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Play-it-Forward
2023

The inaugural year — fourteen charities, one wildly competitive family.

The Winners

Top of the leaderboard.

First Place

Little Kid Lovers

The Nikolakakis Family — named after Michael Scott's dating profile in The Office, tying in to their chosen charity advocating for children.

  • Demetri Nikolakakis
  • Jenni Nikolakakis
  • Isabella Nikolakakis
  • Wyatt Nikolakakis
Granted to
Second Place

Too Cool for Yule

The Grunow Family — cool on the outside, holiday spirit on the inside.

  • Bryan Grunow
  • Devorah Grunow
  • Dreyahna Grunow
  • Noa Grunow
Granted to
Third Place — Tied

Athani

The Athanas Family — Argus, Mycalia, Milos & Atlas Lane (plus Mowgli the Shiba Inu). Newly a family of four.

  • Argus Athanas
  • Mycalia Athanas
  • Milos Athanas
  • Atlas Lane Athanas
Granted to
Third Place — Tied

Yankee Doodle Crumpets

The Robinson-Rahnejat Family — submitting all the way from London.

  • Sam Robinson
  • Jaime Rahnejat
  • Pippin
Granted to
Honorable Mentions

Just behind the leaderboard.

The Jingle Jammers
Red Nose Elves
SantaCruzers
WomenCARE$5,000
Also Participating

Every team, every charity.

A grant was directed to the chosen charity of every participating team.

In 2023, $85,500 reached fourteen charities chosen by the people who matter most to our family.

The Challenges That Year

Three challenges, infinite creative liberties.

A Family Portrait

Create a creative and funny holiday-oriented family photo to catch the judges' attention — silly, flashy, or jolly.

Home Scavenger Hunt

Find the most Christmas or holiday-inspiring object in your home and submit a picture or video with an optional explanation.

A Holiday Limerick

Write an original holiday limerick, poem, or short story.

From the Submissions

Every team, every entry.

All 14 teams, alphabetical, with the photos and writing they submitted for 2023.

Athani

Promises2Kids
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

Baby Boomers 4 Paws

Street Dog Hero
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

Deer Santas

Mitchell Thorp Foundation
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

Goldwhiskyluv

Living Free Animal Sanctuary
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

Little Kid Lovers

Washoe CASA Foundation
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

Mooselodge

California Wolf Center
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

Red Nose Elves

Live Like Jack Foundation
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

SantaCruzers

WomenCARE
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

The Fighters

The Castleman Disease Collaborative Network (CDCN)
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

The Hammer 3

Community Ambulance Service
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt and Limerick

The Jingle Jammers

Save the Children
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

The Playmakers

God’s Kingdom Ministries
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

Too Cool for Yule

Raleigh Dream Center
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick

Yankee Doodle Crumpets

World Wildlife Fund
Family Portrait
Scavenger Hunt
Limerick