Caring for Kids

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The Next Generation of Children’s Health Starts Now!

Through groundbreaking research, innovative community programs, and advanced medical education, The Children's Foundation is making a big impact on children’s health and wellness in Michigan and beyond. In 2017, the Foundation partnered with “The Great Voice of the Great Lakes,” Detroit’s 50,000-watt leader in news/talk radio, WJR 760AM to produce Caring for Kids, a monthly radio program hosted by Foundation President & CEO Larry Burns. The focus of Caring for Kids is on highlighting individuals and organizations addressing issues and efforts locally, regionally and nationally, that are having a significant effect on the health and wellness of the children.

Episode 47

GUESTS:
Robert Stennett - CEO, Ben Hogan Foundation
Alexander Zonjic - Renowned Jazz Flutist
Rick Sperling - Founder, Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts

Episode 46

GUESTS:
Margaret Trimer - CEO, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana
Renee Fluker - Founder & President, Midnight Golf Program
Chuck Hammond - Founder, Hammond & Associates

Episode 45

GUESTS:
Ann Kalass - CEO, Starfish Family Services
Tom Lewand - CEO, Marygrove Conservancy
Shannon Wilson - Director of Medicaid Outreach and Quality, Priority Health

Episode 44

GUESTS:
Derek Aguirre - Executive Director, Racquet Up Detroit
Mark Wallace - President and CEO, Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
Ken Daniels - Co-Founder, Jamie Daniels Foundation and Lead Announcer, Detroit Red Wings

Episode 43

GUESTS:
Kathy Donovan - CEO, Children's Hospital of Michigan
Greg McLaughlin - CEO, PGA Tour First Tee Foundation, CEO, World Golf Foundation
George Kikano - Dean, College of Medicine and Vice President for Health Affairs, Central Michigan University

Episode 42

GUESTS:
Paul W. Smith - WJR Morning Talk Radio Host & Philanthropist
Patrick Placzkowski - Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids
Laura Grannemann - Vice President of Strategy at the Quicken Loans Community Fund

Episode 41

GUESTS:
Jason Langwell - Executive Vice President, Intersport and Executive Director, Rocket Mortgage Classic
Lizabeth Ardisana - CEO, ASG Renaissance and member, Board of Trustees, The Children’s Foundation
Dr. Kiran Taylor - Chief Medical Officer, Hope Network

Episode 40

GUESTS:
Dr. Robert Shaner - Superintendent, Rochester Community School District
Shenandoah Chefalo -Mental Health Advocate, Author, and Faculty Member at Center for Trauma Resilient Communities
Dr. Elizabeth Koshmann - Program Director, TRAILS, University of Michigan

Episode 39

GUESTS:
Dr. Robert Davies - President, Central Michigan University
Mark Hilinski - Co-Founder, Hilinski's Hope
Luanne Thomas Ewald - Chief Operating Officer, C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital

Episode 38

GUESTS:
Libby Rapin - Founder of Something Beautiful
Bob Bury - President of Grosse Pointe Foundation for Public Education
Keith Howell - Director of Elementary Instruction, Grosse Pointe Public School System
Matt Bell - President & CEO of Midwest Recovery Center

Episode 37

GUESTS:
Jocelyn Hagerman - CEO of The Hagerman Foundation
Brent Wirth - CEO of EasterSeals Michigan
Patrice Johnson, Ph.D. - Executive Director of Boys Hope Girls Hope Detroit

Episode 36

GUESTS:
Bob Ennis - President and Founder of Ennis Center for Children
Mari Nanos - Families Against Narcotics Washtenaw County Chapter
Chad Brummet, MD - Co-Director of Michigan Opioid Prescribing Engagement Network
Wassim Mahfouz - Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities

Episode 35

GUESTS:
Dr. Stephen Bloom, DO - Medial Director of Rehabilitation, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Rehabilitation
Dr. Paul Thomas, MD - Family Medicine Doctor, Plum Health DPC
Dave Coulter - County Executive, Oakland County

Episode 34

GUESTS:
Kylee Mitchell Wells - Executive Director, Southeast Michigan Balmer Group
David Ripple - Vice President of Development, St. Joseph Mercy Health System
Amanda Sweetman - Regional Director of Farming and Healthy Lifestyles, Trinity Health Michigan
Loretta Bush - President and CEO, Authority Health

Episode 33

GUESTS:
Tom Constand - President & CEO, Brain Association of Michigan - Member of the Board of Trustees, The Children’s Foundation
Sherry McRill - President & CEO, Northeast Guidance Center
Wayne Bradley, Sr. - President & CEO, Detroit Community Health Connection
Dennis Liegghio - Founder, KnowResolve

Episode 32

GUESTS:
Tim McCormick - Co-Founder, Michigan Elite 25 Senior Regional Director, NBA Player Association
Lori Ward - Site Director, Figure Skating in Detroit
David Lochner - Chief Financial Officer, The Children’s Foundation

Episode 31

GUESTS:
Kevin Spizarny - Administrator of Programs - Hegira Health
Jaime White - Director of Clinical Development & Crisis Services - Hegira Health
Ken Daniels - Co-Founder, Jamie Daniels Foundation and Play-By-Play Announcer - Detroit Red Wings
Lisa Daniels - Goldman - Co-Founder - Jamie Daniels Foundation

