After a social media campaign that helped push Focus: HOPE over its fundraising goal for Eleanor’s Walk for Hope, Dan Meyers has been selected as an honorary grand marshal for the October 12th event. Meyers is the IT purchasing manager for Chrysler Group and will be attending the walk for the second time.
“I’m honored to help lead Eleanor’s Walk for Hope this year,” said Meyers. “Focus: HOPE’s commitment to overcome racism, poverty, and injustice is unparalleled, and this event increases its ability to transform our community.”
This is the 40th annual Focus: HOPE Walk, renamed two years ago in honor of Eleanor Josaitis who co-founded Focus: HOPE in 1968 with Father William Cunningham. The event has raised $305,000 to date, exceeding its goal of $250,000. Two years ago the event raised approximately $34,000. The growth is largely the result of innovative social media campaigns and support from key corporate partners like Plastic Omnium, Magna, the Detroit Media Partnership, Ford Motor Company, Microsoft, GM, Chrysler, American Axle, and the University of Michigan.
The event also is expected to exceed its participation goal of 5,000 this year as a result of several new features, including a 4-mile Run that will precede the Walk. The Run was added at the suggestion of two major sponsors whose employees expressed interest in a run. The Run and Walk will kick off at 1:00 p.m. on Focus: HOPE’s Detroit campus on Oakman Blvd., just east of Linwood.
Also new this year is the Corporate Challenge issued by Magna International. Magna designed a Corporate Cup that will be presented to the company or organization that brings the most employees to the event. While Jim Tobin, chief marketing officer and president of Magna Asia, fully expects Magna to retain the cup, other businesses like presenting sponsor Plastic Omnium expect to win the friendly challenge. Contenders also include longtime corporate supporters like Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, DENSO, Microsoft and Carrier & Gable.
“We are excited to see such momentum building for Eleanor’s Walk for Hope,” said Steve Ragan, chief development and external relations officer for Focus: HOPE. “This event honors the legacy of our co-founders and brings together our most enthusiastic supporters. Every year,
we bring together people of all backgrounds from the city and suburbs who believe in our mission and want to see us continuing to offer education, opportunity and community programs.”
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