Spring/Summer 2019
MEET THE Ambassadors Annually, Easterseals Michigan selects two individuals to represent the services and successes of the 12,000 individuals served every year. We are proud to announce our 2019 Easterseals Ambassadors: Jessie was placed in foster care at just six years old. After sexual misconduct from another child in the home, Jessie returned home to live with his parents. After years of tension between his parents, Jessie and his mother escaped to a domestic abuse shelter, where they were happy, until his mother died when Jessie was 16. The only option for Jessie was to move back home to his father, where he turned to a life of crime, drugs, and violence. Jessie’s involvement with a gang led to a drive by shooting in which him and his father were shot multiple times. His father died from the injuries from the shooting. Jessie would also find himself incarcerated several times between 1999 and 2006. It was while he was in county jail that he decided to turn his life around.
“Easterseals does a body, mind, and soul good” - Jessie
After his release he began to seek services to help him deal with his depression and PTSD. He quit the gang, stopped selling drugs, and took his first steps toward a better life.
At Easterseals, Jessie takes full advantage of the resources available to him. Thanks to Easterseals partnership with Community Housing Network, Jessie was able to find affordable housing. Today he is working towards his high school diploma. He continues receiving services at Easterseals and is part of the Dreams Unlimited Clubhouse program. He hopes to continue on his path to accomplishing his goals and he hopes that his progress is making his parents proud and happy. When the Campos family found out they were pregnant with their son, Mario, they were elated. As they were preparing to welcome Mario to the world, they found out he was going to be born with spina bifida, a rare condition in which the spinal cord fails to develop or close while in the womb. According to statistics, only seven out of every 10,000 newborns will be born with spina bifida and 95% of those born with it have no family history of the disability. Many medical professionals suggested that the Campos’ end the pregnancy, but they made the decision that not only would they give birth to their son, but they would raise him to be a happy, independent man. Mario is now an energetic and outgoing five-year-old with a deep love for sports. Mario participates in Easterseals Miracle League, the baseball league for children and young adults with disabilities. When he arrived at the field for his “We hope to set the foundation needed for first game he was brought to tears, as he was the only person in a wheelchair Mario to live a stable and productive life. at his school, he hadn’t seen many other children his age in wheelchairs or We believe in encouraging Mario to be an using mobility aides. The league provides Mario with the chance to work on independent young man.” – Rocio Campos strengthening motor skills, socializing with other children, and having fun!
EVENTS
Big Things Happening
CHEERS GALA
FIRST IN THE UNITED STATES TO RECEIVE INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA TRAINING
On November 30, 2018, our Cheers Gala blew away expectations! Held at the Rochester Mills Production Brewery in Auburn Hills, the event featured a musical performance by singer-songwriter Jason Waggoner, a dance performance by the Easterseals Miracle Dancers, 16 craft beers and wine, an exquisite strolling dinner, and raised over $100,000 for children and adults with disabilities and special needs. We are so grateful to the attendees, auction bidders, sponsors, and vendors that made this event so successful. This year’s Cheers Gala is taking place on December 6!
FOR WOMEN ONLY During the weekend of February 8 – 10, 27 women came together for the 32nd For Women Only Getaway Weekend in Gaylord, MI. The team raised over $25,000 for Easterseals services. They enjoyed a weekend of snowmobiling, skiing, snow shoeing and fat tire biking.
HOCKEY, HOPS & HOPE On March 12 we returned to Grand Rapids with our Hockey, Hops, and Hope event. The evening brought in over 200 attendees looking to be served up a craft beer by a member of the Grand Rapids Griffins hockey team! The event was held at the Fox Hyundai Kia showroom and featured over 30 craft beers, a silent auction and of course, the Grand Rapids Griffins! Altogether this awesome evening brought in nearly $45,000 for the Easterseals Grand Rapids location!
BEAUTIFUL ME On May 4, we hosted Beautiful Me, a fashion show featuring 30 children and young adults from our Miracle League programs who modeled adaptive clothing designs. The event raised funds for our Miracle League programs as well as awareness on the importance of having adaptive clothing designs available for those with various disabilities.
