An organization working to help all kids succeed, Developing KIDS will use the grant funding to create a teen drop in center for youth ages 13 – 24. The center will provide expanded opportunities year-round for development of life skills, employment readiness, career exposure, college access, mentoring, academic enrichment, recreation, leadership, mental health wellness, art and culture. In addition, youth between the ages of 13-24 will now have a safe place gather for help with employment searches, college access and support, financial literacy, skill development and mentoring as they transition into adulthood.
The mission of Freedom House Detroit is to support and empower asylum seekers on their journey to safety, security, and freedom by providing comprehensive services in an inclusive and welcoming space. To that end, the organization will use their grant to transform their front yard into a space for both clients and the neighborhood to gather for recreation, sports and other large group activities. By leveling the front yard and adding landscaping, seating, a covered patio, and fencing, FHD’s clients will have a new space to play and socialize. The new campus will positively impact clients’ mental and physical well-being and increase neighborhood safety.
Providing leadership training and mentorship to Detroit youth, The Lawn Academy offers a focused approach to academic success, character development and community engagement. Their $100,000 grant funded the purchase a building to house The Detroit Youth E-learning and Development Hub on Detroit’s east side. Like their original location on the west side, the Lawn Academy will offer new students access to the program, and will provide enhanced learning technologies.
With a focus on living in their community and being the kind of neighbors everyone wants to have, Micah 6 offers programs like neighborhood food gardens and health and wellness services that help to stabilize and sustain their neighborhood. They used their $100,000 grant to expand their garden space which is expected to increase annual food production by 400%. This food stays in the community, providing much needed access to fresh produce and other necessities.
Dedicated to realizing a world where women and their children can break the cycle of poverty and self-direct their futures, Zaman International leveraged their $135,000 grant to enhance their 16-week culinary arts program. They purchased industrial kitchen equipment and a commercial van, enabling them to create a product line called Loaves for Hope, which they can now ship to area stores for purchase. Najah Bazzy, founder and CEO, went on to receive national recognition as a CNN Hero finalist, and a winner of the Lay’s Potato Chip Everyday Smiles campaign.
Focused on helping kids deal with the appearance-related effects of hair loss due to cancer, burns, alopecia and other illnesses and disorders, Maggie’s Wigs 4 Kids provides wigs and support services at no cost to children and young adults. Their $122,000 grant closed the funding gap in an existing capital campaign to build a new, safe, and accessible wellness facility. The new building allows for expanded programming, and more than doubles the amount of children Maggie’s serves.
With outstanding programming in education, athletics, and mentorship, the Downtown Boxing Gym empowers Detroit students to be positive and productive members of their community. The $100,000 grant they received funded a literacy program called Books Before Boxing, which improved reading and comprehension skills for 120 kindergarten through 12th grade students. As a result of the program, which combined phonics, auditory processing, and literature-based instruction, all students met or exceeded grade level reading goals. Since receiving the grant, founder Khali Sweeney was recognized as a CNN hero finalist, and was a winner of the Lay’s Potato Chip Everyday Smiles campaign.
Committed to empowering homeless women break the cycle of poverty through employment, while simultaneously helping the homeless weather Detroit’s harsh winters, the EP used the first Impact100 Metro Detroit grant of $50,000 to expand their manufacturing capacity by hiring an additional 6 seamstresses and 2 cutters. These women and their co-workers sewed sleeping bag coats that were distributed to the homeless throughout the community. The grant was the largest they had ever received, and founder and CEO Veronika Scott credits it with being a “vote of confidence” that their small program could be successful. Veronika has since gone on to receive numerous accolades as an innovative leader in social enterprise, including recognition as a CNN hero finalist. Since 2017, EP has employed 90 homeless parents and distributed 45,000 coats across the globe.