MACON, Ga. — Piedmont Macon honored a man who makes the holidays brighter for thousands of Georgia families.
The hospital presented Mike Kaplan and his wife Nancy Kaplan with the community hero award for his work with the Merrie Christmas project.
The nonprofit, in partnership with the Community Foundation of Central Georgia, is named for his daughter who passed away from a rare genetic condition.
The Kaplans say it's an award they will forever cherish.
"It's been quite amazing to be honored by [a] Piedmont hospital," Mike Kaplan said.
Mike Kaplan says he spends his months leading up to the holiday season preparing to give back.
"It's provided over 3,000 children Christmases over the last five years," Kaplan said.
His Merrie Christmas Project was created in 2019 after his daughter Merrie Kaplan died from Williams Syndrome. Her mother, Nancy Kaplan, says Christmas was Merrie's favorite holiday.
"That is why we started it - because she adored Christmas," Nancy said.
In the last five years the charity has raised more than $500,000 dollars to help purchase Christmas gifts for children in central Georgia.
"We meet them at Walmart and let them shop for Christmas, and we pay for it. we explain to the families that this isn't charity," Nancy said. "It's a gift from Merrie so that they can have something at Christmas."
Mike Kaplan says Christmas was always a magical holiday for Merrie and he didn't want her passing to be the end of all things merry and bright.
"It's amazing that were able to raise the money from the community here in Macon to provide Christmas for people here less fortunate," Mike said. "And let's not forget Merrie's Closet that also provides clothes and socks."
CEO of Piedmont Macon Steve Daugherty says the hospital's decision on who received the award was very personal.
"Merrie, who the Merrie Christmas Project is named after, was in my hospital and we had been friends with Mike and other members in his family when we got this nomination, we knew this was the right one for this quarter," Daughtery said.