The GM Foundation’s “Summer in the D” includes support for the following:
• Forgotten Harvest – Million Meal Challenge for Kids: This initiative is designed to fight child hunger and increase the distribution of nutritious fresh food to vulnerable tri-county Detroit children during the summer when they lose access to school breakfast and lunch programs. For more information, visit https://forgottenharvest.org/.
• Lifting As We Climb – Sound Mind Sound Body Academy (April – June): Program utilizes athletics as a vehicle to reach, motivate and enrich the minds of our youth, while encouraging academic responsibility among high school student athletes. Academic strength training component includes ACT test preparation, mentoring and support for aspiring student athletes that want to attend college and pursue a higher level of education. For more information, call (313) 522-8876 or visit https://www.liftingasweclimb.com.
• Mosaic Youth Theater of Detroit (June): Internationally acclaimed youth development program that concentrates on helping young artists excel on stage and in life. In the theater’s new location, the GM Foundation is a lead donor and supports the Mosaic Acting Company. For more information, call (313) 872-6910 or visit https://www.mosaicdetroit.org.
• Reading & Rhythm on the Riverfront (July 11 – August 16): A summer literacy program presented by the General Motors Foundation in partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. This interactive, family-oriented program is designed to promote literacy throughout Southeastern Michigan and engage children ages 3 to 10, and their families, in the re-energized Detroit Riverfront. Program highlights include free books, local celebrity readers, live interactive family friendly entertainment, arts & crafts, free rides on the Cullen Family Carousel and more. For more information, visit https://www.detroitriverfront.org.adsf
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• Metro Detroit Youth Day (July 17): The Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation hosts 35,000 youngsters to a day of games, entertainment, sports clinics and more. Workshops educate kids on anti-bullying, anti-obesity, fighting crime in schools and entrepreneurship. Youth are also educated on how to handle peer pressure, drug and alcohol abuse, and how to become better citizen. For more information, visit www.youth-day.com.
• The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History – Literacy and Libraries for All: Upon visiting the museum, students from Title I schools can receive free books to build a personal library. The program also provides incentives for ongoing participation by allowing students to tailor their reading lists to suit their own interests, by providing free tickets to special workshops and by offering special prizes for meeting personal goals. Families are encouraged to engage in take-home and on-site opportunities as well. For more information, visit https://TheWright.org.
• Danialle Karmanos Work It Out (DKWIO): This summer, DKWIO will conduct a 10-week yoga and nutrition programs to help education and prevent childhood obesity and promote optimum health in mind, body and spirit. Certified yoga instructors will lead one-hour sessions that incorporate movement along with a nutrition education for kids (ages 8-11), families and caretakers in a more strategic manner. For more information, call (313) 227-7946.
• Detroit PAL Program: In partnership with the Detroit Police Department and community volunteers, Detroit PAL builds character in young people through athletic, academic, and leadership development programs, serving more than 10,000 participants. For more information, call (313) 833-1600 or visit https://www.detroitpal.org.
• First Book – The Stories for All Project: The GM Foundation supports a sustainable solution to expand the market for diversity in children’s literature to help kids become strong readers and identify with stories featuring heroes and experiences they can relate to. For more information, visit https://www.firstbook.org/.
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan – Early Literacy Hospital Strategy enables metro Detroit hospitals to offer new mothers guidance on the benefits of starting a daily, 15-minute reading habit with newborns. Mothers can sign up to receive a book each month, as well as a DVD that shares tips on pre-literacy activities for children, newborns to age five. To date, the program has provided key literacy kits to more than 500 families in return for a commitment to read to their children each day. It also connects parents with 65 Early Learning Centers, providing them with child care education and community services. For more information, visit https://www.liveunitedsem.org/.
• Lasky Recreation Center: This Detroit-based center is a great place for youth and families to be active and learn all year long. The center offers a wide variety of indoor and outdoor activities for kids up to age 18, including crafts, basketball, boxing, disc and mini-golfing and more. Lasky’s renovation was completed in 2012 through a grant from the GM Foundation. For more information, call (313) 628-2030.
In addition to these programs, the GM Foundation has been a long-time supporter of the Detroit Historical Society, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Opera House, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Science Center, Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit and Music Hall. These institutions offer plenty of activities for Michigan residents to enjoy this summer. For more information regarding the GM Foundation’s support of the community, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.
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