The Steelers have taken part in the NFL's social justice platform, Inspire Change, since it's inception, and for the third straight year the league is presenting an Inspire Change Changemaker Award, which recognizes an individual from every NFL city who is making a difference in their communities through social justice work, either individually or as part of a non-profit organization through education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform.
The recipient of the Steelers Inspire Change Changemaker Award for 2024 is Carolina Frantz, MSN, RN and the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Duquesne University's School of Nursing BSN-AID program.
Frantz, and the other 31 winners, will receive a $10,000 donation courtesy of the NFL Foundation for their charity. Frantz will also be honored at the Steelers Inspire Change game on Dec. 25.
Frantz learned of the news when she was surprised by outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who does a lot of community who like Frantz, does work with the homeless population in Pittsburgh.
"I was beyond surprised," said Frantz. "It's super exciting. Honestly, this is stuff I do regularly. People do bigger things too.
"It's shocking I am being chosen to do this because it's just everyday things I like to do and want to do."
Through her volunteer efforts, she has supplied more than 14,000 pairs of socks to the homeless since 2023, working closely with organizations such as Pittsburgh Mercy, Jubilee Kitchen, and Shepherd's Heart Fellowship and Veteran's Home.
"I've always wanted to give back to people," said Frantz. "I'm a people person. I became a nurse because I am a people person. It's fulfilling for me to help other people. That is it. Just be a good person."
She utilizes the garage in her Beaver Falls, Pa., home to organize and manage all of the donations, which the majority come from the clothing company Bombas, making a difference for countless people, as socks are one of the most requested items in shelters nationwide.
"It's really special," said Blayre Holmes-Davis, the Steelers senior director of community relations. "There's a lot of great people in our community who do this work as part of their job. And it's a great opportunity.
"But I think to honor someone who just takes time out of their day to make sure that homeless people have access to socks, food and all the other things that she's been able to do to help streamline a lot of the services for organizations in Pittsburgh that are providing services to our most vulnerable is really important. Especially, she has all of these socks at her home. I think not only being able to work with community organizations to say, how can we streamline this, but how can we distribute 14,000 pairs of socks in our community. Then also to have space in your garage to make sure that you're able to house that.
"It's a great opportunity when we're able to honor people who are CEOs and in charge of different organizations and nonprofits. But it's also really important to make sure that we highlight community members that are taking time out of their day. They don't have to do it. They just do it to give back. They see a need in the community and don't look anywhere else, but say how can I help meet that need. We're really excited to honor her and just to let her know that we see her work and we support her fully."
Frantz has a long history of helping others through the medical profession. Her current role as Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Duquesne University School of Nursing is centered around student support and mentoring of underrepresented students in nursing. She also works as a nurse at Gateway Rehabilitation Center, supporting those experiencing substance use disorders. She worked in various nursing and leadership roles at UPMC for 14 years. She was awarded a Cameo of Caring award in 2016, and a Woman of the Year Award in 2024 from the Cribs for Kids Organization. She served as an improvement specialist, and infection prevention chair during the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic. She participated in state task force initiatives to assist in infection prevention support for long-term care facilities within the Pittsburgh region.
She earned her Associate degree in Nursing at the Community College of Allegheny County, and Baccalaureate and Master's degrees at Carlow University, with a concentration in nursing leadership and education.
Frantz is a founding member and president of The Western Pennsylvania Area Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Nurses, and often utilizes that network to assist her with the sock distributions.
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Since its launch in 2017, Inspire Change has empowered NFL players to collaborate with team owners, public officials, law enforcement, and community organizations to tackle pressing social justice challenges. Over the years, the NFL Family has contributed over $375 million, supporting 650+ local non-profits, nearly 2,000 player and Legend matching grants, and more than 50 national partners driving meaningful change at scale.
"For the NFL, improving the lives of people across the country in communities we call home and beyond is more than a responsibility; it's a commitment," said Anna Isaacson, Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility. "Inspire Change weeks each December shine a light on the extraordinary efforts of our partners and players while reinforcing our shared mission to foster opportunity and create stronger, more vibrant communities. We're proud to honor and celebrate their dedication and remain committed to advancing this vital work."
