One Winning Futures’ Alumni to get a Corvette for a Weekend
Published April 16, 2012 | 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT: Brad Bowman, Public Relations Specialist, 586-698-4364, brad@winningfutures.org
WARREN, MI, April 16, 2012 – Winning Futures and Hamilton Chevrolet will award one of its former student alumni with the use of a Corvette for one weekend. This prize drawing was inspired by an incentive program once run by Winning Futures that annually rewarded one outstanding high-school student for their goal-setting achievements.
“Students in the program were highly motivated to do well in class and increase their goals by the chance to drive a Corvette for a week,” said Kristina Marshall, Winning Futures’ President and CEO. “So, this year we decided to revive the program with a bit of a twist to encourage feedback about the impact of Winning Futures by alumni. We are hoping to reach as many alumni across the country as possible with the help of the media and other alumni spreading the word through a social media campaign.”
All Winning Futures’ alumni are eligible to win the use of the Corvette no matter where they may now reside. Hamilton Chevrolet of Warren, Michigan is providing the use of the car.
To be entered into the prize drawing, all Winning Futures’ alumni must do is take part in a short online survey which they can access on this website’s homepage. The name of the winning alumnus will be drawn on June 8th and have their award announced to the media.
SRG Global and Hamilton Chevrolet are sponsoring the costs of the evaluation process to assess the long-term impact Winning Futures has on its students.
Winning Futures is an award winning nonprofit organization that makes a difference in the lives of young people by offering school-based mentoring programs and workshops for middle school and high school students in Southeast Michigan. Its programs focus on the life skills of character value identification, goal setting, career preparation, and strategic planning. Founded in 1994 by entrepreneur Sam Cupp, Winning Futures now partners with organizations throughout the country to implement our life skills workbooks and activities. For more information, visit www.winningfutures.org or call 586-294-8449.
PHOTO OF RED CORVETTE WITH WINNING FUTURES FOUNDER, CEO, AND PROGRAM DIRECTOR AVAILABLE FOR DOWNLOAD AT http://www.winningfutures.org/blog/corvette-photo/
Posted in Announcements | 
alumni, Alumnus, Contest, Corvette, Hamilton Chevrolet, mentor, Prize Drawing, Survey, winning futures | 
Leave a commentWINNING FUTURES’ PROGRAM DIRECTOR HONORED BY THE TWILIGHT BENEFIT FOUNDATION
Published October 30, 2011 | 
STERLING HEIGHTS, MI – Laurie Tarter, Program Director and Vice President of Winning Futures, a non-profit school-based mentoring program, has been named one of this year’s Twilight Civic Leadership Award Honorees. The Twilight Foundation Community Leadership Awards recognize individuals and organizations whose leadership has made a significant impact in their particular Detroit metro area communities. Laurie was honored for her passion and commitment to building foundations of success in our youth through mentorship.
“I never expected to receive an award for the work that I do. I want to thank Twilight Foundation for acknowledging my efforts to make a difference in the community. I wake up each day hoping that in some small way I can make a difference in the lives of the young people of our community, and this award suggests that perhaps I have succeeded in some measure. Thank you for inspiring me to work a little harder and to give a little more,” said Laurie Tarter.
Joan Mantini, former mentee and award nominator, stated, “Laurie’s expectations as a mentor were to be a motivational coach for my team within the Winning Futures program. Laurie was so much more than just a coach to all of us. She was an encourager, a highly respected role model, an inspiration, and a friend.”
Laurie expressed gratitude to Sam Cupp, the founder of Winning Futures, as it was he who showed her the magic of mentorship. “Sam taught me that in just one hour, one day a week, one person could make a significant difference in the life of a teen.” Laurie dedicated the award to the hundreds of mentors she has met throughout her journey with Winning Futures for helping inspire Michigan youth to tap into their potential to reach their dreams and goals.
Laurie is married 25 years to Michael Tarter and they have two grown children, Ryan and Melissa. She credits her passion for giving back to the community to her parents.
Winning Futures Volunteer Honored by Governor Rick Snyder with the Mentor of the Year Award for Michigan
Published October 26, 2011 | 
Detroit, MI, October 24, 2011 – Local Winning Futures volunteer, Kimle Mitchell, won the overall Mentor of the Year for Michigan through the Governor’s Service Awards.
