About The Organizers
Sophie Kinworthy
Sophie is a senior at Riverside High School, where she is a student-athlete and plays lacrosse. She has been leading the Riverside 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb since 2024 and is passionate about bringing the community together to honor the 343 firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice on September 11, 2001.
The mission of the Stair Climb is especially meaningful to Sophie because her dad was a volunteer firefighter. Growing up with that connection gave her a personal understanding of the time, courage, and sacrifices firefighters and their families make to serve their communities.
Through the Stair Climb, Sophie hopes to keep the memory of the fallen alive, especially among younger generations, while bringing together students, first responders, families, and members of the community around one promise: Never Forget.
Averi Critz
Averi is a sophomore and student-athlete at Riverside High School and is honored to champion the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb event.
After learning that the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation honors America’s fallen firefighters, supports their families, and works to reduce firefighter deaths and injuries, she was inspired to raise funds for this important cause.
Averi is grateful to the firefighters and first responders who risked or sacrificed their lives to protect others on September 11, 2001. She is committed to ensuring their courage, selflessness, and sacrifice is never forgotten.