Andrew advocates hard for people in his community and does the work of backing up his words. It’s a big weight, it must be tough and rewarding to know you have the responsibility to assist so many. Yet often Andrew will say, “It’s worth it even if it just helps one.” He doesn’t judge. He is slow to speak with wise thoughtful words often unspoken if he is not given the floor. He doesn’t force. He walks the walk.
Jenna Arcidiacono is the owner of Amore Trattoria Italiana in Comstock Park and was recently named the Grand Rapids Business Journal’s 2020 overall Newsmaker of the Year. Jenna used her local celebrity chef status to lead the way in helping others during the pandemic, while simultaneously working to reinvent her own business in order to…
Kasey has been a part of relay for life for several years. It all started in middle school, the Macomb County area would hold a fundraiser for the Relay for Life foundation and she was always the most dedicated and motivated individual there. Kasey began raising money to attend the three days walk. Even when…
Dr. Bobby Mukkamala is a selfless Flint treasure, always doing whatever he can to make the community a better place. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, he purchased several 3D printers and began making hundreds of face masks for medical professionals and others in need of the personal protective equipment. As President of…
The Morley Community Center Board of Directors works tirelessly to develop this fledgling hub of community activity. Using a once boarded up elementary school as their base, this group of committed citizens has maintained, improved and revived this property to become a vital community resource in Morley, MI. Morley is a very rural community with…
In early 2020, the US was experiencing a severe shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. A group of medical students decided that they were going to do something about it and launched PPE for MI. They created a website and a Facebook page to spread the word. PPE…
Christine Mwangi is the Founder and President of the nonprofit Be a Rose, Inc. which works to provide health and wellness education to underserved people. It also works to distribute feminine hygiene products at no cost. This organization was founded in 2016 and aids people in the Greater Grand Rapids area, and neighboring Ottawa County.…
Salena Taylor started the non profit “Partial to Girls” two years ago to provide community assistance in Jackson to those who are in need. Partial to Girls has donated countless diapers, baby formula, and other basic care items to others in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also have provided life changing mentorship to young…
Winning Futures has been serving students in Metro Detroit for over 25 years. Their impact has reached thousands of high school students and, starting this year, college students as well. Winning Futures has made a special impact during Covid-19 with a successful virtual mentoring program in place of their normal in-person school based program. They…
While away from the front lines, Ashley Edmonds lived the family life with her husband and two young sons. In non-pandemic times, she traveled, watched her sons play baseball and studied to become a nurse practitioner. When on the front lines as a nurse in the intensive care unit at Ascension Genesys Hospital in Grand…