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University. The Ray Center is the global home of CHARACTER COUNTS! and serves over 8 million youth. Raecker also serves as the co-executive director of the Ron and Jane Olson Institute for Public Democracy at Drake.

Raecker has graciously served as emcee for the National Philanthropy Day luncheon for countless years. “Every year, Scott elevates our program with his thoughtful and heartfelt remarks,” says Andrea Wright, president of the Central Iowa Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. “As emcee, he has a very special role in recognizing and lifting up donors and volunteers in our community.”

Raecker served as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1999 through 2012. He is the co-founder and board president of the Shining City Foundation, board chair of the Delta Dental Iowa Foundation, board member of the Rotary Club of Des Moines AM, and serves on the Drake University School of Education International Advisory Board. He is a board member emeritus of the Smithsonian Institution Center for Folklife and Cultural Studies.

Raecker holds a B.A. in political science and religious studies from Grinnell College. He and his wife, Martha, live in Urbandale and have two adult children, Emily and Max.

Student Artists

Under the direction of Christian Vandehaar, Bondurant-Farrar High School art teacher, and with the support of the Community Foundation of Great Des Moines, these six students were selected to create this year’s National Philanthropy Day awards. Each piece is inspired and embodies the philanthropic spirit of the recipient. This marks the fourth year Mr. Vandehaar’s students have created the artwork to celebrate philanthropy in the community, carrying on an over 20 year tradition. Thank you to Mr. Vandehaar and the students for providing such beautiful and unique pieces for this year’s celebration! Read more