Turning Challenges into Blessings

Sophie Minich has cared about vulnerable teenagers and young adults since she was one. She’s found ways to support them and help them create healthy, stable paths forward. Sophie’s dedication to youth and causes that prioritize them resulted in her receiving our Tocqueville Society 2025 Community Service Award.

After a recipient is announced, we schedule an interview with the winner to highlight the meaningful work they’ve done in our community. Meeting at Covenant House Alaska made the most sense. Upon entering the nonprofit, its CEO, Alison Kear, joined us. Like us, she was delighted Sophie was being recognized and said, “I’m sitting in this building because of her. Sophie gives generously because she believes in young people and supports efforts that empower them to succeed. She has hundreds—or even thousands—of choices where to deploy resources and picked United Way and its partner nonprofits. We’re so grateful for her!”

We wanted to understand why Sophie was so driven to help vulnerable youth. “My mother died of lung cancer during a very formative time of my life,” Sophie said. Even though her life changed, she received consistent, caring support from two people.

Long-time friends of Sophie’s family, Bill and Marsha Vincent, moved into her home to care for her and her brother so their father to continue working his job on the North Slope. She said, “They were there for us out of the kindness of their hearts.” Their selfless actions, care, and commitment to family showed Sophie what it means to help children and how valuable paying it forward is. “They showed me that you don’t have to be related by blood. Family is who you make it.”

Looking back now, Sophie believes those big challenges turned out to be blessings too. “I went through experiences that shaped and taught me,” she said. “I learned navigating problems can feel disruptive but, more importantly, they build resilience.” That perspective has impacted how Sophie interacts with others. She wanted to help young people build connections, like she’d gotten to, but wondered What’s the best way to help? Sophie realized: Give to United Way’s Community Campaign. “I gave what I could at first and kept that process of giving going,” she said.