John Mika is a retired autoworker, substitute teacher and a self-described casual Buffalo Bills fan. Since 2011, he has been the director of The Teachers Desk, a Buffalo, New York-based nonprofit that collects donated school supplies and distributes them to students and teachers in need.
Mika's organization has passed out an average of 3,000 backpacks per year, each made possible by a $10 donation and filled with supplies valued at $100. Mika also created a warehouse "store" where teachers can gather $1,000 worth of free supplies. In total, the charity assists 250 schools and 150,000 students in the region.