The New York Rangers are proud to recognize local community heroes this season through the Community Captain Award.

Recipients will be honored throughout the season and will each receive a $10,000 donation directed to a charity of their choice. The Rangers are considering nominations for people and nonprofit organizations who have made a significant difference in the lives of others through consistent dedication to their community.

Community Captain Winners

2025-26 Season Winners

November 2025- Answer the Call - Lauren Profeta

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Lauren Profeta, Executive Director, of Answer the Call as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Since 1985, Answer the Call has been assisting the families of New York City first responders killed in the line of duty. Over the last 40 years, they have provided financial support to over one thousand families of the fallen.

November 2025- Team Red, White, & Blue- Michael Sullivan

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Michael Sullivan From Team Red, White, and Blue as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Since 2010, Team RWB has helped over 250,000 veterans and service members through programs that build healthy, connective lives - focusing on physical wellness, mental health and strong personal relationships.

October 2025- Nuestros Niños Development School - Ingrid Matias Chungata

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Ingrid Matias Chungata from Nuestros Niños Development School as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Ingrid serves as the Executive Director where she helps Nuestros Niños Development School further their mission of providing foundational skills to thousands of children in Brooklyn, including teaching literacy, mathematics, and critical thinking.

2024-25 Season Winners

April 2025- Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE)- Thomas Yu

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Thomas Yu from Asian Americans for Equality as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Thomas Yu is the Executive Director for AAFE, a 50-year-old community development organization serving the 1.3 million New Yorkers of Asian descent by advancing racial, social, and economic justice for all.

March 2025- KIPP NYC- Alicia Johnson

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Alicia Johnson from KIPP NYC as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. KIPP Public Schools is a national network of high performing Public Charter Schools that prepares students with both the skills and confidence needed to create the future they want. Founded in 1995, the New York City Chapter operates 18 schools in The Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan and serves over 8,000 students. Alicia serves as the Chief Executive Officer at KIPP NYC where she has led KIPP NYC to significant growth, improvement and excellence.

March 2025- Callen Lorde Community Health Center- Donnie Roberts

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Donnie Roberts from Callen Lorde Community Health Center as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Donnie acts as the Executive Vice President of Development and Communications for Callen Lorde Community Health Center. Donnie’s successful programs help their mission of providing sensitive, quality healthcare and related services targeted to New York’s LGBTQ+ Communities.

February 2025- American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)-Deborah Archer

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Deborah Archer from American Civil Liberties Union as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Deborah serves as the President of the ACLU, where she is a leading expert in civil rights, civil liberties, and racial justice. Debroah helps accelerate ACLU’s mission of defending the rights of all people nationwide.

January 2025- Vera Institute of Justice- Nicholas Turner

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Nicholas Turner from Vera Institute of Justice as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Vera Institute of Justice is a nonprofit organization that works closely with government and civic leaders to improve the justice system, promote safety, and empower our local communities. Nicholas, the President and Director, is the first person of color to occupy this role since the organization was founded in 1961.

November 2024- VetSports- Randy Tharp

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Randy Tharp from VetSports as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Randy is a US Army Veteran and the Co-Founder and President of VetSports. VetSports mission is to help Veterans achieve better physical, mental, and emotional health through sports, physical activity, and teamwork. They help combat Veteran isolation through sporting activities and service programs.

October 2024- LatinoJustice PRLDEF- Lisa Baltazar

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Lisa Baltazar from LatinoJustice PRLDEF as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Lisa serves as the Deputy General Counsel for Administration and is the Chief of Staff for LatinoJustice PRLDEF. She helps further their mission of advancing equity and justice for Latinx communities in the US, Puerto Rico, and for others, as well as fostering the next generation of Latinx leaders in the legal field and in our communities.

2023-24 Season Winners

April 2024- Renaissance Economic Development Corporation- Jesslie Lee

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Jesslie Lee from Renaissance Economic Development Corporation as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Jesslie serves on the leadership team as the Managing Director. Her work helps further REDC’s mission of transforming low-moderate communities and under resourced entrepreneurs in their target markets by providing affordable small business loans, training, and counseling services.

March 2024- Seeds of Fortune- Nitiya Walker

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Nitiya Walker from Seeds of Fortune as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Nitiya, the Founder and Executive Director, of Seeds of Fortune created this organization to help teen girls obtain local and national scholarships to ease the financial burden and learn about the tools needed for wealth creation. This Online platform helps members find economic security by finding affordable college options, building financial management, and career skills.

March 2024- LGBT Network- Floyd Feather

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Floyd Feather from LGBT Network as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Floyd Feather is a member of the Board of Directors and serves as the Director. Floyd’s dedication helps further LGBT Network’s mission of providing a voice and a home for LGBT people, their families, and support systems. Their community centers help LGBT people be themselves, stay healthy, and change the world. Since 1993, they have been pioneering advocacy and social change to create safe spaces where LGBT people live, learn, work, play, and pray.

February 2024- Father’s Know Best Youth Foundation- Wayne Swanston

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Wayne Swanston from Father’s Know Best Youth Foundation as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Father’s Know Best Youth Foundation is a nonprofit organization that’s mission is to inspire youth to become leaders, champions, and student-athletes, and to empower them to be successful in school and life through sports, education, and community relation that will facilitate systematic change. Wayne is a co-founder and serves as the Director of Finance. His integral support of the organization helps ensure the youth achieve their goals.

January 2024- New Jersey Institute for Social Justice- Ryan P Haygood, Esq.

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Ryan P Haygood, Esq. from New Jersey Institute for Social Justice as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Ryan, a nationally respected civil rights lawyer, is the President and CEO of the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. He supports the Institute’s mission to empower Black, Brown, and other people of color by building reparative systems that create wealth, transform justice and harness democratic power in New Jersey and beyond.

November 2023- West Point Jr. Black Knights- John Barnard

The New York Rangers are proud to announce John Barnard from West Point Jr. Black Knights as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. The mission of the West Point Junior Black Knights is to promote long-term growth of youth ice hockey players through administering both a development and competitive hockey program. John as the Director helps further their mission and spread youth hockey across the West Point area.

October 2023- Latino Youth Outreach- Joseph Paniagua

The New York Rangers are proud to announce Joseph Paniagua from Latino Youth Outreach as a recipient of the Community Captain Award. Joseph serves as the Founder and Executive Director of LYO where he helps inspire, educate, and empower inner city Latino youths from low-income families. They provide resources such as Student Empowerment Workshops, Mentoring, Education Programs in STEM, and Hispanic Achievement Award Scholarships to help Latino youths succeed.