The 2024 GIANT Awards and Banquet took place on Feb. 3, 2024.
Press Releases:
- Urban men’s ministry leader named 2024 GIANT among Giants | Feb. 3 2024
- 2024 GIANT Award recipients include representatives from health care, ministry, business | Dec. 8, 2023
Award Recipients
Rev. Jerry Bishop | Founder of LifeQuest Urban Outreach
GIANT Among Giants Award
Valissa Armstead | Senior director of diversity and inclusion at Corewell Health
The Raymond Tardy Community Service Award
Debra Bates | Owner and administrator for Choice Business Systems Inc. and owner of MeMe’s Foundation Boutique
The Milo Brown Business Award
George Bayard III | Artist, owner of Bayard Gallery of Fine African American Art & Books, and executive director of the Grand Rapids African American Museum and Archives
Ethel Coe Humanities Award
Tasha Blackmon | President and CEO of Cherry Health
The Eugene Browning Medical Service Award
Jimmy Carter | Former head coach for East Kentwood High School’s girls basketball team
Walter Coe Public Service Award
Jamie Gordon | Executive director of human resources for Kentwood Public Schools
The Phyllis Scott Activist Award
Kristian Grant | The first African American woman to represent Grand Rapids in the state House
William Glenn Trailblazer Award
Bobby Springer | Associate director of Veterans Upward Bound at Grand Valley State University and director of MI GEAR UP
The W.W. Plummer Humanitarian Award
Latesha Lipscomb | Director of engagement and relationships at Amplify GR
Floyd Skinner Justice Award
Inez Smith | Retired teacher
Hattie Beverly Education Award
The Rev. Charles Hudson III | President and CEO of C.H. Hudson Outreach Ministries
The H.C. Toliver Religious Life Award
Caebre Baty | Cedric Ward Leadership Scholarship
Nas Brooks | Cedric Ward Leadership Scholarship
Rallah Cobbins | Dr. Patricia Pulliam College Leadership Scholarship
Kyle Greer | Milo M. Brown Memorial Scholarship
McKenzye Sterk | Milo M. Brown Memorial Scholarship