In February, the Easterseals Michigan trauma team completed training on the new intergenerational trauma treatment model (ITTM), making us the first agency in the United States to offer this program. Originating in Canada, the program works to reduce the impact of traumatic events and strengthen the child/caregiver bond. Infants and children who experience chronic stress or trauma are four times more likely to develop a mental health disorder by the time they reach adulthood than those who have not experienced childhood trauma. Without any intervention or treatment, these children are also at a higher long-term risk for major health concerns, such as smoking, alcoholism and chronic disease in their adult years. The intergenerational trauma treatment program will intervene with children and families to create more positive outcomes utilizing a culturally-sensitive, family-centered and multidisciplinary approach. “By adding this program to the comprehensive trauma services that Easterseals Michigan currently provides, we will be able to offer the highest level of care for children affected by trauma and their families,” said Uriel Stephens, Director of Family Services at Easterseals Michigan. This program is made possible by a grant provided by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
BREAKING GROUND ON A NEW FIELD OF DREAMS On April 26, Orion Township partnered with Easterseals Michigan and Independence Township to break ground on the new Easterseals Miracle League of North Oakland inclusive baseball field at Friendship Park. “We are really excited to bring this vision to life,” Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett said. “This is an exceptional day of celebration of what communities can do when everyone shares a common vision and comes together to make it a reality. This Miracle League field will not only provide opportunities to play baseball, but it will also create lifelong friendships and bring joy to the hearts of the children, parents, volunteers and supporters,”said Brent Wirth, President and CEO of Easterseals Michigan. The field is scheduled to be completed by July 2019.
Lights, Camera, Action
PRESIDENTS’ COUNCIL This list represents donors from 10/1/18 through 5/9/19.
OUR MIRACLE LEAGUE MODELS KNOW HOW TO STRUT THEIR STUFF Our Beautiful Me fashion show, held on May 4, 2019, was intended to highlight our Miracle League players modeling adaptive clothing and raise funds for future programming. What actually happened was pure magic. Thirty Easterseals Miracle League players showed up early on a Saturday to get their hair and make-up done by local stylists, see the runway for the first time and practice their poses, ease some jitters, enjoy some sweet treats, and finally get dressed for show time. Emily Lickman, Miracle League veteran, shared that she was “actually pretty nervous because she’s never been in a fashion show before.” But the models overcame their nervousness, put on their snazzy new outfits and brought their personalities full force to the stage. The minute each model hit the runway the audience enjoyed nothing but smiles. Some models posed for the camera with their best rehearsed moves, others danced, and every single one had a great time. One parent shared that her son was so excited he talked about the show for three days straight! While we set out to raise awareness and funds, what we actually ended up doing was creating an extension of what the Miracle League programs already are to families: a space for empowerment, inclusion, encouragement, success, support, and realizing dreams. What we accomplished was a day of pure celebration of diverse abilities and individuality. It was a highlight of our year and we are so proud and grateful to all who were involved. If you missed the event this year, you can still help. Funds raised will allow families to participate in Miracle League programming throughout the year for a very affordable cost. Funds also help pay for field repairs and costs associated with building the new field in Lake Orion. How you can help: • Donate online at www.EastersealsMichigan.com (be sure to select Miracle League in the drop down) • Host a Facebook fundraiser benefiting Easterseals Michigan • Sign up to receive communications about next year’s event by emailing events@essmichigan.org • Volunteer as a “Buddy” for summer or fall ball by visiting www.EastersealsMichigan.com > Get Involved > Volunteer
