News & Stories

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.

Agency Endowments: Starting where you are, with intention

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.

Welcoming Peter Ginopolis as Chair of the Children’s Foundation of Michigan’s Board of Trustees

The Children’s Foundation of Michigan has named Peter Ginopolis as Chair of its Board of Trustees. His appointment reflects a strong alignment around leadership, continuity, and a shared commitment to improving the health and well-being of children across Michigan.

Winning Futures: Mentorship program enables success for Adib

After two years of participation in the Winning Futures mentoring and workforce prep program, Adib has noticed himself grow in confidence and ability to manage schoolwork, and has improved goal setting and follow-through.

Festival of Trees brings sights and sounds of season to support children with cancer

For 37 years Festival of Trees has been the quintessential holiday event, bringing sights, sounds and warm feelings of the season - all while raising funds for children with cancer. In fact, over the years this tradition has become the largest special event fundraiser for Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation, a Children’s Foundation initiative.

Car seat safety training helps save the lives of two young children

“If it wasn’t for KOHL’S Safe 4 Kids helping me get car seats for my children, I don’t think they would be here today.” – Brooke Hunt

Free Bikes 4 Kidz: Making sure all kids ride into a happier, healthier childhood

In 2018, Free Bikes 4 Kidz began their mission in the Detroit area, collecting donated bikes, cleaning, and refurbishing them, to then give them away to kids.

Inclusively Fit: Improving health and providing hope to the special needs and disabled communities

For kids who are in the hospital, any positive interactions go a long way. When their life is consumed by tests, tubes, and healing, any chance to experience a normal childhood is essential to their positive mental state. That’s exactly what Buildup STEAM is set out to do: enable hospitalized kids to be kids.

Kids Kicking Cancer: Helping kids cope with pediatric illness

DEYA produces Youth Stage at Concert of Colors

On August 5, DEYA produced a youth stage at the Concert of Colors; the first ever in the Concert’s 29-year history.

School gardens increase access to fresh foods, proving edible education

Did you know that if Americans ate one more serving of fruits and vegetables in a day, this would save more than 30,000 lives and $5 billion in medical spending, each year! If kids taste and eat fruits and vegetables early in life, their lifelong healthy eating habits can be positively influenced. But this can be easier said than done for some...

Kids On The Go: Helping kids with special needs to thrive

For children with special needs, when school ends for the summer, so does the access to specialized services that keep them abreast of their peers. As a result, the children lose precious ground during that time off and start school in the fall with diminished skills and less self-confidence. Parents are desperate for their child to hold on to the progress they made during the school year...

Winning Futures: What it means to be a mentor

All his life, Benny Vann has been looking out for people. From tutoring classmates to helping junior employees navigate their careers, Benny has been coaching and mentoring for as long as he can remember. It is inherent of his identity – to help others.

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