Building
a Lasting
Impact.
2024 Annual Report
Impact – today, tomorrow, and for generations to come
Our 2024 Annual Report reflects the meaningful partnerships, shared progress, and lasting impact we’ve made together this year.
Dear Friends,
As we look back on 2024, we are reminded of the power of community. At the Children’s Foundation, our mission is simple: to improve the health and well-being of children across Michigan. Thanks to your generosity, we’ve made remarkable strides in ensuring that kids today, and for generations to come, have the support they need to thrive.
This past year was one of incredible growth. For the second consecutive year, we achieved record fundraising totals, a testament to the commitment of our donors and partners. But raising funds is just the beginning. In 2024, we granted $4.6 million across our focus areas, supporting vital programs – from programming to address the youth overdose crisis to supporting young families as they care for their babies at the earliest stages of life.
A defining moment of the year was the Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative, a collaboration with Bill and Lisa Ford. Together, we raised more than $19 million to create lasting support in the form of endowments for 11 youth-serving organizations in the Detroit area, ensuring they will uplift kids for generations to come.
As we look ahead, we remain committed to evolving and deepening our impact in the community. To ensure young people always have the resources they need to thrive, we will: grow our endowment for kids, strengthen the organizations we support, and help donors achieve their unique philanthropic goals.
Our success is only possible because of you. While reading this report, we hope you see yourself in the work we are doing. Together, we can continue to build a lasting impact for every child.
Andrew Stein
President & CEO
Luanne Thomas Ewald
Chair
Intended Impact
Together, we are creating a future where all kids in Michigan can thrive.
In 2024, the power of community and generosity came together to build lasting change – creating a stronger, brighter future for every child in Michigan through these three approaches:
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MI Kids Forever
- Ensuring our community always has flexible resources to respond quickly to the most urgent needs of kids.
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Durable Youth-Serving Organizations
- Investing in the long-term strength of youth-serving organizations so they can serve this community for generations to come.
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Tailored Philanthropic Services
- Partnering with donors to help them achieve their unique philanthropic goals improving the lives of kids.
Grantmaking
Partnerships to change lives
Stories of Impact
Our team is focused on supporting dynamic, long-lasting resources and solutions that make an impact on the lives of kids. Below are examples of grants we’ve made in 2024 from our grantmaking budget.
Substance Use Disorder:
Youth innovation to reduce overdose rates
By prioritizing prevention, recovery, and stigma reduction, we aim to reduce the risk of substance use disorder and its lasting impact on Michigan’s youth. That’s why the Children’s Foundation awarded 8 grants totaling nearly $600,000 to support programs addressing substance use disorder.
One of those grants supported Community Health Awareness Group (CHAG) and its Project YOUR (Youth Overdose Understanding Risks) program. This youth-led initiative trains teens to educate their peers on overdose prevention and naloxone use. With fentanyl-laced drugs putting more young lives at risk, Project YOUR offers hope – engaging teens directly and equipping them with knowledge and support to keep their friends safe.
Health Equity:
A healthy start for Michigan babies
Every child deserves the opportunity for a healthy start, but barriers can stand in the way. That’s why the Children’s Foundation supported four grants aimed at reducing obstacles to healthcare, including Rx Kids, a program providing unconditional cash assistance to expectant mothers in Flint.
Rx Kids is showing early promise that non-income-based assistance can improve health outcomes. By providing mothers with $1,500 during pregnancy and $500 monthly throughout the baby’s first year, the program reduces financial stress, empowering parents to focus on essentials like healthcare, housing, and food. Approximately 88% of participants say that Rx Kids has helped them make ends meet and feel more secure in their finances.
Supporting programs that tackle the factors affecting health equity among children, youth, and families is essential to our mission.
Children’s Hospital of Michigan Initiatives:
Supporting Child Life Specialty Services
When Daniela was diagnosed with leukemia at 16, her world changed overnight. Hospital stays, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant took a toll – not just physically, but emotionally. She missed out on school, friends, and key milestones.
