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HONORING WOMEN WHO ROSE. CELEBRATING GIRLS WHO ARE RISING.
This year’s Fearless Awards was the inaugural celebration From Fatherless to Fearless that honored women whose stories reflected resilience, leadership, mentorship, and impact — while celebrating B.R.I.D.G.E.® graduates who are becoming fearless in their own right. This was more than an awards event. It was an inspiring afternoon of recognition, storytelling, connection, and legacy.
On Monday, September 21, 2026, From Fatherless to Fearless honored five accomplished women leaders and five B.R.I.D.G.E. graduates who embodied what it means to rise beyond adversity, lead with purpose, and inspire what is possible. Each woman honoree has been be paired with a B.R.I.D.G.E. graduate for a four-month mentorship experience, extending the impact of this celebration far beyond one afternoon. Because when girls see women who have risen, they begin to believe they can rise too.
We were honored that Mayor Aftab Pureval served as our keynote speaker, with Kyla Woods, Director of Public Engagement for the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, as our emcee.
Meet the 2026 Honorees
To learn more about each honoree’s fearless journey—and be inspired by their determination, vision, and words of wisdom—simply click on their image below.
LEARN ABOUT OUR HONOREES
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Crystal Allen serves as President & CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Dayton, where she is leading a bold vision to expand opportunities for young people through innovative programming and the development of the first Life & Workforce Readiness Center for teens in Dayton proper. A proud graduate of Central State University, Crystal brings nearly 30 years of experience in youth development and is a respected leader and sought-after speaker committed to inspiring young people to discover their purpose and reach their full potential.
Raised by a resilient mother while navigating the challenges of a father struggling with substance use, Crystal transformed adversity into purpose. Guided by her faith, family, and community, she broke generational barriers and now empowers others to believe their circumstances never define their future. Above all, she is most proud to be the mother of five beautiful daughters and grandmother to her GranGirl; all who inspire her to lead with purpose, passion, and authenticity every day.
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Ashley Kirklen is an anchor and reporter for WLWT News 5, where she has covered some of the nation's most significant stories, including presidential elections, Super Bowl LVI, and major events that have shaped the Cincinnati community. Before joining WLWT in 2018, she was a morning anchor in Macon, Georgia, and began her television career in Marquette, Michigan. Prior to journalism, Ashley taught English in South Korea and served with AmeriCorps in Charlotte, North Carolina.
When Ashley was six, her parents divorced, and she split time between her parents, with her mother as the primary parent. Inspired by her mother's strength and grounded in faith, she became the first in her family to graduate from college and built a career dedicated to serving others through storytelling. A graduate of Indiana University and a recipient of the Cincinnati Business Courier 40 Under 40 award, Ashley is passionate about supporting children's initiatives, cancer research, and her church community.
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Jazmyne Reid is a bold brand builder and creative strategist who serves as Communications Director for P&G Fabric Care North America. A graduate of Harvard University and Parsons School of Design, she has led impactful brand storytelling and strategic initiatives for organizations including P&G, Marriott International, and Booz Allen Hamilton, combining creativity with purpose to drive meaningful change.
Raised by a loving single mother, Jazmyne learned that the absence of a father did not define her identity or limit her potential. Through faith, intentional healing, and the courage to reframe her story, she has become a passionate advocate for helping others break free from shame, reject limiting labels, and embrace the life they were created to live. -
Shaqunna Sardin is a banking professional and community advocate dedicated to advancing financial literacy, career development, and economic empowerment. Serving as a Treasury Management Client Support Specialist II and a Community Engagement Champion at First Commonwealth Bank, she helps businesses achieve financial success while partnering with nonprofits to create opportunities that strengthen individuals and communities.
After losing both parents, Shaqunna developed a deep sense of inner strength and independence early on. Rather than letting early challenges dictate her path, she channeled those experiences into a powerful drive for personal and professional growth. Now a MBA candidate at Northern Kentucky University (NKU), Shaqunna channels her journey into visionary leadership and a steadfast commitment to service. Whether she is championing community engagement initiatives or mentoring aspiring leaders, she pours her hard-earned lessons back into others. Her mission is to inspire the next generation to recognize their potential, embrace opportunity, overcome obstacles, and create meaningful change in their own lives and communities.
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Meggan Thompson is the President and CEO of Dress for Success Cincinnati, an organization dedicated to helping women achieve economic mobility by providing them with a global network of support, workplace attire and development tools. Through her visionary leadership and commitment to service, Meggan has made a lasting impact across the Greater Cincinnati region. Her dedication to community advancement has earned her numerous honors, including being named a 2024 Cincinnati Business Courier 40 Under Forty recipient, a 2026 Making Black History honoree, and a 2026 Cincinnati Open Cincy Serves honoree.
Meggan’s journey is rooted in faith, resilience, and perseverance. After the loss of her father at age 12, shortly after moving to Cincinnati; she turned grief into grit, using adversity as motivation to pursue academic excellence at Elon University and throughout her graduate studies. Today, she leads with empathy and purpose, guided by a deep belief in compassion, service, and investing intentionally in the next generation.
Why This Celebration Matters
For many girls navigating strained, absent, or complicated father relationships, seeing what is possible can be life-changing. The Fearless Awards give B.R.I.D.G.E. graduates more than a moment of recognition. It gives them access to women who have faced challenges, chosen a different path, and continued forward with strength and purpose. Through the four-month mentorship experience, each graduate will be connected with a woman honoree for encouragement, guidance, and a meaningful relationship.
This is the heart of “lifting as we climb.”
It is legacy in motion.
It is mentorship with meaning.
It is a reminder that a girl’s story may shape her, but it does not have to limit her.
2026 Sponsors
To our sponsors and partners—First Financial Bank, Vidifiy, Talbert House, The Abercrumbie Group, First Commonwealth Bank, Boys & Girls Clubs of Dayton, Dress for Success Cincinnati, and Mark Pfau—thank you for believing in this vision and investing in this work.
The 2026 Fearless Awards would not be possible without your generous support. Your investment helps From Fatherless to Fearless create meaningful opportunities for teen girls and women to connect, grow, build resilience, and move forward with confidence and purpose.
Thank you for believing in the power of connection, mentorship, and possibility—and for helping us create a more fearless future for the girls and women we serve.
