They are your neighbors, your friends, your coworkers. They sit in our classrooms. They bag your groceries or work in our factories. People who carry on with their daily lives while at the same time touching the lives of others. The person who faces adversity and is inspired to help others. The person who devotes themselves to making life better for someone else. They are the EVERYDAY HEROES who make our Lakeshore a better place to live, work, and play.
Each year, United Way of the Lakeshore honors the everyday heroes that live and work among us.
Who is an Everyday Hero?
Each day on the Lakeshore, citizens, and organizations are changing lives and solving community challenges. Everyday Heroes work quietly to heal, unite and improve our communities through their volunteerism and philanthropic work. Their generosity and kindness are even more inspiring–and sorely needed–during this time of a global pandemic, economic turmoil, and social unrest.
211, Community Access Line of the Lakeshore - Jen Bailey
Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired - Dr. Lori Smolinski
Child Abuse Council of Muskegon County - Vicki Price
Every Woman's Place - Rita Howard
Kids' Food Basket - Priscilla Wilcox
Mediation & Restorative Services - Carolyn Smith-Gerdes
Newaygo County Compassion Home - Dr. Douglas & Lou Ann Johnson
Pathfinders - Tayonna McQuarter
Step Up - Alicia Wiggin
TrueNorth Community Services - Jelanie Bush
AgeWell Services of West Michigan - Zeke Johnson
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Lakeshore - Kim Watson
Community enCompass - Thomas Evans
Girl Scouts MI Shore to Shore - Kristy Wyngaarden
Lakeshore Regional Community Development Corporation: Eric Hood
Michigan Education Corps / Hope Network - Heidi Bolema
Newaygo County RESA - Jeff Wright
Prevention of Child Abuse & Neglect: Tashina Kerr
The Hope Project - Rita Caviness
United Way of the Lakeshore - Jason Finch
American Red Cross - Carol Norwick
Boys & Girls Club of the Lakeshore - Laura Hardy
COVE - Nicole Young
Goodwill Industries of West MI - Brad Hulce
Legal Aid of Western Michigan - Alvin Bacon
Mission for Area People - Linda Alexander
Oceana County Community Foundation - Eva Berumen-Reyna
Read Muskegon - Matt Anderson
The Salvation Army - Steve Rogers
Volunteer for Dental - Carrie Autman
Arc Muskegon - Robert Hosler
Catholic Charities West Michigan - Barb Grice
Disability Network of West Michigan - John Taylor
Helping Every Living Person Survive - Darvenna Mallard
Love INC of Muskegon County - Betty Shafer
Muskegon YMCA - Liz Trzaska
Orchard View Community Education - Melissa Randles
Staircase Youth Services - Sarah Rudat
Senior Resources - Patricia McNeill
White Lake Area Community Education - Billie Brown
