National

Melissa Helmbrecht grew up in south New Jersey and in her youth, she was not engaged in school and failed both 9th and 10th grade. Her life was transformed when she met a homeless child who could not enroll in school because she lacked a permanent address. After that chance encounter, Melissa vowed to never fail another class and graduated high school, earned a Bachelor’s degree from American University and a law degree from the University of Denver College of Law. Helmbrecht has spent the past thirty years as a social entrepreneur, leading the development of more than 50 projects, nonprofit organizations and social enterprises designed to improve the lives of children and families. Helmbrecht has received widespread recognition for her innovative work including the Walt Disney World Dreamers and Doers Award and induction into the Frederick Douglas Museum and Hall of Fame for Caring Americans.