Changemaker Champion Award Given to Ally Love at YWCA Gala

Ally Love received the Changemaker Champion Award from the YWCA of the City of New York on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at the organization’s Salute Gala. The Peloton instructor accepted the honor at City Winery Pier 57 in New York City, with Emma Lovewell there to cheer her on.

Ally shared the moment on her Instagram Story, which showed her speaking at the podium in front of the Salute Gala 2026 signage. She wrote that she was “So unbelievably honored to receive the Changemaker Champion Award” from YWCA NYC. She added that she was grateful to be part of the evening and to celebrate the important work the organization does.

What the Changemaker Champion Award Recognizes

The Changemaker Champion Award is one of the honors presented each year at Salute, the YWCA NYC signature celebration and fundraiser. YWCA NYC CEO Alba Rodriguez has described it as recognizing someone whose “bold leadership drives equity and opportunity for women and communities,” according to past coverage of the 2025 gala.

In its September announcement of the 2026 honoree, YWCA NYC pointed to Ally’s work as an advocate, community builder, and supporter of wellness and connection. The organization also highlighted her record of creating positive change in the lives of other people.

Past Changemaker Champion Honorees at Salute

Ally follows a group of recent recipients from a range of fields. Dr. Patricia Campos-Medina of the Worker Institute at Cornell University received the Changemaker Champion Award in 2025. Natalie Edwards of National Grid was honored in 2024, and Janessa Cox-Irvin of AllianceBernstein received the award in 2023.

Those honorees came from higher education, utilities, and finance. Ally brings a background in wellness, media, and instruction to the list.

About YWCA NYC and the Salute Gala

The YWCA of the City of New York has worked since 1858 to eliminate racism and advance opportunity for women, girls, and families across the city. It serves more than 3,000 youth each year at 13 program locations in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens. According to the organization, 93% of participants come from under-resourced communities, and 83% of high school participants say YWCA NYC is their only extracurricular STEM opportunity.

Its After School program reaches more than 2,200 students in kindergarten through eighth grade across eight public schools. Salute helps fund that programming, along with the organization’s Girls Initiatives.

Salute has run for more than 50 years and brings together leaders from business, philanthropy, government, and the community. The 2026 event ran from 6 to 9 p.m., and the event page lists a cocktail reception, seated dinner, awards program, and live paddle raise. Ally’s fellow honorees included Diane Sinti of Deloitte Consulting, who received the Corporate Leadership award, and Teresa C. Younger, former CEO and president of the Ms. Foundation for Women, who received the Grace Hoadley Dodge Distinguished Service Award.

How the Changemaker Champion Award Connects to Ally’s Work

The Changemaker Champion Award arrives in a year that has shown the range of Ally’s career. YWCA NYC describes her as a Peloton instructor, VP of Instructor Strategy & Development, TODAY on-air contributor, and founder and CEO of Love Squad. Her guiding philosophy is “Elevate your energy, elevate your life.”

The Clip Out has followed that work throughout 2026. In March, Ally joined the JPMorganChase Athlete Council alongside Tom Brady, Dwyane Wade, and A’ja Wilson, and spoke to more than 1,800 teens at the Ignite by 4-H Summit in Washington, D.C. In April, she hosted a Dress for Success benefit on Peloton. In May, the Love Squad restart pointed to her direction for the year, and she hosted a Clean Plate Club brunch in New York City.

The pace continued through summer and fall. Ally hosted the TIME100 Sports Gala in July and was confirmed as a co-host of NFL Play Action on Paramount+ in September. Much of that work centers on community, the quality YWCA NYC named in its announcement.

Next on Ally’s schedule is a return to Peloton Studios London for a UK Black History Month class on Oct. 23. She has had an incredible year thusfar and it’s not over yet. We are here for all of the accolades and celebrations!

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