PHOENIX, Aug. 27, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Colossal, the leading nationally registered professional fundraiser for purpose-driven online competitions, has named Nate Lewis, founder and CEO of The Innocent, the inaugural recipient of the Colossal Impact Award. Lewis was honored with $10,000 and spoke at Colossal’s annual Impact Summit, sharing The Innocent’s mission with more than 90 Colossal employees gathered in person and virtually.
The Colossal Impact Award honors individuals whose work delivers meaningful, lasting impact in the lives of others. Recipients are selected based on the depth of their impact, the reach of their work, and their alignment with Colossal’s mission to inspire people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Lewis is its first recipient for his leadership at The Innocent, an organization dedicated to protecting children from human trafficking, exploitation, and sexual assault by equipping law enforcement with specialized training, technology, and resources. He previously served as an executive at a global anti-trafficking organization, and his 16 years living mostly abroad, including travel to more than 40 countries, continue to inform his work today.
Colossal’s work is driven by transforming participation into measurable charitable impact. Through purpose-driven online competitions, the company raises funds to support causes spanning children and families, wildlife, education, ocean conservation, medical research, and other community and cultural initiatives. In 2025 alone, Colossal’s campaign portfolio generated more than $100 million in charitable support.
Protecting and empowering young people is especially meaningful to Colossal. Through its youth-focused competitions, children have opportunities to build confidence, celebrate their talents, step outside their comfort zones, and experience the encouragement of communities that rally behind them. Honoring Lewis reinforces that commitment by supporting work that protects children and enables them to grow, thrive, and pursue their potential.
“Nate was selected because his work reflects exactly what this award was created to honor — sustained, hands-on impact that changes lives on a large scale,” said Mary Hagen, Colossal CEO. “His leadership also reflects the same spirit we instill in our own community: using whatever platform or skills you have to show up for others.”
During the Impact Summit, Lewis spoke candidly about the personal journey that led him to this work and the importance of using whatever skills or platform a person has to help protect children.
“This has been a life journey for me. At the time, you don’t always understand why — and then you find yourself, 30 or 40 years later, working to protect children because you weren’t protected yourself. Maybe that’s my drive, my passion, whatever it is. Whether it’s using your voice or your platform, join this fight for innocence somehow, and protect it.”
That drive shapes the way Lewis leads The Innocent.
“Our mission is to protect and preserve the innocence of children from sex trafficking, exploitation, and sexual assault, and we do that by training law enforcement. We give them the tools they need — equipment, technology, and software — and teach them how to work undercover online and build strong cases. We also run full-scale undercover operations, where we advise them and walk them through actual arrests, so they can continue that work after we leave.”
Learn more about The Innocent’s mission at theinnocent.org, and learn more about Colossal’s charitable competitions at colossal.org.
About Colossal
Colossal is a professional fundraiser redefining modern philanthropy through purpose-driven online competitions that raise money for charity. With a mission to inspire people to advocate for themselves and those in need, Colossal empowers individuals to pursue their passions, rally their communities, and compete for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities — all while driving meaningful charitable impact where giving wins. Colossal competitions, including Baby of the Year, America’s Most Artistic Kid, Youth Athlete of the Year, and Jr. Ranger, serve as fundraising campaigns for DTCare and Action Initiative Team (AIT), United States 501(c)(3) public charity organizations, which grant donation funds to specified charities at the completion of the competitions.
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