Retiree John Marriner spends his time helping the poor and homeless through his church’s ministry. Police veteran Pat Apoian runs a charity to help injured or sick cops and firefighters. Teenager Ashley Crantas sends handwritten letters to wounded veterans.

These were just three of the metro Atlantans that AJC readers nominated to be Holiday Heroes last year.

Now it’s time to honor 15 new Holiday Heroes for 2012 and recognize their unique contributions to the Atlanta community. Presented by PNC Bank this year, each hero will be recognized in the AJC and on B98.5 in December and will receive a $150 gift card from PNC Bank.

Post your nomination of a deserving recipient at ajc.com/go/hero2012

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The scares at Paranoia Haunted House in Canton continue on select dates through Nov. 2. (Courtesy of Paranoia Haunted House)

Credit: Photo courtesy of Paranoia Haunted House

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Mathew Palmer, a former Delta Air Lines employee, at his home in Atlanta on Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025.  Palmer was fired less than two weeks after writing a post on social media about the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. (Natrice Miller/AJC)