Hilda and Dave Eastwood - Founded Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research (previously known as Leukaemia Research) in 1960 after the death of daughter Susan, age 6. This national charity has since raised over £357million for research into blood cancers.
It was the Middlesbrough Council charity of the year in 2010 to honour its 50th year.
Martin Narey - The CEO of Barnardo's (OCtober 2005-January 2011), the UK's largest children's charity was born in Middlesbrough. He previously worked in the Home Office and HM Prison Service. In 2004 he was awarded with the Chartered Institute of Management's Gold medal for leadership, a single annual award. Narey was the first public sector recipient of this award for ten years. He is also published frequently in the Guardian, Telegraph, Times and New Statesman.
Barnardo's on wikipedia
Paul Vallely - Award-winning journalist, who has also chaired or been active in a number of prominent UK aid agencies, including Traidcraft, the Catholic Institute for International Relations (CIIR), Christian Aid and CAFOD.