A Detroit native, Lawrence J. Burns returned to Detroit in January 2017 to lead The Children’s Foundation in their efforts to make a lasting, positive impact on Michigan’s children. The Foundation is now a statewide foundation for children and families with over 130 partners, providing grants to community-based organizations.

The Children’s Foundation has surpassed the $70 million level of community support since 2011.

Mr. Burns has guided the Foundation’s development with a new brand platform that includes the first-ever Five Focus Areas of Support. These areas of support are now dedicated to the social determinants of health, concentrating on supporting programs designed to keep children, young adults, and families on the path to healthy and rewarding lives.

Mr. Burns hosts the popular WJR radio program known as "Caring for Kids" and recently began a new radio series "Pathways to Wellness" on WWJ. The Foundation continues to have multiple partnerships with the likes of Crain’s Detroit Business, the Detroit Tigers, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, and the Grand Rapids Gold. All partnerships are designed to spread the word about the programs and organizations the Foundation supports to assist children, young adults, and their families.

The Foundation is continuing to develop its affiliate relationships with organizations, including the First Tee - Greater Detroit, the Paul W. Smith Charities, Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts, and the Jamie Daniels Foundation.

Mr. Burns serves as Chairman of the Michigan Advocates for Youth Behavioral Health. This advocacy collaboration holds a child and adolescent behavioral health summit each year.

Mr. Burns is a member of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, Michigan Nonprofit Association, Detroit Economic Club, Detroit Regional Chamber, Advisory Council member of the Root Cause Coalition, The Jamie Daniels Foundation Board of Trustees, Michigan ACE Initiative Steering Committee, Board member at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Chairman of the Board for First Tee - Greater Detroit, and sits on the Executive Committee and Board of Sparky Anderson’s nonprofit organization CATCH.

Mr. Burns is a graduate of Central Michigan University and previously served as Vice President for Advancement at the University of Akron following more than two decades of healthcare and higher education leadership at the University of Toledo and the Medical College of Ohio.