Awards Will Be Presented at Gala in Boston on September 17, 2026

BOSTON, MA / ACCESS Newswire / July 21, 2026 / The Invest in Others Charitable Foundation has announced 15 finalists for the 2026 Invest in Others Awards Gala, taking place on September 17, 2026, at the Omni Boston Hotel at the Seaport.

"For 20 years, Invest in Others has celebrated financial advisors who are using their time, talent, and resources to make a lasting difference in the lives of others," said Barkley Payne, President and CEO of Invest in Others. "As we mark this milestone anniversary, we are especially proud to recognize this year's finalists, who embody the generosity, leadership, and commitment to service that have defined our mission since the beginning. Their stories demonstrate the extraordinary impact financial advisors can have when they combine their professional expertise with a passion for giving back."

Through five award categories-Catalyst, Community Service, Emerging Impact, Volunteer of the Year, and Lifetime Achievement-the awards recognize financial advisors whose efforts have made a meaningful difference for a charity they champion and the community it serves. Three finalists for each category were selected by this year's panel of industry judges for the depth of their involvement, the results of their contributions, and the lasting difference they have made through their charitable efforts.

Alongside this prestigious industry recognition, award finalists and recipients will receive grants from Invest in Others to support their designated charities.

• Finalists in all five categories will receive $25,000

• Award recipients in the Catalyst, Community Service, Emerging Impact, and Volunteer of the Year categories will receive $75,000

• The Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will receive $100,000

Award honors will be announced at the Invest in Others Awards Gala on September 17, 2026. Invest in Others will honor 90 financial advisors for their outstanding charitable work this year, including 75 Honorable Mentions, each of whom will receive a $2,000 grant for their designated charity. In total, $800,000 will be awarded to benefit the charitable organizations championed by this year's award finalists and Honorable Mentions.

The 2026 Invest in Others Awards finalists are:

Catalyst

• Ben French of CoreNorth Capital Planning | Cambridge Investment Research in Wichita, KS, for charity Shepherd's Way

• Matthew Udal of Ameriprise Financial in Farmington, CT, for charity Open Doors Outdoors

• Zach Bainter of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth & Investment Management in Santa Monica, CA, for charity Parker H. Bainter Foundation

Community Service

• Jesse Giordano of Opal Wealth Advisors in Jericho, NY, for charity Blood Cancer United (formerly The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)

• Andrew Meyer of The Cornerstone Group | Morgan Stanley in Scottsdale, AZ, for charity The Be Kind People Project

• John Thane of Peak Financial Group | Ameriprise Financial Services in Southlake, TX for charity Metroport Meals on Wheels

Emerging Impact

• Jeff McCullough of Koenig Investment Advisory, LLC | Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. in Ashland, OR, for charity Ashland Community Health Foundation

• Layne Bruner of Harbor Investment Advisors | Osaic in Aberdeen, WA, for charity Multisport 360

• David Shnitzer of CARE Private Wealth | Lincoln Investment in Auburndale, MA, for charity ONETrack International

Lifetime Achievement

• Kelly Castleberry from Graystone Consulting from Morgan Stanley in Charleston, WV, for charity Childhood Language Center, Inc.

• Andy Huggins of Ameriprise Financial in Harrisonburg, VA, for charity The Boys & Girls Club of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County

• Michael Skrynecki of Skrynecki Financial Planning Group of Raymond James in Atlanta, GA, for charity Wiskott-Aldrich Foundation, Inc.

Volunteer of the Year

• Amy Weinberger of Green Earth Financial Professionals LLC | Osaic in Cape May, NJ, for charity Soft Bones, Inc., The US Hypophosphatasia Foundation

• Michael Brady of Generosity Wealth Management | Cambridge Investment Research, Inc. in Boulder, CO, for charity Frontier Horizon

• Pam Praetorious of Morgan Stanley in Garden City, NY, for charity Pink Aid

Top sponsors of Invest in Others include Presenting Sponsor Fidelity Investments, and Ameriprise Financial, MFS Investment, Cambridge Investment Research, Cetera Financial Group, Inc., Envestnet, LPL Financial, Merrill, Natixis Investment Managers, Osaic, PIMCO, Private Advisor Group, and Vestmark.

Since 2006, Invest in Others has supported more than 700 charities, shared hundreds of inspirational stories, and provided more than $8 million in grants to a wide array of causes, including health and wellness, education and youth programs, arts and culture, hunger and poverty prevention, military and veterans support, and more.

Media Contact
Emily Burns-Perryman
Chief Marketing Officer
emily.perryman@investinothers.org

SOURCE: Invest in Others