February 15

Hendrika "Miep" Gies was born in Vienna and moved to the Netherlands as a child, where she worked for Otto Frank’s company. During World War II, she risked her life to hide Anne Frank and her family, providing food and supplies in secret. After the family’s arrest, Gies saved Anne’s diary, preserving it for publication. She spent her later life sharing the Frank family’s story and advocating for tolerance. Gies received numerous honors, including the Order of Orange-Nassau. Her courage and compassion continue to inspire people worldwide.

Irena Sendler was born in Warsaw and trained as a social worker and nurse before WWII. As part of the Polish underground, she smuggled over 2,500 Jewish children out of the Warsaw Ghetto, providing them with false identity documents. She maintained secret records of the children’s real names in hopes of reuniting families after the war. Arrested and tortured by the Gestapo, she refused to betray her colleagues and was sentenced to death, but escaped execution. After the war, Sendler continued her humanitarian work and was honored by Yad Vashem as Righteous Among the Nations. Her legacy of bravery and compassion endures.

Yelena Bonner (1923–2011) was a leading Soviet human rights campaigner who fought tirelessly for the release of political prisoners and the rule of law in the USSR. Married to Nobel laureate Andrei Sakharov, she co-founded the Memorial organization to document and oppose political repression. Despite government harassment and exile, Bonner continued her advocacy internationally, testifying before bodies like the UN Human Rights Commission. Her memoirs and speeches inspired global support for freedom and democracy.

Robert Drew was an American documentary filmmaker and producer. He is regarded as a pioneer of cinema verité and direct cinema in the United States. He founded the influential Drew Associates collective, which revolutionized on-location shooting and lightweight camera work. His landmark film 'Primary' (1960) documented the Wisconsin primary contest, shaping modern political documentaries. Drew's observational style and innovative techniques have inspired generations of documentary filmmakers.

Matt Duffer, alongside his twin brother Ross, co-wrote and co-directed the hit Netflix science fiction-horror series "Stranger Things", which premiered in 2016. The show earned critical acclaim and multiple awards, becoming a cultural phenomenon. Matt has been praised for his storytelling, character development, and nostalgic references to 1980s pop culture. Prior to television, the Duffer Brothers wrote and directed short films and worked on independent projects. Matt’s innovative approach to genre blending has established him as a prominent figure in modern TV production.

Sodapoppin (born Thomas Chance Morris IV; February 15, 1994) is an American Twitch streamer and internet personality. He began streaming in 2012 and quickly became one of the platform's most popular creators through his engaging variety streams. Known for his humor and interactive community chats, he has amassed a large following across Twitch and YouTube. He co-founded the gaming organization One True King and has collaborated with numerous content creators. His influence on live streaming culture has helped shape modern entertainment on digital platforms.