FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kari Radjewski
Director of Marketing & Communications
[email protected]
568-855-2176
DETROIT, JANUARY 16, 2025 – Today the Children’s Foundation, in partnership with Bill and Lisa Ford, announce the selection of 11 youth-serving organizations for the Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative. This philanthropic effort provides each organization with the opportunity to establish a $1.5 million permanent endowment at the Children’s Foundation, so they can continue to serve Detroit area children forever, ensuring their permanence — like Michigan Central itself.
“The Children’s Foundation is proud to partner with Bill and Lisa Ford to lead and facilitate an effort built on creating a more sustainable and equitable future for organizations serving children in the Detroit area,” said Andrew Stein, president & CEO of the Children’s Foundation. “This effort was built with the community, for the community. For these 11 organizations, being selected is a statement by this community that their work is so critical that they need to be here in perpetuity. We are excited to work with these organizations to enhance their durability and help them live up to this ask that they serve kids today and far into the future.”
The Initiative was launched alongside Ford Motor Company’s restoration of Michigan Central Station. The grand reopening in June 2024 featured a fundraising campaign for the Initiative with an initial goal of $10 million to support 10 organizations with an endowment. Due to the outpouring of generosity of more than 300 donors, including individuals, foundations, and companies, over $19 million was raised, allowing for support of 11 youth-serving organizations.
“The re-opening of Michigan Central Station was a milestone moment for Ford Motor Company and Detroit, and we wanted to build on that excitement to make an even bigger impact on our city’s future with an endowment campaign benefitting youth organizations,” said Bill and Lisa Ford. “We are in awe of the generosity from hundreds around our region who helped us exceed our goal, making a sustainable commitment to 11 youth-serving organizations that will impact generations to come.”
More than 100 organizations submitted proposals to be considered for the Initiative. Through a transparent and equity-driven process, a Selection Committee narrowed it down to 32 before choosing the Initiative’s 11 youth-serving organizations. In recognition of their time and impactful missions, all 32 organizations that made it to the second round of the application process will receive a small grant.
The 11 selected organizations will receive a $500,000 permanent endowment at the Children’s Foundation. Over two years, each organization will work to fundraise an additional $500,000, which will be matched by the Initiative, dollar-for-dollar. This means each organization has the potential to build a $1.5 million endowment by the end of 2026. Additionally, they will take part in a strategy consulting cohort to strengthen their long-term impact on young people, which includes grant support in 2025 and 2026, along with other capacity-building investments.
The selected organizations are all within a 15-mile radius of Michigan Central Station and serve young people ages 0-24 in a variety of ways. These organizations will receive funding and additional support to carry on their mission for years to come. The 11 organizations selected are:
- Birth Detroit: A Black midwifery-led, community-based, maternal health practice that provides safe, quality, loving prenatal, birth, and postpartum care and education to pregnant people and families in Detroit.
- Brilliant Detroit: A neighborhood-powered model focused on building “kid success neighborhoods”—connected places where families with children 0-8 have everything needed to thrive.
- Chaldean Community Foundation: Dedicated to improving the stability, health, and wellness of those they serve through advocacy, acculturation, community development, and cultural preservation.
- Children’s Center: Empowers children and families in Detroit and Wayne County by supporting vulnerable youth facing trauma, mental and behavioral health challenges, developmental disabilities, and experiences with foster care and adoption.
- InsideOut Literary Arts: The oldest and largest literary arts organization in Detroit cultivates literary and academic skills in partnership with schools, cultural institutions, and community-based organizations across Metro Detroit.
- Judson Center: A nonprofit human services agency that has been providing comprehensive care for 100 years to children, adults, and families impacted by abuse and neglect, autism spectrum disorder, and developmental, behavioral, and physical health challenges, empowering them to achieve their maximum potential.
- LAHC: Leaders Advancing and Helping Communities empowers communities through education, workforce development, public health, and social services, including programs in behavioral health, substance misuse prevention, nutrition, physical fitness, and economic well-being.
- Midnight Golf: Helps Detroit’s most driven students overcome barriers and develop the skills they need to achieve success in education, work, and life through mentorship, life skills training, mindset coaching, admissions counseling, college tours, and financial aid.
- Ruth Ellis Center: Creating opportunities with LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness and/or facing barriers to health and well-being. The Center provides essential services, including primary and behavioral healthcare, permanent supportive housing, and safety-net resources.
- SER Metro-Detroit: A community resource to address the employment and economic inequities of Hispanic and other underrepresented Detroit residents through education, training, job placement, financial education, and economic supports.
- Starfish Family Services: Champions children and families in Metro Detroit, providing integrated programs in early education, behavioral health, and parental support, fostering resilience and growth through a holistic approach that ensures long-term success.
The Selection Committee, chosen through a nomination process, consisted of 16 individuals from the Initiative’s target area with experience in youth-serving organizations. These local leaders also received input from 45 young people, ages 18-24, who also evaluated applications from organizations.
“The selection process for the Michigan Central Station Children’s Endowment Initiative was led by a group of diverse leaders in this community with a range of expertise in understanding the needs of our children,” said Jeannine Gant who served on the Selection Committee. “I am proud to have been part of this process that empowers organizations serving our young people to think beyond survival and focus on creating lasting change for future generations.”
The Children’s Foundation will kick off the Initiative with organizations in January at Michigan Central where these organizations will be able to meet together and have access to the broader dynamic ecosystem; soon after, organizations will begin receiving services from Bridgespan Group, a nationally recognized philanthropic consultancy, to begin the process of building their durability. These organizations will receive initial seed funding now and spend the next two years fundraising an additional $500,000, which will be matched by the Initiative. Donors looking to support one of these organizations can visit the Children’s Foundation’s website.
For more information about the Initiative and the selected organizations, or to give to their campaigns, please visit YourChildrensFoundation.org/MCSKidsForever.
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About the Children’s Foundation
The Children’s Foundation promotes health and well-being for children in Michigan through strategic grantmaking, advocacy, and continuous fundraising efforts. With a legacy of supporting programs and projects that create more equitable opportunities for kids, the Foundation has stewarded philanthropic funds from Children’s Hospital of Michigan for over 140 years. Today, we work with donors to ensure children in our state have philanthropic resources they deserve now and into the future. Learn more and support our efforts at YourChildrensFoundation.org.
