Hello, and welcome to June. June has always been my favorite month of the year with spring in full bloom and summer around the corner.
It is during this time of year that youngsters should be out playing with their friends – a quick pick-up game of baseball, swimming at the local pool, playing nine holes at your municipal golf course. These are the memories that will last forever.
Unfortunately, many youngsters don’t have the opportunity to enjoy these activities. That is why The Children’s Foundation created a new focus area which we call Youth Development.
Within this area we are funding programs at wonderful organizations such as First Tee-Greater Detroit, Detroit PAL, Racquet Up Detroit, Detroit Horse Power, as well as programs at Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Michigan and at the YMCA. Each program we support is designed to mentor, guide, and teach life skills to the children of our many communities. We think this new strategic direction compliments our overall mission and other focus areas, as well.
This time of year is extremely busy for The Foundation as we remain on the move. Our second grant cycle announcement will be coming out later this month along with our quarterly publication known as Onward.
We’re also getting ready for the 19th Annual Paul W Smith Golf Classic coming up in July. Once again, we’re going to be very involved in the Rocket Mortgage Classic and The John Shippen, along with our affiliate First Tee-Greater Detroit. Later this summer, we will partner with The Ben Hogan Foundation for the Second Annual Ben Hogan Championship of Michigan.
All these activities are designed to bring our many supporters together as we continue to raise funds for our more than 140 grantees across the state and beyond.
I hope everyone has a wonderful June and I look forward to keeping you up to date as we move along in the summer of 2022.
Onward!
Lawrence J. Burns
President & CEO
