Fort Wayne’s ability to thrive is directly related to the number of people willing to lead others forward through example, support and generosity—because we all have a natural tendency to fall into the trap of thinking I can’t, I don’t know how, I might do it wrong, I’m too busy or I might look bad. We need encouragement from each other. It has never been about one individual with the perfect plan, perfect funding or perfect skills. Instead, our community has always grown through a combination of everyone doing their part—whether they were born in Fort Wayne, moved to Fort Wayne, brought success to Fort Wayne or showcased Fort Wayne’s talent to the world. Our selections for People of the Year for 2024 reflect these traits in a simple and straightforward way. They know they can’t do everything. They know they have gifts that can be shared. And they know Fort Wayne can do better and be better when we work together. The reality is Fort Wayne is blessed with tens of thousands of people doing exactly that. You are no doubt one of them in your own right. Today is further confirmation that you are not alone in your hopes and dreams. Let’s celebrate the contagious reality of these amazing individuals. Join them. Support them. See yourself in them. Be inspired by them. Just don’t leave it all up to them. We’re all in this together.

By John Christensen (Fort Wayne Magazine) | Photography By Dj E-clyps

Success is often elusive. Standards keep shifting, rules change, resources dwindle and motivation can fade. Yet, for over 20 years, CEO Marshall White has ensured that every young person at the Unity Performing Arts Foundation finds their path to success-until COVID struck.

The pandemic threatened Marshall’s dreams as face-to-face interactions, the core of his student coaching and inspiration, were abruptly halted. The Voices of Unity choir concerts, his signature events, were suspended for four years, depriving the foundation of a vital recruitment and promotional tool. This reality led Marshall to reimagine what success could look like, sparking his Rising With Purpose Rebuilding Initiative, launched in 2022 to build visibility, membership, sustainability and community partnerships.

In September 2023, these efforts culminated with an invitation for UNITY to participate in a 2024 World Choir Games documentary if they chose to attend the competition. Although their initial hesitation and delay cost them the documentary opportunity, it ignited a spark to fully embrace the journey to Auckland, New Zealand for the competition.

The choir’s last competition at the World Choir Games was in 2014 in Riga, Latvia, and many of those singers had first attended the 2010 Games in China. However, this new group of young performers had never been out of the country, had never performed on stage with Marshall and, to make matters even more challenging, there was no funding for the trip. An entire planning team had to be assembled to make it happen.

“This was a group that could barely sing on pitch, had no rhythm, coordination or stage presence,” Marshall admitted. “But these kids had a certain spirit and potential. They wanted to be part of something bigger than themselves.”

From January to July, the choir, composed primarily of children aged 12 and younger, practiced at least 12 hours each week, increasing to 30 hours once summer began. During this time, the students and their parents were also deeply involved in daily fundraising efforts, working tirelessly alongside the demanding training schedule. Their shared dedication to both the music and financial challenges showed their determination to make this dream a reality.

In July, their hard work culminated at the 2024 World Choir Games in New Zealand, where they joined more than 11,000 singers from 30 countries. The result was an incredible journey from humble beginnings to triumph, as Voices of Unity took home the Grand Champion title and a gold medal in the Gospel category.

“This was an astonishing accomplishment for these young people,” Marshall said. “They had no reference point for the transformation they were undergoing. I was moved both spiritually and emotionally—it was truly miraculous.”

Congratulations to the incredible team, and thank you, Marshall, for demonstrating the power of hard work and perseverance. Your ability to expand the reach of your vision and the team’s passion to all the foundations, businesses, churches and individual donors who supported these young people is a testament to all of us that we are never alone. Your desire to give the team a chance to be part of something bigger lays a foundation that is exponentially bigger than one single competition.

Providing our youth with a sense of significance instills in them the desire to dream big and hope to accomplish similar dreams throughout their entire life.

Although none of us may ever feel completely prepared, your example this year shows the potential of faith, dedication and steady progress.