2026 Leading with heart Awards
The Leading with Heart Award recognizes individuals and households who give with their whole hearts. They have gone above and beyond in their commitment to community and demonstrate the many ways leadership giving can create impact. These honorees represent different paths to deeper impact, from philanthropy and advocacy to connection and leadership. Their stories remind us that there is no single way to make a difference.
Kirsten Houghton
Kirsten Houghton, CPA, MBA’s community support extends from her career to her philanthropy to her volunteer engagement. She passionately leads with her heart as a United Way investor. Kirsten is a United Way Loyal Contributor who began donating at her first employer in 1990, becoming a leadership giver in 2013. Kirsten established a named fund in United Way Foundation last year to extend her support for years into the future. Kirsten’s impact is amplified by her volunteer involvement as Secretary/Treasurer and Trustee in her first full term on the United Way Foundation Board which stewards $40 million in endowment investments. In that capacity she also serves on United Way’s Audit & Finance Committee as well as the Foundation Investment Committee. Between 2012 and 2023, Kirsten volunteered with Women United Council on committees and chaired the donor network in 2017 and 2018. As chair she helped transition the Women’s Leadership Council from designated giving to affinity status while ushering in the new United Way Worldwide branding of Women United. During Kirsten’s two years as chair, nearly $1.4 million was raised to support Schools of Hope elementary literacy tutoring.
Kirsten is a Principal at SVA Certified Public Accountants, focusing her expertise and leading a team on nonprofit and real estate industries. In addition to United Way, her community involvement includes past and current leadership with the Association of Fundraising Professionals-Greater Madison Chapter, Isthmus Community Media Board, TEMPO, Junior League, Madison Rotary, Madison Rotary Foundation and LPGA Amateur Golf Association.
Dr. Corinda Rainey-Moore & Bobby Moore
Dr. Corinda Rainey-Moore and Bobby Moore are servant leaders in the truest sense. The time, talent and treasure they pour into our community reflect more than generosity. They reflect a worldview and a conviction that we are all connected. The Rainey-Moore household remains close to the issues, which is why their voices and perspectives are vital when it’s time to talk solutions.
Corinda is a champion of United Way of Dane County, serving across the full volunteer spectrum, from Board service to fundraising to fund delegation. Through her term with the Board of Directors, on the Nominating and Governance Committee, she helped us recruit diverse talent and build strong, sustainable Board leadership. As their Community Engagement Manager, she has led UnityPoint Health Meriter’s giving campaign for seven years, raising nearly $100,000 to support family well-being in Dane County.
Corinda is deeply committed to the hardest parts of our work, digging into root causes of our toughest issues through Delegations on Health and Community Resiliency, helping set funding strategy with the Vision Council, building partnerships with our nonprofit partners through Community Solutions Teams, and helping us identify honorees for our Community Service Awards. Over 11 years with Women United Council, she has helped our donor network become more inclusive, visible and impactful, and in 2027 she will be stepping up as Vice Chair. She sets a high standard for Women United volunteers—her fashion and selfie game is unmatched, and she inspires others to show up, stand out and create visibility for the causes she believes in.
Bobby spent more than 30 years with Dane County Human Services’ Neighborhood Intervention program, working with at-risk youth. A member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity for over 45 years, he teaches chess strategy to young people and helps lead scholarship fundraisers, and food and clothing drives. Through Prince Hall Masonic Lodge, he supports youth scholarships, food drives and charity golf outings. He chairs the Sickle Cell Awareness Committee at the Urban League of Greater Madison Guild, hosting three blood drives a year, and has also chaired the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Committee.
Corinda and Bobby have been generously supporting United Way for nearly 30 years, and though they have both received many awards, this is their first time being honored as a household.
Matt & Nikky Stadelman
Matt and Nikky Stadelman have built a family centered on service, leadership and caring for others.
While growing in his career at Findorff, Matt has become a passionate advocate for United Way of Dane County. Six years ago, Matt was involved when Rosenberry Society and Key Club were merged to form a new donor network– Lead United. As a dedicated Rosenberry Ambassador, Matt saw the vision for Lead United in its formative years, and helped the Council combine the best elements of both donor networks. His influence was critical in the early days of Lead United, speaking at workplace and community events and encouraging other leaders to take the next step in their philanthropic journey.
During his time as Chair, he helped Lead United develop our Ambassador Program, which has since recruited dozens of volunteers and expanded visibility of our mission. Matt is also a 2026 graduate of Leadership Greater Madison, where he invited his cohort to learn from United Way and our partners about affordable housing—both educating them on the complexity of the issue and connecting these emerging leaders to the strategies that he and Nikky personally invest in.
Matt has stepped into other spaces to lead with United Way, including meeting with 18 local CEOs to advocate for workplace campaigns. Just last year, his CEO meetings led to campaigns that raised over $60,000 in support for our community. He also worked alongside industry leaders, Pete Vogel and Larry Barton, to grow the Step-Up Match Fund, creating a pathway for 213 donors to step-up to leadership giving.
While Matt was inspiring generosity in the community, Nikky was living its most profound expression. As an acute care Occupational Therapist at UW Health, she served on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, caring for patients during a time when healthcare workers faced unprecedented challenges and uncertainty. Amid fear and immense personal risk, she showed up to serve our most vulnerable and isolated community members so they can heal, regain independence, and preserve their dignity. Nikky’s compassion and resilience reflects the very essence of leading with heart.
Today, Nikky and Matt have embraced another role defined by compassion and resilience, and one that comes with immeasurable impact—raising their sons, Luke and JJ. As they have grown their young family, Nikky has generously shared her time, support and partnership, making it possible for Matt to answer countless calls to serve through United Way. Their impact is not the result of one person’s efforts, but a family commitment to care for their community.