(11-24-25) The Rockford Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Kay Brandt as the recipient of the 2025 Rockford Citizen of the Year award. This honor recognizes Kay’s exceptional dedication, compassion, and service to the Rockford community over the course of many decades.

Kay has made a lasting impact through a wide range of volunteer efforts and leadership roles, including:

Leading “Grief Share” for the past six years, providing support to local individuals grieving the loss of loved ones

Organizing “Friends of Shane’s Park,” a volunteer group focused on beautifying the community park through weeding, mulching, planting, and regular clean-up efforts

Spearheading a renovation initiative to bring pickleball courts to Shane’s Park

Founding a community exercise group that meets weekly at the Rockford Library

Volunteering with the Kids Club program at Rockford United Methodist Church each Wednesday evening

Selflessly donating a kidney in 2015 to a local resident in need of a transplant

Teaching for 35 years in Parkway Local Schools, serving students across all three former buildings—Mendon, Rockford, and Willshire—as well as the current K-12 building

Serving multiple terms on the governance board at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Liberty Township

Kay and her husband, Alan Brandt, reside in Rockford and are proud parents to Ryan (Leah) Thompson, Kristi (Tom) Koop, Tyler (Lindsey) Thompson, and Jordan (Ashley) Thompson, and grandparents to 11 grandchildren.

The Rockford Chamber of Commerce congratulates Kay Brandt on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for her continued commitment to serving others and strengthening the Rockford community.