Kimle Mitchell was honored at the Governor’s Service Awards dinner “An Evening with the Stars”, held at Gem Theatre in Detroit. The Governor’s Service Awards are given annually to individuals, businesses, and organizations to acknowledge their commitment to solving community issues through volunteerism.
“Michigan is blessed to have so many volunteers who are working together to make a difference in their communities,” said Governor Snyder. “Though we can never truly thank them enough for their service and for the profound impact they make in their communities, the Governors Service Awards are a way that we can recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of Michigan’s dedicated volunteers.”
“Ms. Mitchell is committed to empowering young girls and women of all ages to excel in every area of their lives because she believes women have the largest range of influence to improve the lives of our families and communities,” stated Winning Futures Program Director, Laurie Tarter.
Kimle Mitchell has been a mentor for youth throughout the Detroit Metropolitan area since the mid-nineties. Ms. Mitchell is committed to mentoring youth so they have the opportunity to uncover their interests, set goals, and passionately begin their journey early in life to reach their potential.
“Receiving the Governor’s Service Award is truly awesome and signifies that being of service is the only way to truly experience the rich rewards in life. Being acknowledged for doing something that I love doing is very humbling, but also motivating as it encourages me to keep helping, so I am continually blessed to help even more. Giving to others is the only way we all succeed,” said Mitchell.
In 2010, Kimle Mitchell of Detroit formally joined Winning Futures, a Metro-Detroit non-profit organization whose main purpose is to work with young people to develop a strategic five-year plans, leadership skills, character education, and self-esteem. Through this program, Kimle mentored three high school girls. In addition to her formal mentoring, Kimle founded Positive S.I.S.T.E.R.S. – an organization designed to empower women through sisterhood and to help women and girls discover their inner beauty, strengths, and talents.
MENTORS NEEDED TO SUPPORT CASS TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL AND HARPER WOODS HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Published September 15, 2011 | *** MEDIA ALERT ***
September 12, 2011
WHAT: Complimentary lunch at Hockeytown Café to introduce community members to Winning Futures and recruit new mentors for upcoming programs at Cass Technical High School and Harper Woods High School
WHO: Winning Futures, a school-based mentoring program.
WHEN: September 30, 2011 ~ 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
WHERE: Hockeytown Café, 2301 Woodward, Detroit, MI
COST: FREE and open to the public with food and drinks provided.
Pre-registration is required for attendance at www.WinningFutures.org.
Why: Winning Futures is a school-based mentoring program seeking volunteer mentors for its inaugural school year at Cass Technical High School and continuing for a third year at Harper Woods High School. An informational lunch and learn will be held at the Hockeytown Café in Detroit, Michigan. Guests will enjoy lunch while they learn about the programs benefits, goals, and successes. Business mentors are an integral part of the program. They are members of the local business community who agree to volunteer their time, one hour, one day a week for twenty-four weeks. Often, business mentors are the “link” that allows students to interact and network with adults who have walked a similar path. Mentors help to build young people’s character and confidence, expand their universe, and help them navigate a path to succ
This is a great opportunity for Cass Tech and Harper Woods High School Alumni to give back to their schools; however it is not a requirement to be an alumnus to be a mentor at one of these schools.
Winning Futures is very unique compared to other mentoring programs. Each week when the mentors come to the school, a staff member leads them through the topic-based session with fun, hands-on activities, group discussions, and written lessons. Winning Futures curriculum includes: character value identification, goal setting, career exploration, and employability skills.
Pre-registration is required for attendance and can be completed at www.WinningFutures.org. For more information call 586.698.4418.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Laurie Tarter
586.698.4536
laurie@winningfutures.org
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Posted in Announcements, Event | business mentors, career exploration, Cass Tech Alumni, cass tech high school, character value identification, employability skills, goal setting, Harper Woods Alumni, harper woods high school, hockeytown Cafe, job readiness skills, life skills, local business community, local businesses, mentoring, volunteer, winning futures | Leave a commentNew Mentoring Program for Pierce Elementary in Birmingham
Published September 1, 2011 | Birmingham, MI, August 29, 2011 – A new leadership and character education program will empower fourth and fifth graders at Pierce Elementary after school on Wednesday this fall. Winning Futures is partnering with iMatter for Kids to implement this innovative program.
