News & Stories

The Yunion: Innovation in increasing access to mental health care for our youth

The Yunion expands mental health access in Detroit schools through a closed-loop referral system ensuring culturally responsive care for youth.

Collaboratives for kids: Maximizing impact through funding partnerships

For many nonprofits, establishing an agency endowment can feel like something to revisit later—when resources feel more abundant or fundraising pressures ease. But agency endowments aren’t about waiting for the perfect moment. They’re about making an intentional investment in your organization’s future, creating long-term stability and sustaining your mission for generations to come.

Building for Forever: What it takes to strengthen youth-serving organizations for the long term

What does it take to ensure Detroit’s youth-serving organizations are here for generations to come? Through the Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative, 11 organizations are building permanent endowments—supported by matching funds, technical assistance, and hands-on coaching. The result is more than financial growth; it’s a shift from short-term survival to long-term strength for the children and families they serve.

Donor Story: Jocelyn Hagerman desires to make a long-term difference for children

As someone who previously founded and lead her own foundation, Jocelyn Hagerman knows all too well the amount of hard work that goes into making an impact on the community.

Donor Story: Feinberg Health Care Solutions creates opportunities for more individuals and families to live fulfilling lives

At Feinberg Health Care Solutions, the goal is to help individuals and families struggling with substance use and/or mental health concerns to recover, heal, and flourish.

Donor Story: Wayne State University students fundraise to support pandemic relief

For college students, remote learning, closed campuses, and lack of sporting events are a daily reminder of how much the pandemic has interrupted the college experience. Though unfortunate and disappointing, Wayne State University’s Alpha Kappa Psi (AKP) knows situations are much worse for many others and decided to do something to help those struggling.

Donor Story: Steve Gunn, small business owner, practices generosity beyond financial contributions

In 2001, Steve Gunn decided to open his car wash business – but it was in 2013, the year he had children, that he was inspired to make his work more meaningful. That is when he decided to start raising funds for local charities by incorporating a Penny Power Program.

Donor Story: Mable Jones establishes a lasting legacy

All her life, Mable Jones has felt compassion for children – that they should have opportunities to live healthy lives filled with opportunity, regardless of the challenges they may face.

Children’s Foundation inaugural Behavioral Health Scholarship recipient announced

With generous donations from several Children’s Foundation Trustees, The Foundation has established a Behavioral Health Scholarship to be awarded annually. The goal is to support a student in Michigan pursuing a doctoral degree in a mental health field, specifically focusing on a practice that will serve children and adolescents in behavioral health.

Donor Story: Patricia H. Rodzik gives $1.5 million to support mental health services for children and young adults

In August 2019, The Children’s Foundation received a generous gift from Patricia H. Rodzik totaling more than $1.5 million to establish an endowed chair.

A Donor Story: Six-year-old boy steps-up amid Coronavirus pandemic

In many ways, six-year-old Owen Melancon of Livonia, Mich. is like most other kids his age spending shelter-in-place days riding bikes and playing in the back yard. But he is also finding ways to raise money so he can help doctors fight Coronavirus.

A Donor Story: Joy Mullen supports vulnerable children and families with stimulus check

As Joy Mullen of Ferndale, Mich., read about the federal government’s distribution of stimulus checks in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, she wanted to do something intentional with the money, something more than make a few purchases–she wanted to help children and families getting hit the hardest.

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