Thanks to a variety of Child Life Specialty Services supported by the Children’s Foundation, Daniela found comfort in Art Therapy, which helped her process her emotions. A hospital schoolteacher kept her on track academically, and she finished high school with a 3.7 GPA.
In 2024, we awarded $562,000 toward Child Life Specialty Services – because kids rely on these programs for hope and healing. Now in remission and starting college, Daniela’s story shows why we support programming that ensures young patients at Children’s Hospital of Michigan have the resources they need to thrive.
2024 Grants
In 2024, we awarded $4.6 million through 89 grants, supporting 26 organizations that are working to improve the lives of children in Michigan.
Michigan Central
Station Children’s
Endowment Initiative
In partnership with Bill and Lisa Ford, the Foundation established the MCS Children’s Endowment Initiative,
which ran a fundraising campaign alongside the Station’s opening. The effort raised more than $19 million, nearly doubling its goal – a true statement to the philanthropic spirit of those who care deeply about the children of Detroit. This Initiative is a lasting commitment to kids and their future, reflecting the community’s hope that 11 local youth-serving organizations will endure forever – just like Michigan Central.
A celebration of this campaign was held alongside the Station’s opening festivities on June 6, 2024, providing a first look at the stunning renovation and an encore performance from Diana Ross.
Advisors
Selected Organizations
With additional grants and capacity-building investments through 2026, they can raise another $500,000, matched dollar-for-dollar. This initiative gives each organization the opportunity to build a $1.5 million endowment, ensuring long-term sustainability for our young people.
Lisa & Bill Ford
Co-Chairs,
Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative Campaign
Fundraising
The generosity of our donors is core to our work, giving millions each year to improve the lives of kids in Michigan.
Honoring John G. Levy’s lifetime commitment to children
For more than 45 years, John G. Levy dedicated his time, leadership, and heart to Children’s Hospital of Michigan and the Detroit Medical Center. From his early days as a volunteer to serving as Chair of the Governing Board, John’s passion for helping children was lifelong and impactful.
To honor his extraordinary impact, the hospital’s main lobby now bears his name – the John G. Levy Lobby – featuring an interactive donor wall designed to bring joy to young patients. More than 150 donors came together to raise over $375,000 to establish the John G. Levy Endowment at the Children’s Foundation, ensuring Child Life Specialty Services continue to provide comfort and healing for young patients.
“John knew the value of Child Life Services,” shared his wife, Nancy Levy. “That’s why my daughters, Jody and Melissa, my son-in-law Ryan, and I created this endowment – to ensure kids today, and for generations to come, have the support they need.”
John’s legacy lives on through this endowment, bringing hope to children and families when they need it most – just as he always did.
Nancy Levy
Join us in building a lasting impact
2024 Highlights
Golf Classic | July 29, 2024
Leadership
Our Board
Officers
Luanne Thomas Ewald, Chair
Cynthia N. Ford, Vice Chair
Fred Minturn, Vice Chair
Lizabeth Ardisana, Secretary
Andy Zaleski, Treasurer
Trustees
John D. Baker, M.D.
John Barker
Karl Bell
Michael Ben
Tom Berman
Stephen J. Blahunka
Gregory Bockart, Jr
Brian Calka
James F. Carr, Jr.
Ajay Chawla
Dan Cornwell
Lauren Cotton
Robert Davies
Zenna Faraj Elhasan
Terry Gardner
Erica Ward Gerson
Peter Ginopolis
Richard Haddad
Gretchen Holloway
Lorron James
Steve Jbara
Mable V. Jones
Laura Kowalchik
David Kwon, M.D.
Edward C. Levy, Jr.
Sarah (Johnson) McDade, M.D.
Anita Masters Penta
Erik Morganroth
Samuel Shaheen, M.D.
Donnell R. White
Lyle M. Wolberg
Our financial statements are audited on an annual basis and are available below.