Episode 30

GUESTS:
Dr. Holli Seabury - Executive Director - Delta Dental Foundation
Brian Peters - CEO - Michigan Health and Hospital Association
David Gamlin - Executive Vice President - Midnight Golf

Episode 29

GUESTS:
Terry Rhadigan - Executive Director of Communications Operations & Corporate Giving at General Motors
Ed Siaje - Managing & Marketing Director for Bank of America, Private Bank
Patti Poppe - President & CEO, CMS Energy Corporation & Consumers Energy Company

Episode 28

GUESTS:
Lyanna Leibert - Licenses professional counsellor Wentworth & Associates
Rod Alberts - Executive Director Of Detroit Auto Dealers Association
Gary Cates - Chief Philanthropy Officer at Promedica

Episode 27

GUESTS:
Luanne Thomas Ewald - CEO of the Children's Hospital of Michigan.
Dr. Jeffery Taub - Division Chief of Oncology at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.
Dr. Rajen Mody - Dr. Rajen Mody is the Director of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant at the University of Michigan
Dr. Robert Shaner - Superintendent for the Rochester Community School District and will share an update on the district's efforts towards mental health.

Episode 26

GUESTS:
Mike Veny - One of the world’s leading mental health speakers and a high-energy drum corporate drumming event facilitator.
Shenandoah Chefalo - Author, foster care advocate, and a keynote speaker
Scott Kaufman - CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit

Episode 25

GUESTS:
Dr. Richard Humes - Chief of Cardiology at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.
Jai Reddy - Founder of LifeLab Kids Foundation
Paul W. Smith - Morning host on WJR-760 AM radio and a philanthropist.

Episode 24

GUESTS:
Bill Marra - the Vice President of External Affairs and the Executive Director of the Changing Lives Together Foundation - Hotel Dieu Grace Healthcare.
Dr. Ken Blanchette - the Associate Vice President Academic St. Clair College
Dr. Rudolph Valentini- the Group Chief Medical Officer for the Detroit Medical Center and is a Pediatric Nephrologist at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.

Episode 23

GUESTS:
Dr. Elizabeth Koshmann - Program Director, TRAILS
Gail Urso - Co-Founder and Vice President, Kevin's Song
Leou Nouhan - Conference Coordinator, Kevin's Song
Anthony Grupido - Magician, Keynote speaker, and CHMF Ambassador

Episode 22

GUESTS:
Angela Moloney - President and CEO of the Catholic Foundation of Michigan.
Dr. Dennis Martell - Executive Director of the Health Promotion Department and the Executive Director of the National Social Norms Center at Michigan State University.
John Dentel is a thoracic and pediatric cardiac surgeon at Children's Hospital of Michigan.

Episode 21

GUESTS:
Theresa Diefenbach & Scott Killingbeck - Scott Killingbeck President of Festival of Trees, and Theresa Diefenbach, Administrator of Festival of Trees
John James - Conservative Republican running for US Senate from Michigan.
Mark Smith - Chief Marketing Officer for Northwestern Mutual - Troy.

Episode 20

GUESTS:
Debora Matthews - President & CEO of the Children's Center
James Macon - Executive Clinical Director for Centria Healthcare and founder of ABA Learning Lab, an educational blog and podcast
Garlin Gilchrist - Lieutenant Governor Candidate for the State of Michigan focused on implementing policy decisions that keep children and families as a priority.

Episode 19

GUESTS:
Luanne Thomas Ewald - CEO Children's Hospital of Michigan
Amy Wyckoff - Children's Healthcare Advocate
Tonya Klein - Founder of the Healing Kids Foundation
Brett Tillander - President & CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Oakland and Macomb Counties

Episode 18

GUESTS:
Naomi Howrani - Director of Development, Cristo Rey High School
Ken Daniels - Red Wings announcer and co-founder of the Jamie Daniels Foundation
Arlyn Daniels - Daughter of Ken Daniels and Children's Foundation intern working on the Jamie Daniels Foundation partnership
Lynette Dowler - President of the DTE Energy Foundation
Nancy Moody - Vice President of Public Affairs, DTE Energy

Episode 17

GUESTS:
Senator Debbie Stabenow - A Nationally recognized leader in healthcare
Doug Maibach - Executive Vice President of Barton Malow Company
Donna Murray-Brown - President and CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association

Episode 16

GUESTS:
Janel Coppens, Principal and Head of School - Austin Catholic High School
Bill Harrington - Board member of Austin Catholic High School
Dr. Justin Klein - Director of the Burn Center at Children's Hospital of Michigan
Kevin Brown - Director of Community Relations for the Red Wings

Episode 15

GUESTS:
Eric Hipple - Former NFL player and current mental health advocate
Kari Walker - CEO of the Guidance Center
Dr. Michael Klein - Pediatric Surgeon at the Children's Hospital of Michigan

