Every year, the Change Our Future Foundation (founded by Browns’ Rodney and Erika McLeod) hosts its coveted Sneaker Ball gala. Each year, the organization hands out prestigious awards to those making lasting impacts in the community.
This year, William McKant and Chela Wallace will be awarded the Changing Lives award, given to those making an impact on a larger scale. Mitch Stoller, Dr. Whitney and Rohan Arjun, Brian Westbrook and McKayla Warwick will be presented with the Game Changers award.
Changing Lives
William McKant
McKant currently serves as a the Dean of Students and Health and Physical Education Teachers at the School District of Philadelphia, where he’s been for 13 years. In that time, he spent time as an Adjunct Professor at the Delaware County Community College. In addition to receiving the Changing Lives Award, McKant received the City of Burlington Teacher of the Year, Dedication of Service Award and Lindback Teacher of the Year Finalist.
Chela Wallace
Wallace is a leader in STEM education driving diversity and inclusion. She led innovative initiatives both locally and globally for over 17 years. As a Regional Driector of Special Projects at KIPP NYC, she collaborates on strategic planning to advance culturally responsive sustaining education. Her impact extends beyond borders as she contributes to all-girls STEM schools in Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Game Changers
Mitch Stoller
Stoller brings decades of advocacy work to the table when he accepts the Game Changers 2024 award. He served as the President and CEO of the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation and The LIVESTRONG Foundation. Currently, he serves at the Chief Philanthropic Officer and VP of Development at the American Association for Cancer Research.
Dr. Whitney and Rohan Arjun
Dr. Whitney Arjun, with over 16 years of experience in higher education admission, is a beacon of diversity and inclusion as Director of Enrollment Management and Retention at Penn State Abington. Her research on intersectionality and identity negotiation reflects her commitment to empowering marginalized voices in education.
Meanwhile, Rohan Arjun, with his extensive background in enrollment management and financial aid, serves as Director of Enrollment Management and Financial Aid at Friends Select School. His dedication to diversity advocacy is evident through his leadership in various educational initiatives and organizations. Together, Whitney and Rohan embody excellence and innovation in education, making significant strides towards a more inclusive future.
Brian Westbrook
Former Philadelphia Eagle-turned Philanthropist Brian Westbrook spearheads The Brian Westbrook Foundation, where he helps and gives back to as many youths as possible in any way possible. After retiring from the game in 2011, Westbrook took on different roles as a Sports Analyst for numerous radio and television news organizations; FS1’s First Things First, The Lefkoe Show, and 97.5 The Fanatic, among others.
“In 2022, he authored a children’s book with Lesley Van Arsdall titled “The Mouse Who Played Football” which tells his story of never giving up on your dreams, the book also encourages young readers to believe in themselves and to use their unique differences as their strengths. From 2019-2022, Brian was the Chairman of the Athletes Venture Group of SeventySix Capital, a venture capital firm focused on investing in game-changing startups in sports betting, Esports, and sports technology. From 2021-2023 Brian was the Managing Director of the Athlete Entrepreneurship Network (AEN) which was a subsidiary of the Underdog Venture Team.” His official foundation website said.
McKayla Warwick
Warwick is the founder of Collective Climb, an organization that empowers BIPOC teenagers in West Philadelphia through different initiatives. According to the official website, Warwick is “originally from Virginia, this southern girl migrated to Philadelphia for college at the University of Pennsylvania. While enrolled, she found that Black joy and resistance permeated throughout Philly’s streets. It was in this city where she experienced theatre as activism, teaching as protest, and breathing with intention as spirituality. Through Collective Climb, she gets to be an educator, an artist, a neighbor. In her spare time, she can be found in her West Philly home debating on whether or not she should adopt a cat.”
For more information and to purchase tickets to this year’s Sneaker Ball, click here.
First & Jenn 
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