FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kari Radjewski
Director of Marketing & Communications
[email protected]
568-855-2176
DETROIT, JULY 1, 2024 – As the splendor of the restored historic Michigan Central Station is celebrated, the equally grand goal of the MCS Children’s Endowment can be too thanks to the generosity of the community contributing more than $19 million, nearly double the $10 million the campaign hoped to raise. Now, local youth-serving organizations in the Detroit-area can begin applying as of today, to be selected for one of 10 available endowments. This philanthropic effort was created by Bill and Lisa Ford in honor of the reopening of the iconic station, working in partnership with Children’s Foundation, a leading children’s philanthropic organization in the region.
“The official re-opening of Michigan Central Station has been an incredible undertaking, and we were honored to celebrate this moment and showcase our commitment to innovation and community with Detroit and the world,” said Bill and Lisa Ford, chairs, Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative. “The opening of The Station is also a declaration of its permanence. And we believe the children of metro Detroit deserve the same substantial investment in their future which is why we established this initiative in partnership with the Children’s Foundation. We are incredibly grateful for the generosity of individuals, foundations and companies who donated to this effort – this is a true testament of what we can do for our future generations, together.”
This campaign will directly assist selected organizations with permanently endowed funding, as well as two years of support, empowering them for long-term growth opportunities that will impact kids in our community today and into the future.
Now, Children’s Foundation will take the lead in facilitating these short- and long-term opportunities, providing ten local youth-serving organizations with the following:
- A $500,000 permanent endowment established for their benefit at the Children’s Foundation with another $500,000 available that will match dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000 toward the endowment over the next two years. This will give each organization the opportunity to build at least a $1.5 million endowment by the end of 2026.
- An unrestricted grant in 2025 and 2026, as well as funds for capacity building and technical assistance for endowment and organizational infrastructure. Support and technical assistance will be tailored to each organization’s unique needs.
- Participation in a two-year cohort learning experience to assess and build organizational durability.
- Access to drop-in collaboration space in the newly opened Michigan Central Station which will include them in a world-renowned innovative ecosystem that is built on an inclusive and collaborative model between philanthropy, start-ups, businesses, and others in the Michigan Central community.
Donors interested in making a gift toward the initiative will still be able to do so. Additional funds raised will be directly invested into the selected organizations to build upon the goals of the Initiative and the organization’s long-term success.
“Today, we take the next step toward implementing a different approach to philanthropy, creating a more equitable landscape for ten youth-serving organizations,” said Andrew Stein, president & CEO, Children’s Foundation. “We are excited to start accepting applications and beginning the process to ensure the permanence of these organizations that serve children in our community.”
To be eligible, organizations must be a Michigan-based 501(c)3 that serves persons ages zero to 24 years old and their families in any number of ways including providing basic health needs, educational, support, cultural, recreational, and social programs or services. Organizations cannot have a fiscal sponsor. An organization must be based and most of an organization’s work must serve the communities within a 15-mile radius of Michigan Central Station. Lastly, an organization’s philanthropic revenue should be between $400,000 to $5.5 million, defined as charitable giving from private entities, excluding earned revenue for services provided and public grant dollars.
Nonprofits meeting these criteria can apply today. The application is currently available on the Children’s Foundation’s website and will take place in two phases. The first phase applications are due by 11:59 p.m., August 1, 2024. The Children’s Foundation is offering eligible organizations assistance throughout the application process.
The selection process will be transparent, equity driven, and community-led which includes engaging local youth councils to ensure youth voice is captured. In early May, the Children’s Foundation put out an open call for anyone in the community to apply to serve on the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee is comprised of 15 diverse individuals who are from the target area of the Initiative and who have lived experience with youth-serving organizations.
“I strongly encourage eligible youth-serving organizations to apply for the Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative,” said Debora Matthews from Westland who serves on the Initiative’s selection committee. “The opportunity to establish or build an endowment is something that most community-based organizations may otherwise never achieve. The endowment, grants, support, technical assistance and cohort learning the selected organizations will receive are essential to the organization’s success, durability and longevity.”
The selection committee is made up of the following persons and their respective city of residence: Maria F. (Marifer) Calleja (Harper Woods), Angel Garcia (Southgate), Darienne Driver Hudson, Ed.D., (Farmington Hills), Debora Matthews (Westland), Angela Rogensues (Warren), Cortnie Squirewell (Southfield), Terry Whitfield (Detroit), Jeannine Gant (Detroit), Kelly Major Green (Detroit), Zaineb Hussein (Dearborn Heights), Sonya Mays (Detroit), Jeremiah Steen (Detroit), George Roberts (Birmingham), Kelly Brittain, Ph.D., RN, Vice President of Impact, Children’s Foundation, and Sean White, Director of Strategy for Civic Partnerships, Michigan Central.
Selected youth-serving organizations will be announced in January 2025.
For complete details regarding the Initiative’s eligibility criteria and selection process, and to apply, please visit YourChildrensFoundation.org.
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About Children’s Foundation
The Children’s Foundation is a catalyst for change, partnering with the community to advance solutions and discoveries that improve the physical and mental health of children in Michigan. As stewards of philanthropic legacy from Children’s Hospital of Michigan dating back more than 140 years, the Foundation has a history of supporting programs and projects that create more equitable opportunities for kids. At the heart of the Foundation’s mission lies innovation and collaboration. Through advocacy, fundraising, and strategic grantmaking, the Children’s Foundation seeks to build sustainable solutions and sources of capital that address the needs of children now and into the future. Learn more at YourChildrensFoundation.org.