Winning Futures implements unique mentoring programs. Each week when the mentors come to the school, a staff member leads them through the topic-based session with fun, hands-on activities, group discussions, and written lessons. It is all packaged for the mentor so when you arrive, you can jump right in! Mentors are asked to attend a three-hour training session, participate in an interview and background check, and to coach two-three students through the Winning Futures curriculum that includes: character value identification, leadership skills, and goal setting.
Another unique part of this program is the partnership with iMatter for Kids. After each mentoring session at the school, they will host Family Workshops with the students and their parents. This is an ideal structure to bring students, parents, schools, and businesses together in the best interest of children.
Parents of fourth and fifth graders at Pierce Elementary will be able to submit an application for their child through the school in September. Parents should contact their principal for more information.
If you are interested in learning more on how you can become a mentor call today or visit our website to set-up an orientation to get more information.
Register by calling (586) 698-4587, emailing taquaryl@winningfutures.org, or visiting www.winningfutures.org
Winning Futures is an award winning nonprofit organization that makes a difference in the lives of young people by offering school-based mentoring programs and workshops for middle school and high school students in Southeast Michigan. Its programs focus on the life skills of character value identification, goal setting, career preparation, and strategic planning. Founded in 1994 by entrepreneur Sam Cupp, Winning Futures now partners with organizations throughout the country to implement our life skills workbooks and activities. For more information, visit www.winningfutures.org or call 586-294-8449.
Founded on the principles of the iMatter™ program, iMatter for Kids™ is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization established to help kids realize they matter. The mission of iMatter for Kids is simply stated by thier motto – “Be Kind, Be True, Be ‘Greatful’, Be You!” They build a positive culture in schools and communities using the Winning Futures programs which inspires and prepares young people to succeed through life skills programs and mentoring relationships that focus on character values identification and goal setting through fun structured activities.
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Helping Detroit youths shoot for stars
Published July 18, 2011 | 
TODAY’S SUBJECT: Detroit-based Powerlink Facilities Management, a provider of building management services, including housekeeping, groundskeeping and general facilities maintenance for business customers, provided support of Winning Futures and the Gregory Kelser Detroit Basketball Camp.
THE CAUSE: Winning Futures, a nonprofit organization based in Warren, provides goal setting, mentoring and scholarship programs for teens. More than 20,000 students have been helped, and $1.5 million has been awarded in scholarships since 1994. This year, the organization will collaborate for the first time with Gregory Kelser for the basketball camp to work with eighth-grade boys and girls enrolled in the program in Shoot for your Goals sessions to help them set goals, enhance teamwork and attitude, and prepare for ninth grade.
BACKGROUND: Powerlink became involved with Winning Futures first as a supporter of its golf outing in 2008 and now principal Scott Rice is on the Winning Futures board of directors. The company is now a major sponsor of the organization.
RESULTS: Powerlink and its Detroit partner Sodexo funded the camp and Shoot for your Goals program, investing more than $25,000 into the camp and creating a partnership for Winning Futures with Greg Kelser. The camp provided 79 eighth-graders from Detroit Public Schools with the opportunity to work directly with Kelser to improve their basketball skills while stressing the importance of education through the Winning Futures life skills and mentoring sessions. Volunteers at the event included 12 Powerlink employees, including Link Howard, president and CEO and Scott Rice, chief operating officer, and 55 additional volunteers. 100% of the students set an academic goal during the program for their ninth-grade school year and mapped their way to achieving that goal. In addition, the company recently sponsored the Winning Futures Golf for Kids Classic and its Corks & Forks events adding another $2,500 in contributions to Winning Futures.
ON GIVING: “We planned the camp to give eighth-graders more of the skills they will need to succeed in that first year in high school,” said Howard. “What Greg Kelser can teach about focus and discipline from an athletic perspective will be supported and applied to academics and everyday life through the Winning Futures curriculum. It’s a powerful combination.”
INFORMATION: To learn more about Winning Futures, visit www.winningfutures.org . To learn more about Powerlink, visit www.powerlinkonline.com .
