Chicago Bears Honor New Life Centers CEO Matt DeMateo with 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker Award

New Life Centers (NLC) CEO Matt DeMateo was recently honored with the 2025 Inspire Change Changemaker Award from the Chicago Bears for his impactful social justice work in Chicago. The award comes at a joyous time as NLC celebrates 20 years of service.

Chicago Bears alumni Jerry Azumah and Henry Melton surprised DeMateo with the honor while taking a tour of NLC’s Pan de Vida Fresh Market, a food distribution center serving Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood. The award also comes with a $10,000 donation from the NFL Foundation and recognition at the Bears’ Inspire Change Game on December 20, when they take on the Green Bay Packers at home.

“I wasn’t expecting this at all. I thought I was just giving a tour and sharing the work our team does every day,” DeMateo said. “The Changemaker recognition is a huge blessing. It’s not just an award for me, it’s for our entire team and for our community. New Life is celebrating 20 years this year, and all that we’ve accomplished this year is an incredible blessing. It’s truly an honor to be recognized by the Bears.”

Each year, the Changemaker Award honors one individual in each NFL market who is transforming their community through social justice work. Recipients are recognized for supporting initiatives that fall under the league’s four Inspire Change pillars: education, economic advancement, police-community relations, and criminal justice reform. The $10,000 can be used to support a nonprofit of their choice.

From his leadership at NLC to championing youth development to his work supporting immigrant rights, DeMateo has proven himself to be for the people and a true changemaker.

Read more about DeMateo’s work here.