Honoring Our Community Heroes
Meet the House Proud Heroes
Kawahn Young
Baltimore, Maryland
A dedicated police officer and passionate nonprofit founder, Kawahn Young has spent 23 years strengthening the bond between Baltimore’s youth and law enforcement. Inspired by his father — a police officer who lost his sight in the line of duty — Kawahn began his own career at 18 and quickly discovered his calling for mentorship and service.
“Winning the new windows is a blessing,” Kawahn said. “It will help with the usual financial challenges of homeownership and give me a deeper sense of pride in my home.”
Early in his career, he served as a coordinator for the Police Athletic League (PAL), connecting with approximately 150 young people per day and showing that policing can be personal, caring, and community-focused. Later, as a school resource officer in Baltimore County, he became a trusted mentor and counselor for students, forming relationships that lasted well beyond the classroom. One former mentee, who once struggled in school, later wrote to thank Kawahn for believing in him — a reminder of how lasting those small moments of encouragement can be.
In 2019, Kawahn founded Save Our Young (SOY) Baltimore, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering positive relationships between youth, the community, and law enforcement. Its annual Building Bridges bike ride draws between 100 and 160 participants each year, promoting health, wellness, and connection.
When asked what his home means to him, Kawahn’s answer is simple: peace. Through the House Proud Heroes program, Thompson Creek was honored to help enhance that sense of peace with new, energy-efficient windows — a small way to thank him for his years of service and community impact.
“Winning the new windows is a blessing,” Kawahn said.
“It will help with the usual financial challenges of homeownership and give me a deeper sense of pride in my home.”
Kawahn believes that everyone has a part to play in making the community stronger. His mantra, “invest in and inspire change,” reflects his belief that by investing in people, we can create a better future for everyone.
Watch Kawahn Young's Story
Seth and Lindsey Meyer
Port Deposit, Maryland
Seth and Lindsey Meyer embody service, resilience, and partnership. A post-9/11 Air Force veteran, Seth has dedicated his life to helping others — first through military and defense work, and now through building a stronger veteran community in his hometown of Port Deposit, Maryland.
“Little things you can do to help other people have a big impact on their lives,” they said. “We just try to live by that.”
In 2024, he founded the Dale Burger Jr. American Legion Post 303 — the first new post chartered in Maryland in more than 20 years — named in honor of local Marine Dale Burger Jr., who lost his life in Iraq in 2004. Seth and Lindsey navigated the charter process with minimal guidance and often self-funded early efforts, determined to create a home for veterans seeking connection, support, and purpose.
Lindsey, a physical therapy assistant and mentor, shares Seth’s drive to serve. She sits on the advisory board for the Cecil College PTA program, volunteers as a clinical instructor, and works to combat food insecurity through the local VFW kitchen.
Together, they also support Communities Helping Empower Patriots (CHEP), helping train veterans and at-risk community members in construction trades.
Their compassion extends beyond people — the couple has trained therapy dogs and dreams of opening a nonprofit offering equine-assisted therapy for veterans and people with disabilities.
With a new baby on the way, Thompson Creek was proud to help the Meyers prepare their home for this next chapter — ensuring it’s a place of comfort, warmth, and stability for their growing family.
Watch Seth and Lindsey Meyer’s Story
Teresa and Pat Sikora
Frederick, Maryland
For Teresa and Pat Sikora, longtime special education teachers, home is more than a place — it’s a reflection of resilience, compassion, and care. After years of renting and periods of housing insecurity, they found stability in their Frederick, Maryland home, where they also care for Pat’s mother and Teresa’s aunt.
“It feels so special that somebody recognized our commitment,” Teresa said. “It reminded us to keep going even when things get difficult.”
For 25 years, Teresa has dedicated herself to emotionally fragile and neurologically diverse students, offering mentorship that reaches far beyond the classroom. She also leads her school’s theater program, giving students a creative outlet and a sense of belonging. Pat, inspired by Teresa’s example, became a special educator himself, finding joy in watching generations of students graduate and succeed.
Their impact spans generations — from one former student Teresa taught years ago on Long Island, now a teacher herself at a local Maryland high school, to the countless families whose lives they’ve touched through their work.
When they applied to House Proud Heroes, the Sikoras’ old, drafty windows were driving up energy costs and forcing them to keep heavy thermal curtains closed, limiting the light and warmth they love. Thompson Creek’s gift of new, energy-efficient windows brought fresh light and comfort into their home — a meaningful way to celebrate their resilience and lifelong care for others.
“It feels so special that somebody recognized our commitment,” Teresa said. “It reminded us to keep going even when things get difficult.”
Watch Teresa and Pat Sikora's Story
About House Proud Heroes
House Proud Heroes is a community recognition award that honors local homeowners who serve, protect, educate, heal, and uplift others. We recognize teachers, veterans, first responders, healthcare workers, public service employees, and community volunteers whose dedication often goes unnoticed — helping them feel as proud of their homes as we are of their contributions.
Each selected recipient receives up to 10 professionally installed, energy-efficient windows to improve the comfort, energy efficiency, and pride they feel in their homes.