Play-it-Forward 2025

Thank You for Playing It Forward in 2025!

What an incredible year of creativity and laughter! Thank you to all our family and friends who joined us for the third annual Play-It-Forward event. From hilarious family portraits to heartfelt holiday limericks and poems, you reminded us why this tradition has become such a meaningful part of our holiday season. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and willingness to have fun for a good cause made the judging both entertaining and impossibly difficult (the debates were fierce, the bribes were ignored, and the holiday spirit won out). Most importantly, because of your participation, we were able to make grants to charities that matter to you and your families. That’s what this is all about—supporting the causes you’re passionate about while spreading a little joy along the way. From our family – thank you for being part of our extended family and for making this season brighter. Here’s to continuing the tradition next year!

As you read the rankings below, please know that all donations are made in the name of the families who competed. For the groups who did not place Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Honorable Mention, a donation of $3,000 was made to your chosen charity. All other placements have the donation amount noted with the posting below.

🍾Winners Circle🥂

🥇GOLD MEDAL • $15,000

The Christmas Cowboyz Family

Dave Adams, Tom Hammond, their stud of a dog Hugo, and Blue – a horse so beautiful he looks fake…also check out the leg warmers on Blue. They placed for San Diego PFLAG, an organization focused on providing scholarships to San Diego County’s LGBTQ+ students. More information can be found at https://pflagsdc.org.

🥈SILVER MEDAL • $12,500

Carolina Clashmas

Devorah, Bryan, Dreyahna, and Noa Grunow with family friend Anna Callahan showed their competitive side in a re-write of The 12 Days of Christmas as The Twelve Days of College … a fun take on the classic from the perspective of a dedicated college student. The family competed for Raleigh Dream Center – an organization local to the Grunows that aims to better the community and provide support where gaps exist for families and individuals. More information can be found at https://raleighdreamcenter.org.

Two Placements!

🥉BRONZE MEDAL • $10,000 (each)

Jingle Jammers

A third-year competitor, the Jingle Jammers are known for their writing skills! Jenna Gilbert and Dan Goulette, with appearances by parents Chris and Deb, gave us a look at what a Santa re-brand could have been like. The family competed for Action Against Hunger USA, an organization seeking to address famine across the globe. More information can be found at https://www.actionagainsthunger.org.

So Cal Christmas

Another great retelling of a classic holiday story, Bill, Kathy, and Emily Deering took on ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas with SoCal flair. Nothing like a snowman melting in the sand photo bombing a family portrait to say “Yea, we live in San Diego.” The Deering family played for the Mitchell Thorp Foundation – an organization providing children with critical medical conditions and their families with financial, emotion, and resource support. More information can be found at https://www.mitchellthorp.org.

🎖️Honorable Mentions🏅

At least one aspect caught the attention of some or all of the judges…could have been the photo…could have been the writing…but these bunches stuck out to us!