Congratulations to Mikayla Linebaugh for being selected as the FOX 17/Lake Michigan Credit Union “Pay It Forward Person of the Year”.
Below is an excerpt for Fox 17 West Michigan’s report.
KENT COUNTY, Mich. — The FOX 17 and Lake Michigan Credit Union Pay it Forward Person of the Year... is Mikayla Linebaugh!
The award was announced during Thursday's Pay it Awards Special on FOX 17.
As the winner, Linebaugh received a $2,500 prize from Lake Michigan Credit Union, along with a gorgeous bouquet from Easter Floral.
Linebaugh was featured in September for creating the B Foundation to help families dealing with cancer in her hometown of Belding.
The non-profit was launched in 2011, within days of Linebaugh losing her father to cancer.
"It's B for Belding and we also like the word 'believe', so it kind of serves both purposes that we believe that we can do anything, we can believe in each other, we believe in a hope," she explained. "We thought maybe we could help a few families, and we've definitely done that. We have raised over half a million dollars... It's a bittersweet thing, it means we've helped a ton of people, but it also means a lot of people have had cancer."
Cancer patients can apply to receive $1,000 dollars each calendar year to help ease the burdens of treatment.
Linebaugh said she plans to donate her prize money to the foundation.
"This is going to help so many families, that's what's so awesome about this," Linebaugh said. "I feel like this is a win for our foundation and committee, the town and all of the people, so I won't take credit. It takes village. I have the best committee that works with me and the people are amazing."
Congratulations Mikayla!