Dr. Sarah Dynia Honored with Prestigious Roland Hemond Award at Rate Field

Chicago, IL — September 21, 2025 — On Sunday, Dr. Sarah Dynia, a lifelong South Sider, resident physician, and founder of Stuffed Love, was honored on the field at Rate Field before her beloved Chicago White Sox as the recipient of the Roland Hemond Award.

The Roland Hemond Award, presented by the Chicago White Sox and Chicago White Sox Charities, recognizes individuals who embody the late Roland Hemond’s lifelong commitment to community, compassion, and service. Hemond, a three-time MLB Executive of the Year and Hall of Fame honoree, was revered for his generosity, mentorship, and dedication to lifting others through baseball and beyond.

Sarah, who began Stuffed Love in 2010 at just 14 years old, has dedicated her life to spreading “That Little Bit of Hope” to children, families, and communities in need. What started with hand-stitched heart pillows at her family’s kitchen table has grown into a nonprofit that has:

• Created and distributed more than 20,000 Stuffed Love Hearts to hospitals, shelters, and schools across the country. 💖
• Tackled food insecurity by launching the Stuffed Love Food Pantry, which since 2020 has distributed over 2,600 tons of food — the equivalent of 6 million meals — to more than 310,000 families across the South and Southwest sides of Chicago. 🍎🥖
• Partnered with organizations including Team CHD Illinois, Holiday Heroes, Bricks of Hope, The Southwest Collective, Park Lawn, and many others to deliver comfort, nourishment, and hope. 🌟

Beyond her nonprofit leadership, Sarah continues to serve as a resident physician in Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, carrying Stuffed Love’s mission into her medical career.

“Standing on the field at Rate Field, being recognized with an award named after Roland Hemond — a man who devoted his life to baseball, community, and lifting others — was incredibly humbling,” Sarah shared. “This honor belongs not just to me, but to my family, my Stuffed Love family, the White Sox Volunteer Corps, and every volunteer and supporter who has believed in our mission. Together, we are proof that love and hope can change lives.”

Sarah expressed heartfelt gratitude to Jerry Reinsdorf, Christine O’Reilly, Ozzie Guillen, Ron Kittle, Colin McGauley, Robert Clark, the late Roland Hemond, and the entire White Sox organization for their support and belief in her work.

Her parents, Laura and Mark Dynia, added:

“On Sunday, as we watched Sarah step onto the field to receive the Roland Hemond Award, our hearts were overflowing with pride. From her first heart pillow at the kitchen table to this unforgettable moment, she continues to amaze us. Love always & 4-ever, Mom & Dad.” 💙

The day was not only a celebration of Sarah’s journey but also a reminder of the White Sox organization’s ongoing commitment to building stronger communities through service and compassion.

About Stuffed Love
Founded in 2010, Stuffed Love is a nonprofit organization dedicated to spreading “That Little Bit of Hope” through hand-stitched heart pillows, HOPE Bags for children with congenital heart disease, and large-scale community food pantry operations. Based in Chicago, Stuffed Love has reached hundreds of thousands of individuals with comfort, meals, and kindness. Learn more at www.stuffedloveusa.com.

Media Contact:
Mark Dynia
Chief Operating Officer, Stuffed Love
Email: stuffedloveusa@gmail.com
Phone: 872-248-9912