Champions of Change: Honorees & Leaders

Ingrid Otero-Smart is a leader who uses her expertise and influence to create real change. As President and CEO of Casanova//McCann, she has spent over 30 years building impactful campaigns for major brands like Nestle, Donate Life California, Cigna, and many others. But beyond her professional achievements, Ingrid is deeply committed to using her skills for the greater good, especially in the fight to end gun violence.

When she saw that Brady’s End Family Fire (EFF) program wasn’t reaching the Hispanic community, one of the fastest-growing populations of gun owners in America, she took action swiftly. She volunteered her team’s time and resources to ensure the messaging resonated with Spanish-speaking audiences. From testing concepts to developing a full bilingual campaign, Ingrid’s leadership helped bring EFF to a new community, saving lives and driving critical conversations about gun safety.

Her dedication doesn’t stop there. Ingrid is a vocal advocate for responsible gun ownership and community safety, always working to amplify the voices of those most affected by gun violence. Whether through her work with Brady or other initiatives, she leads with compassion, conviction, and an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right.

Jason George is a versatile actor with an impressive career spanning three decades in television, film and stage work. He is best known for portraying the beloved character “Dr. Ben Warren,” one of TV’s most popular and charismatic doctors/firefighters. Jason first appeared as “Dr. Warren” on “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2010, transitioning from a recurring guest star in Seasons 6-10 to a series regular in Seasons 11-14. In 2018, Shonda Rhimes expanded his character into the ABC firemen series “Station 19,” where he continued to captivate audiences until 2024, all while maintaining a significant presence on “Grey’s Anatomy”. 

Originally pursuing a career in law, Jason's path shifted when a college friend encouraged him to take an acting class, revealing his true passion for performance. His dedication led him to become a classically trained actor, and he made his mark on stage with critically acclaimed performances in productions such as the award-winning 12 Angry Men at the Pasadena Playhouse and Pulitzer Prize winner Rita Dove’s The Darker Face of the Earth. Jason’s past television credits include the popular series “Mistresses” (2013-2016) alongside Alyssa Milano, and his film credits feature Playing the Field with Gerard Butler, With This Ring with Jill Scott, and Barbershop with Anthony Anderson and Ice Cube.

Beyond his performances, he has lectured, hosted panels, and delivered keynote speeches for at-risk youth groups, schools, and universities. Passionate about activism and reducing gun violence, he serves on the Creative Council of Everytown for Gun Safety and collaborates closely with Moms Demand Action and the bipartisan gun safety group, The 97 Percent.

A proud graduate of the University of Virginia, Jason earned his Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Temple University, where he served on the Board for the School of Communications and Theater. He is passionate about championing diversity and preserving the acting profession for future generations, as reflected in his service on the boards of SAG-AFTRA, The Motion Picture Television Fund NextGen Committee and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.