Episode 14

GUESTS:
Rishi Moudgil - Founding executive director for GreenLight Fund Detroit
Dr. Krista Clancy - Program Director at the University Pediatricians Autism Center
Ann Patronik - Regional Manager at the University Pediatricians Autism Center
Jim Hughes - Executive Director of CATCH

Episode 13

GUESTS:
Alexander Zonjic - Professional Flutist
Robbie Buhl - Former IndyCar driver and founder of Teen Street Skills
Patt Wright - CEO of Racing for Kids

Episode 12

GUESTS:
Lorron James - President & CEO of James Group International
Judge Linda Davis of the 41B District Court
Dr. Thomas Forbes - Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Labratory at Children's Hospital of Michigan

Episode 11

GUESTS:
Pete Lucido - State Representative of the 36th District in Michigan
Dhani Jones - Former NFL player and founder of the Bow Tie Cause
Jon Steinbrecher - Commissioner of the Mid-American Conference

Episode 10

GUESTS:
Peter Cummings - Founder of Executive Chairman of The Platform
Ryan LaFontaine - Chairman of the 2018 North American International Auto Show and Chief Executive Officer at LaFontaine Automotive Group
Nick Consiglio - President of Kids Without Cancer
Kate Kesner - Special Events and Corporate Giving Manager, The Children's Foundation

Episode 9

GUESTS:
Tarence Wheeler - Director of Parent Engagement & Community Outreach, River Rouge School District
Chris Kelly - Vice President of Development, The Children's Foundation
Tom Wilson - President & CEO, Olympia Entertainment

Episode 8

GUESTS:
Dr. Daniel Eisenberg - Professor of Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan
Dr. Jean Twenge - Author of iGen & Professor of Psychology, San Diego State University
An Kalass - Chief Executive Officer, Starfish Family Services
Lisa Nuszkowski - Founder & Director, MoGo

Episode 7

GUESTS:
Awenate Cobbina – Director of Business Affairs and Associate Counsel for Palace Sports & Entertainment, Detroit Pistons and Executive Director of Detroit Pistons Foundation
Ron Fournier – Editor and Publisher- Crain’s Detroit Business
Ed Duggan- Chief Recruitment officer for Downtown Detroit Partnership

Episode 6

GUESTS:
Reverend Larry Simmons - Brightmoor Alliance
Dr. John Baker - Trustee, The Children's Foundation
M. Roy Wilson - Wayne State University
Lisa Nuszkowski - MoGo

Episode 5

GUESTS:
Dr. Antoine Garibaldi - University of Detroit Mercy
Anya Babbitt - SPLT
Nolan Finley- Detroit News
Paul Hillegonds - Michigan Health Endowment Fund

Episode 4

GUESTS:
Andrea Cole - Executive Director of the Ethel and James Flinn Foundation
Dr. Nance Roy - The Jed Foundation
Dr. David Rosenberg - Psychiatrist in Chief of Wayne State University & Detroit Medical Center
Jaime Clayton & Jeanne Miller- Oakland Family Services

Episode 3

GUESTS:
Dave Lawrence, Jr. - The Children's Movement of Florida
Ryan & Kelley LaFontaine - Co-Founders of U Can-Cer Vive
Rich Homberg & Tara Hardy - Detroit Public Television

Episode 2

GUESTS:
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell - Representing the 12th District of Michigan
Brian Gallagher - CEO of Reach Out and Read
Luanne Thomas Ewald - CEO Children's Hospital of Michigan
Chuck Gaidica - Local TV legend with a passion for helping kids

Episode 1

GUESTS:
Mark Wietecha- President & CEO - Children's Hospital Association
Matt Friedman- Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation
Governor Rick Snyder- State of Michigan
Dr. Jeffrey Taub- Division Chief of Oncology at Children’s Hospital of Michigan

Listen to Foundation President & CEO, Larry Burns, discussing Caring for Kids with Paul W. Smith on WJR Radio!

Meet the Host:

Detroit native who has maintained close professional ties to Michigan throughout his career, Lawrence J. Burns returned to Detroit earlier this year to lead The Children’s Foundation in their efforts to make a lasting, positive impact on Michigan children. Burns is a recognized leader in the nonprofit sector, most recently serving as Vice President for Advancement at the University of Akron after more than two decades of health care and higher education development, marketing and executive experience in multiple leadership roles at the University of Toledo and the Medical College of Ohio. Mr. Burns is a firm believer of integrating all forms of communication elements of an organization including marketing, branding, fundraising, social media and community outreach.

Mr. Burns has also served in leadership positions at community organizations such as Make-A-Wish, Boys and Girls Club, the Toledo Zoo, The Akron Roundtable as well as serving as chief diversity officer at the University of Toledo. This new position is a homecoming of sorts for Burns, who established his strong fundraising reputation working in development for The Children’s Foundation earlier in his career. Mr. Burns is a graduate of Central Michigan University and has been a part time instructor at UT in the areas of public relations and interpersonal communications.

Larry Burns Image

Caring For Kids: On The Go

Caring For Kids: On The Go is a video series hosted by Foundation interns. Each month our interns speak with individuals and organizations working to advance the health and wellness of children in the community.

Subscribe here to receive updates on our video series.