Dr. Lorece Edwards - Excellence in Education & Community Service Award
Dr. Lorece V. Edwards is a native Baltimorean and Professor of Public Health at Morgan State University’s School of Community Health and Policy. Dr. Edwards is an authentic public health “Champion,” and community engaged scientist. She has presented her research at international, national, and local conferences and workshops. She is also well published in peer-reviewed journals.
She is a recipient of grant awards from various funding streams. Her research interests include adolescent health in redlined neighborhoods, community violence, structural, social and political determinants of health, historical trauma, risk research, and women’s health. Dr. Edwads was named one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women in 2013, 2016, and 2019. Dr. Edwards currently has a pending patent with the United States Patent and Trademark Office ─ The Perceived Risk Hierarchy Theory. Additionally, Dr. Edwards has a book forth-coming with Johns Hopkins Press titled- Redlining Childhood: The Survivornomics of America’s Neglect Neighborhood.
Dr. "Z" Michael L. Zollicoffer - Champion of Hope Award
Dr. Michael L. “Dr. Z” Zollicoffer is a highly respected pediatrician and community physician who has devoted more than 35 years to providing compassionate, accessible healthcare to the residents of Baltimore, Maryland. Known for his unwavering commitment to serving others, Dr. Z has earned a reputation as a physician who places people before profit, never turning away patients because of their financial circumstances or lack of insurance.
A second-generation physician, Dr. Z followed in the footsteps of his father, the late Dr. Lawrence Zollicoffer, co-founder of Garwyn Medical Center, one of Baltimore’s first Black-owned multi-specialty medical centers. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in 1985, where he was recognized with the prestigious MacNider Award for his humility, integrity, and exemplary character. He completed his pediatric residency at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore in 1988 before returning to serve the community he proudly calls home.
Dr. Z established Life Care Plus, an urgent care and family medical practice dedicated to serving one of Baltimore’s most medically underserved communities. Throughout his career, he has become known not only for providing exceptional medical care, but also for making himself available to patients around the clock, often giving them his personal phone number and extending care regardless of their ability to pay. His philosophy of treating every patient with dignity, compassion, and respect has touched multiple generations of families throughout Baltimore.
His extraordinary dedication to community health has earned numerous recognitions, including the University of North Carolina Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Award and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Community Leadership Award. In 2025, Congressman Kweisi Mfume honored Dr. Z in the Congressional Record for his decades of selfless service and his profound impact on the health and well-being of Baltimore residents.
Even while facing his own battle with cancer, Dr. Z has continued to inspire others through his resilience, faith, and unwavering commitment to serving his community. His life and career exemplify servant leadership, compassion, and the belief that quality healthcare should be available to everyone, regardless of their circumstances. His legacy continues to inspire healthcare professionals, community leaders, and all who believe in the power of service to transform lives.
Jacqueline Bethea - Unsung Hero Award
Jacqueline “Jaki” Bethea is a longtime Silver Spring, Maryland resident whose life’s passion has been educating, nurturing, and empowering children and young people. A devoted member of Emmanuel Brinklow Seventh-day Adventist Church, Jaki has served children and families through teaching, ministry, mentorship, and community leadership for decades.
Her commitment to youth development began as a teacher at Busy Bee Daycare Center in Jamaica, Queens, and continued through leadership roles in Children’s Ministries with the Columbia Union Conference and Allegheny East Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. In 1992, she founded the L’Elegance Cotillion-Beautillion, a six-month program promoting the educational, cultural, spiritual, civic, and social development of graduating high school seniors while helping them raise scholarship funds.
Following retirement, Jaki fulfilled a lifelong dream by opening Busybees Daycare Center with her sister, Queenie Patricia McCleary. For 15 years, they provided children with a nurturing environment, strong spiritual values, and a rigorous academic foundation that helped many students become honor scholars and later attend HBCUs.
Though she has never sought recognition, Jaki’s legacy is reflected in the generations of children and families she has inspired. Her greatest accomplishment remains giving young people a strong beginning and helping prepare them for successful futures.
William Smith - Excellence in Entrepreneurship Award
William Smith is the Founder and President of Fed Legacy, a financial services firm focused on helping federal employees maximize their retirement benefits and build generational wealth. He founded the company in 2009 as Legacy Empowerment Group, which later became Fed Legacy.
Smith established Fed Legacy to:
- Help federal employees understand and optimize their retirement benefits.
- Provide retirement planning and wealth-building education.
- Focus on closing wealth gaps and promoting generational wealth, particularly among minority families that may have had limited access to financial education and planning resources.