Posted in Announcements, Sponsor/Donor | attitude, corks and forks, detroit basketball camp, detroit public schools, goal setting, golf for kids classic, gregory kelser, link howard, mentoring, mentoring sessions, ninth grade preperation, powerlink, powerlink facilities management, scholarship program, scott rice, shoot for your goals, sodexo, teamwork, volunteers, winning futures | Leave a commentCEO WINS “WONDER WOMAN” AWARD
Published May 25, 2011 | 
TROY, MI – Kristina Marshall, 34, CEO of Winning Futures, a non-profit school-based mentoring program for youth and teens based on character values, goal setting, and strategic planning, received the Women Officials’ Network “Wonder Woman Award” for being a distinguished advocate for youth. Past winners include Justice Maura Corrigan of the Michigan Supreme Court, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, and State of Michigan School Board Member Elizabeth Bauer.
The Women Official’s Network is an organization of elected officials, present and past, to promote women leaders in the public sector. Each year its foundation holds a dinner to raise funds for the work of sponsoring young women to participate in events that lead to their growth. At the dinner, they honor women who have made a difference…to be exact, they honor Wonder Women.
“This award was unexpected and I am so honored to receive it. I am inspired every day to do what I do because of my husband. He overcame obstacles growing up that no child should have to deal with…all with the support of a mentor. I saw that one person could make a life changing impact on a teen who had no hope,” stated Kristina. “My mentor and founder of Winning Futures, Sam Cupp, gave me the amazing opportunity to empower thousands of youth through this program. Children in need have no voice, so we must be their voice. That is why for the past 13 years, I have been dedicated to engaging the public sector and private companies in supporting our goal-setting and mentoring programs through financial commitments and volunteer opportunities.”
The next step for Marshall is to raise an additional $75,000 to expand their mentoring, goal-setting, and scholarships programs in Birmingham, Detroit, Harper Woods, Pontiac, and Warren. She will continue advocate to city, state, and federal officials to ensure that quality program for youth remain intact.
Marshall was the first mentee in the Winning Futures program in 1994 at Warren Mott High School. Since graduating from Michigan Technological University in 1998, she has grown the organization to impact 20,000 youth, awarded $1.5M in scholarships, and implemented the Winning Futures goal-setting curriculum into 100 schools and non-profits across 30 states. She has won many awards including the prestigious Crain’s 40 under 40 in 2008. Marshall has her Masters in Educational Leadership from Oakland University, is the Chair of the Mentor Michigan Providers Council, is a member of EO Detroit’s Accelerators Program, has been married to her high school sweetheart for 12 years, and has a very active four year old son.
Winning Futures is an award winning nonprofit organization that makes a difference in the lives of young people by offering school-based mentoring programs and workshops for middle school and high school students in Southeast Michigan. Its programs focus on the life skills of character value identification, goal setting, career preparation, and strategic planning. Founded in 1994 by entrepreneur Sam Cupp, Winning Futures now partners with organizations throughout the country to implement our life skills workbooks and activities. For more information, visit www.winningfutures.org or call 586-294-8449.
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Posted in Announcements | advocate for youth, children in need, goal setting, Kris Marshall, mentoring programs, michigan supreme court, quality program, Sam Cupp, school board member, volunteer opportunities, wayne county prosecutor, winning futures, women leaders, womens officials' network, Wonder Woman Award | Leave a commentSRG Global Inc., Winning Futures announce Shannon Bellew as winner of “The Intern Connection” Internship Competition
Published May 3, 2011 | SRG Global Inc., Winning Futures announce Shannon Bellew as winner of “The Intern Connection” Internship Competition
For Immediate Release
WARREN, Mich., April 29, 2011 – Education will play a vital role in maintaining this country’s technological and innovative leadership. Recognizing the importance of education, SRG Global Inc., one of the world’s leading providers of advanced, high value coatings on plastics for the automotive, commercial trucking and household appliance industries, and Winning Futures, an award winning student mentoring organization, created “The Intern Connection,” a program that connects students and the business community to introduce those students to business operations in a real-world setting. Through “The Intern Connection,” the organizations hope to inspire program participants to pursue higher education that will provide the foundation for the next generation of business leaders.
