WEST MICHIGAN — The annual FOX 17 Pay it Forward Awards Gala aired as a TV special - complete with a live announcement of the FOX 17 and Lake Michigan Credit Union Person of the Year.
Here's a look at our 2020 Pay it Forward Persons of the Months:
January:Jaiden Thompson: 11-year-old who raised funds for a classroom of autistic children.
February:John Prichard: 79-year-old retiree who runs "Pack it Up" program in Coopersville to fight childhood hunger.
March: Carol & Mike Betz: Retired married couple who volunteer to help 2nd-graders feel loved and learn to read.
April: Michelle Ripley: Started "Friends and Families of Cystic Fibrosis," which has raised more than $500,000 over five years.
May: Landria Christman: Launched "Sassy Stops the Spread" initiative, which has provided more than 30,000 masks to health care workers and others.
June: Kevin Farhat: Launched "Garage Bar Cares" initiative during the height of the pandemic and provided more than 6,000 free meals.
July: Tanya Henry: Started "LoNia's World Center" to provide an online resource for young adults with disabilities to take part in social events.
August: Scott Kuderik: Baked and provided thousands of cookies for frontline health care workers.
September: Mikayla Linebaugh: Started the non-profit "The B Foundation," which has raised more than $500,000 for residents of Belding dealing with cancer.
October: Patrick Kampf: Hiked 2,193 miles of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine to raise awareness and $15,000 for the Helen DeVos Children's Hospital.
November: Wendy Marble: Collected cans during the pandemic to raise thousands of dollars for Mackenzie's Animal Sanctuary and other animal rescue organizations.
December: Chris Waleskowski: Retiree who used her passion for creating art to raise funds for the Alzheimer's Association.
And congratulations to our person of the year!
Know someone who should be our next Pay It Forward Person of the Month? Nominate them here.