Each month, Scripps' Media's WXMI-TV (Grand Rapids) recognizes someone doing good in West Michigan as the station's "Pay it Forward Person of the Month."

On Thursday, January 25, all of the monthly winners from 2023 were honored during the annual WXMI-TV "Pay it Forward" Awards Gala at Frederik Meijer Gardens. One winner was also named the FOX 17 and Lake Michigan Credit Union Pay it Forward Person of the Year and receive a $5,000 prize.

Diane Grummet was named the 2023 Person of the Year.  Grummet was featured in July 2023 for creating Ionia Community Awareness (ICA) to support those fighting cancer.

Diane Grummet

Grummet began the nonprofit after losing her dad to lung cancer. "My son was a senior on the football team, and I wanted the kids to give back somehow," Grummet explained. "I asked them if they would do purple, because purple is a universal color for cancer... it just took off from there."

What was supposed to be a single "purple" football game in 2010, grew into a "Purple Week" the very next year.

"All the money that we raised stays right here in Ionia. And just, you know, to help those fighting, or surviving, or even those that had been taken," Grummet told the station.  "When I say, you know, it's one town, one fight, it truly is, because... the whole town comes out and helps."

Grummet said nearly $250,000 has been raised so far to help more than 140 families. ICA assists with bills, meals, and gas cards along with hope and support.

The Person of the Year is determined via rank choice voting by select WXMI-TV and Lake Michigan Credit Union staff members.