As we pull back the curtain on this year’s Rochester 10 nominees, a quote from beloved PBS show host Fred Rogers comes to mind:
“Look for the helpers.”
In the following profiles, you’ll find 10 such helpers — people who are contributing time, energy and passion to make our city (and beyond) a better place to live, work and play. From creating art and community building to putting food on tables and wielding the power of words, this cohort is making an inarguable impact. As in past years, they were chosen through nominations from both staff and contributors.
Read on to meet the 2025 Rochester 10 — the helpers.
By Gino Fanelli
By Leah Stacy
By Veronica Volk
By Patrick Hosken
By Helana Shumway
Katherine Marino
By Sydney Burrows
By Sydney Burrows
Luvon Sheppard
By Rebecca Rafferty
Julia Tedesco
By Kellen Beck
Midge Thomas
By Justin Murphy
Want to nominate someone to the 2026 cohort?
Please email leah@rochester-citynews.com for future consideration.
Photos by Roberto Felipe Lagares
Art direction and design by Jacob Walsh
Profiles by Kellen Beck, Sydney Burrows, Gino Fanelli, Patrick Hosken, Justin Murphy, Jessica L. Pavia, Rebecca Rafferty, Helana Shumway, Leah Stacy and Veronica Volk.
This article appears in Dec 1-31, 2024.
