Fr. Daniel Named 2025 "Changemaker of the Year"
The Very Rev. Daniel Vélez Rivera Named 2025 Changemaker of the Year by the Community Foundation of Loudoun and Fauquier Counties
Honoring justice-focused ministry, community partnership, and love in action
The Very Rev. Daniel Vélez-Rivera, Vicar of St. Gabriel’s ~ San Gabriel Episcopal Church in Leesburg, has been named the Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties’ 2025 Changemaker of the Year.
This award celebrates Fr. Daniel’s commitment to strengthening community connections, empowering families, and embodying the love of Christ through practical action.
A $10,000 Endowment For Local Students
As part of the award, Changemaker of the Year will have the opportunity to establish a $10,000 charitable endowment to be stewarded by the Community Foundation.
“I intend to earmark the charitable endowment for scholarships to underserved students in Loudoun County who have been accepted to community college or vocational trades programs. Our underserved students are more likely to start and thrive in community college or trade programs, so we meet them where they are so we can help them get where they want to go. By supporting education and workforce development, this fund will open doors of opportunity for young people who might not otherwise have access, equipping them with skills to thrive and give back to the community.”
Fr. Daniel Vélez-Rivera
Living The Mission
As a bilingual Episcopal community without walls, we are committed to being outward-facing, meeting people where they are, and walking alongside neighbors in practical and spiritual ways. The Changemaker of the Year award affirms St. Gabriel’s ~ San Gabriel’s identity as a place of welcome, justice, and connection—where faith is lived out not just in words, but in action. It underscores that our ministry is about encountering God in tangible ways, building meaningful relationships, and making a difference in Loudoun County and the world.
Our Story is About People. This award belongs to all who live out God’s mission—especially the children and families who inspire us through Educando con Amor.
It’s about neighbors supporting neighbors, about faith moving us to action, and about the belief that transformation is possible when we walk together in love.
We invite everyone to find community with us, and to join us in building a more just and hopeful future. And when we say everyone, we mean it: parishioners, community members, people of all faiths and philosophies, partner organizations, and fellow churches. Being disciples is not something we do in silos—Jesus sent the disciples out together to do his work, and so we must do.
