BATON ROUGE – Emerge will host the 2026 Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Activists awards luncheon presented by Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry on Friday, Nov. 13, at The Renaissance Hotel.

Now in its 55th year, this awards luncheon recognizes individuals who have provided exceptional volunteer service to the Baton Rouge community.

The 2026 Volunteer Activist honorees are:
-Sinella Aghasi
-Rick Bourgeois
-Karen Breaux
-Danny Fields
-Stacey Gautreau
-Gerri Hobdy
-Jeff Koonce
-Alice Kronenberger
-Miranda Papizan
-Beverly Brooks Thompson

“Every community is shaped by people who choose to give their time, talents and hearts in service to others,” said Tara Haney, CEO of Emerge. “We are honored to recognize this year’s Volunteer Activists and celebrate the extraordinary legacy of leadership and service they now join.”

Since the Volunteer Activists event’s inception in 1971, luncheon proceeds support Emerge’s mission of empowering children with autism and individuals with communication challenges to achieve independence through an interdisciplinary therapy program within an innovative educational model.

The Presenting Sponsor of this year’s luncheon is Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry, a longtime supporter of Emerge and The Baton Rouge Area Volunteer Activists Luncheon.

For sponsorship information and to purchase tables, event tickets, and program ads, visit
emergela.org/brava.