WARREN, Mich., April 01, 2014 – Winning Futures, a nonprofit organization that inspires and prepares at-risk youth for success, raised over $32,000 for its life skills, mentoring and scholarship programs at an Opening Day Party targeting business professionals on March 31, 2014.
The event, sponsored by local businesses Bernard Financial Group, Farm Bureau Insurance, Fifth Third Bank, Maris, Brown and Rossell Insurance Group, MotorCity Office Solutions and O’Keefe, was held at the Gem Theatre where over 400 clients and executive level staff shared food and drinks in celebration of the Detroit Tigers home opener.
Money raised at the event will support the Winning Futures’ mentoring programs in Detroit, Harper Woods, Madison Heights, Pontiac and Warren, enabling high school students to partner with business mentors for the school year. Students will meet with their mentors on a weekly basis and complete fun, structured activities focused on character value development, goal setting, job readiness skills, and strategic five-year planning.
Contributions from the event will also support $25,000 in scholarships for the “RARE Everyday Hero Scholarship Program.” RARE honors real heroes that are changing lives, inspiring others and have made a difference through extraordinary commitment, integrity, selflessness and courage. RARE provides a forum for students to write about Everyday Heroes in their communities to help them see possibilities and make the connection to fulfilling careers and meaningful lives. High school seniors in Michigan are awarded $2,500 scholarships and the heroes they write about are honored annually at Winning Futures’ Night of Heroes event.
“Each year we are more and more amazed at the generosity and commitment of our sponsors and their guests,” said Kristina Marshall, President and CEO of Winning Futures. “Enabling us to provide mentors and scholarships to high school students that show great potential, the money raised at this event is integral to helping our kids reach their goals and continue their educational success. We truly thank each of our sponsors and all attendees for their continued support and charitable spirits. Together, we can make a difference in young people’s lives.”
Winning Futures is an award-winning non-profit organization that empowers youth to succeed through mentoring and strategic planning. We partner with high schools in metro Detroit to facilitate weekly innovative mentoring sessions in the school where we engage youth through trusting relationships with mentors, energizing experiences, and unforgettable life lessons. This weekly program is unique in that it has a fun, structured curriculum where mentors teach students though hands-on activities, written exercises, and group discussions. We focus on character value development, self-exploration, goal setting, job readiness skills, overcoming obstacles, and strategic planning. Over 95% of students continue their education past high school and we have awarded over $1.9M in scholarships to local youth. Since 1994, 30,000 students have been impacted by Winning Futures.