Double the Impact: Spotlight on Two Community Champions

Congratulations!

Chiymelle Proby Nunn

Volunteer Spotlight Through The Years

We are proud to honor two extraordinary individuals whose dedication to service and community empowerment has made a profound and lasting impact–Chiymelle Proby Nunn.

Their friendship and collaboration began during their time together at a leading international law firm, where a shared passion for giving back sparked a partnership that has flourished for nearly two decades. Through their volunteerism, leadership, and heartfelt commitment, Chiymelle and Ken have tirelessly uplifted others, particularly through our Annual Community Feeding program and numerous community outreach programs.

Their collective legacy reminds us that when service is fueled by friendship, compassion, and purpose, the impact reaches far beyond what can be seen–it touches lives, builds communities, and inspires change for generations to come.

At the heart of every thriving community are those rare individuals who give without expectation, serve without fanfare, and uplift others simply because it’s their calling. Chiymelle Proby Nunn is one such individual. For more than two decades, her life has been a testament to the simple yet profound belief: "If I can help somebody along the way, then my living shall not be in vain."

Volunteering, for Chiymelle, is like CPR for the soul — a way of breathing life, hope, and compassion into the world around her. Her passion lies in identifying a need and springing into action with a solution. Whether serving on the Board of the 19th Ward Youth & Community Foundation, supporting the Montessori School of Englewood, or standing as one of the earliest volunteers for Cradles to Crayons Chicago, Chiymelle’s dedication knows no boundaries.

Gratitude is also a cornerstone of her family's values, which inspired the creation of the "You Are Essential To Us" Campaign — a heartfelt annual tradition during the holiday season. Each year, Chiymelle and her family honor the essential workers on their block — delivery carriers, sanitation workers, streets and sanitation laborers — with thoughtful gifts and personalized plaques.

In addition, service has been woven deeply into the hearts of her two sons. Every Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, Chiymelle and her boys organize service projects, packing care kits with children from their school and the wider community for local nursing homes and senior living facilities. Most notably, they assemble and deliver kits to places like Smith Village and Victory Centre of Sierra Ridge — the senior home that lovingly cared for her 94-year-old grandfather, Mr. Henry Proby, before his passing. Returning year after year to serve the residents there is a living tribute to his memory.

Through her partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, she plants trees around the world, restoring landscapes, nurturing ecosystems, and sowing seeds of hope for generations to come. She actively supports global initiatives that empower families — providing livestock, honeybees, clean water, food, and essential supplies to help build sustainable and thriving livelihoods.

Perhaps most significantly, Chiymelle has devoted the last 23 years of her life to the Monarch Awards Foundation, Inc., helping to raise nearly $650,000 in support of scholarships, community programs, and life-changing initiatives. Her leadership role as chair and/or co-chair of the Annual Community Feeding Program has made sure that hundreds of families in the Englewood community receive food, dignity, and hope every Thanksgiving season.

Her deepest roots remain in the Englewood community — the place where her grandparents first settled upon arriving in Chicago. Through her church leadership at Beautiful Zion MB Church, local initiatives, and heartfelt community outreach, Chiymelle continues to honor her family's legacy by investing in the people and the future of Englewood.

Chiymelle remains humble, grounded, and deeply grateful for every opportunity to serve. Her volunteerism is not just a collection of accomplishments — it is a reflection of a heart that beats for others and a soul determined to leave the world better than she found it.