On Wednesday, November 12, The Indiana Philanthropy Awards honored Brightlane Tutor Rock Alberts as Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser.

Hosted by AFP-IC, this event honors and recognizes individuals, groups, organizations, and corporations in Indiana who have enhanced philanthropy and the community through their dedicated efforts, time, leadership, passion, and generosity.

Rock’s Impact in Action

Rock has been a passionate and dedicated Brightlane Learning volunteer tutor for the past 15 years. He serves as a tireless advocate for children and families impacted by housing insecurity and homelessness in Indianapolis. At 83 years young, Rock brings extraordinary energy, warmth, and dedication to his role, inspiring others through both his personal story and deep commitment to educational equity.

Through his leadership, personal giving, and peer-to-peer outreach, Rock has helped raise nearly $25,000 in support of Brightlane’s mission. His success as a fundraiser is rooted not in flashy tactics or social media blasts, but in the power of personal connection. Rock shares his story as a volunteer tutor with friends, family members, and fellow church members with sincerity and conviction, painting a compelling picture of what it means to show up consistently for students navigating housing instability.

His passion for helping students thrive is evident not just in his fundraising but in his weekly tutoring sessions. Rock brings creativity and curiosity to his work, including leading unique activities like building sundials to understand astronomy, making kites to demonstrate basic physics and engineering, using origami to explain geometry principles, or making robotics with simple motors to spark interest in STEM concepts. Through these experiences, he creates joyful, hands-on learning moments that help students reimagine what’s possible for themselves.

Rock’s passion for Brightlane and our students was on display Wednesday as he accepted his award. He used his platform to ask others to join him as a volunteer tutor.

“To put it briefly, I get more out of it than the students I am involved with.”

Take Action

Check out Rock’s full acceptance speech.

Learn more about becoming a volunteer or apply today!

✨Inspired by Rock’s storytelling and fundraising?  Do the Bright Thing – Every personal story you share, every conversation you spark, and every dollar you raise sends a clear message to a student: “Your education matters. Your future matters.” In honor of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month this November, you can mobilize your network in the fight against youth homelessness by setting up your personal Do the Bright Thing fundraising page. Learn more here.