It is in that spirit that SRG Global and Winning Futures are proud to have named Shannon Bellew as the winner of its groundbreaking non-profit / business collaboration for the education of young people. Bellew, who receives a paid summer internship with SRG Global, was named the winner during a ceremony today at SRG Global headquarters. The announcement was made by Andy Killebrew, vice president of Human Resources for SRG Global and Kristina Marshall, president and CEO of Winning Futures. Bellew is a senior at Warren Mott High School.
“Education, particularly in math and the sciences, is the focus of our community outreach efforts,” said Killebrew. “The Intern Connection represents the type of program that will provide practical education to encourage the pursuit of careers in industries that require a strong aptitude in these disciplines, while exposing students to the day-to-day challenges faced by all businesses today.”
“I’m honestly very grateful for the opportunity that SRG Global, Miss (Linda) Kay (of Warren-Mott H.S.), and Winning Futures have provided,” said Bellew. “SRG Global was very professional throughout the entire program, they really reached out to help the students learn as much as possible. I’m very excited to be working at a company like SRG Global that will give me experience toward a future career.”
The Intern Connection Program Details
The Intern Connection connects the classroom and the workplace through a hands-on, innovative learning experience to promote real world learning opportunities to high school students. The program consisted of series of seminars presented once a month over a period of seven months. Both SRG Global and Winning Futures presented on topics specific to each organization’s expertise – corporate and industrial topics by SRG Global, and associated life skills topics by Winning Futures. Topics included:
• Engineering and Program Management (SRG Global)
• Engineering Your Career Path (Winning Futures)
• Purchasing and Finance (SRG Global)
• Financing Your Future (Winning Futures)
• Manufacturing (SRG Global)
• Manufacturing Your Work Place Attitude (Winning Futures)
Other seminars covered information technology, human resources, interviewing techniques and self-marketing. At the conclusion of the seminars in March, students were invited to participate in the internship competition. The competition consisted of the creation of a one-page competition essay detailing the student’s interest the internship and why they would be a good intern for SRG Global. Essays were then judged, and if they achieved a 75 – 85 percent scoring ratio, the student prepared a professional resume and moved on to the interview phase. Two SRG Global representatives and one Winning Futures representative conducted interviews.
Bellew will participate in a six-week paid summer internship program, which will consist of a variety of assignments that rotate on a weekly basis. At the conclusion of the internship, Bellew will be required to write a one-page exit paper regarding the internship experience, and participate in an exit interview with SRG Global Human Resources personnel.
“We are thrilled with the outcome of the program,” added Marshall. “We are very excited for Shannon, and while there can be only one internship recipient, all the participants are walking away with a true appreciation of the complexities of operating a global business. It is our hope that this experience will result in a desire to enter this truly exciting world.”
Students from Warren Mott High School’s business class were the first participants in the program.
“The experience SRG Global provided to my class was invaluable. We need more companies like SRG to help our students develop the skills they need to become confident, successful employees,” said Linda Kay, Business Teacher, Externship Co-Op Coordinator, Warren Mott High School.
About Winning Futures
Winning Futures is an award winning nonprofit organization that makes a difference in the lives of young people by offering school-based mentoring programs and workshops for middle school and high school students in Southeast Michigan. Its programs focus on the life skills of character value identification, goal setting, career preparation, and strategic planning. Founded in 1994 by entrepreneur Sam Cupp, Winning Futures now partners with organizations throughout the country to implement our life skills workbooks and activities. For more information, visit www.winningfutures.org or call 586-294-8449.
About SRG Global
SRG Global Inc., a Guardian company, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of chrome plated plastic parts for the automotive, non-automotive transportation, renewable energy, consumer goods, and commercial building products industries, with a manufacturing presence in major world markets including North America, Western and Central Europe and China. The company is headquartered near Detroit in Warren, Michigan. Through its Advanced Development Center in Taylor, Michigan, SRG Global works to enhance manufacturing processes and accelerates development and delivery of the next generation of materials and coating technologies. The result is the creation of products that provide not only the decorative attributes eagerly sought by designers, but that are also engineered for greater surface durability, structural integrity and enhanced functionality. For more information, visit www.srgglobal.com.
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Posted in Announcements | business collaboration, business mentors, business skills, community outreach efforts, high school education, importance of education, innovative leadership, Internship competition, Internship Program, job readiness skills, life skills, local businesses, mentoring, practical education, srg, SRG Global, warren mott high school, winning futures | Leave a comment