SOAR365 is proud to announce that Leroy Stanford, Supervisor of the Visitor Center at Defense Supply Center Richmond (Bellwood), has been named one of three national finalists for the Tom Miller Advocacy Award as part of the 2025 SourceAmerica Achievement Awards.
The Tom Miller Advocacy Award honors an Ability One employee with a disability who demonstrates outstanding achievement and passion for self-advocacy on a local, state, and national level. Leroy’s nomination recognizes his remarkable leadership, determination, and lifelong commitment to advancing opportunities for people with disabilities.
Leroy began his career with SOAR365 through the Ability One Program and now supervises operations at the DSCR Visitor Center. His professionalism, compassion, and mentorship have made him a trusted leader and role model for others with disabilities who aspire to grow in their careers.
Beyond the workplace, Leroy has become a powerful advocate for accessibility and inclusion. For the past four years, he has represented SOAR365 at the SourceAmerica Grassroots Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., where he has met with staffers for Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner and Representatives Jennifer McClellan and Rob Wittman. He has spoken on issues such as Social Security Income (SSI) reform and increasing federal procurement goals for AbilityOne contracts, which could create thousands of jobs for people with disabilities nationwide.
Locally, Leroy continues his advocacy by speaking with community leaders about accessibility and inclusion in public spaces and programs. He often shares his own journey, transitioning from physically demanding jobs to becoming a respected supervisor and advocate, to show that people with disabilities can overcome barriers and thrive when given opportunity and support.
“Everybody can’t do everything, but everybody can do something,” Leroy says. “That’s what I believe and that’s what I try to show every day.”
The SourceAmerica Achievement Awards celebrate outstanding individuals and nonprofit organizations within the Ability One network who are making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities.
To learn more about SourceAmerica and the Ability One program, click here. To learn more about SOAR365’s Business Solutions work, click here.