Independence Level $25,000+ Amway Kevin & Amy Lupton The Daisy Project - MI
Ability Level $1,000 - $2,499 American House Bloomfield LLC Ameriprise Financial, Inc. Benno Amormino Empowerment Level $10,000 - Spence Babcock $24,999 Daniel Bakerman AIG Thomas J. Baldwin The Andersons Jeffrey Bayko David & Jean Benoit^ Matthew W. Becker Comcast NBCUniversal Joseph J. Bell Foundation Bellis Foundation Trust Comcast Foundation Richard Berkfield Ken & Betty Draper Black Metal Apparel Executive Car Rental INC Blue Cross Complete of Flagstar Bank Michigan Michigan State University George & Marlin Bubnes Interfraternity Council Rick Buzinski Samuel L. Westerman Jeff Camboia* Foundation Mygene L. Carr Susan Welker Perry Casselle Chick-Fil-A at 28th & Beltline Opportunity Level FSU $5,000 - $9,999 Michael Cloutier Ally Financial Group ClubCorp Charities, Inc. Blue Care Network Tom Crisler EHIM, Inc. Thomas & Regina Cunningham Randolph L. Forester Foundation Wayne & Barbara Damron Greater Muskegon Area Dance Masters of Michigan, Inc. Women’s Pocket Billiards Margaret Davis League Dr. Donna DeFilippo The Holman Family Fund Stephen Destefano Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance Dennis P. Dickstein Microsoft Doug Brown Packaging John P. Mordach Products, Inc. Volkswagen Group of America, Denise Durkee* Inc. Marylynn Early Anna C. Wheeler David Enrici Frank Ewasyshyn Dignity Level Excel Tutoring LLC $2,500 - $4,999 Ruben & Diana Familia^ Beaumont Foundation Kimberly Fanelli Milena Cankovic Robert Figurski Cotton Correctional Facility Dr. Samuel & Suzanne Flanders^ Faurecia North America Clifford Forris Fred L. Gibson Patrick Fox Heat’N Sweep, Inc. Norbert Froeschke Christine Hoeksema Ken & Lana Gabriel^ Imperial Beverage Genesis Financial Partners Key 2 Finesse Gun Lake Casino Lake Orion Sunrise Rotary Club Duren R. Gutierrez* John & Rosalie Lieblang^ David Haas Bill & Marilyn McCune Kurt R. Hahn Ralph Sirek John L. Harkins Sherman Taylor Juliana Harper* UHY Advisors Paul & Jennifer Haviland^ United Way of Genesee County Leonard Hayes VTC Insurance Group Thomas M. Hogan Harriett Werstine Jackie Hooper* White Pine Investment Co. Stacy Horton
Cameron & Gail Hosner* Clarissa Hulleza* Elizabeth Hurd Infiniti Labs Michael & Stephanie Jacobson^ Robert James Angela D. Jones Jordan N. Jones K. P. Construction LLC Daniel Kalinowski John & Jennifer Keegan^ Sharon Kelln John & Elizabeth Kersten^ Robert Kleinstiver Mark & Julia Kline* Knights of Columbus West Bloomfield Kenneth Kozlowski Michael Kupinski Elizabeth E. Lakin Levine Benjamin Law Office Jan Mack Eric & Jennifer Maike Ray & Annette Marcath^ Todd McCallum Peter & Nicole McElroy^ Stephen & Kaitlyn McIsaac Terry McLaughlin* Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. Dr. Lynda Misra & Dr. Greg Hackel^ Melissa A. Moody Mulder & Horan PLLC Tato Munoz-Bergman Valissa Naganashe National Christian Foundation West Michigan Jonathan Neumann The Oakland Medical Group Olson-Kulka Foundation Frank Pace Brian & Noreen Pannebecker PB of Troy, LLC Diana L. Peterson Philadelphia Insurance Companies Stuart Pinsky Norb Promo Jonathan & Julie Rea Krishna Reddy Dr. James S. Reed Aaron Reisner Reiter & Walsh, PC Jeffrey Schleusener Dwayne Seals Jason & Kate Slocum^ Gregory Soloko Wendy Standifer* David W. Steffes
Uriel Stephens* Rick Swartz John R. Szlenkier TI Automotive Systems Elizabeth Traver U of M Dearborn Student Athletic Advisory Council Jim & Lee Uhlig^ David R. Vanderhovel Eli Weiner Ian & Frances Wilson^ Brent Wirth* Stephanie Wolf-Hull* Marisa D. Youngblood* John & Leslie Zerbo^ Honored Corporate Friend Century 21 Town & Country ^ Easterseals Michigan Board Member * Easterseals Michigan Employee
Board Updates
did you know?
IN DECEMBER WE HELD OUR BOARD ELECTIONS. HERE ARE THE RESULTS.
EASTERSEALS IS CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF SERVICES! Since 1919 Easterseals has served as an indispensable resource for individuals with disabilities, veterans, seniors and their families. Thanks to our donors, sponsors, volunteers and staff, we continue offering high-quality programs including autism services, early intervention, mental health services, workforce development, and more. In schools, workplaces and communities, we’re fostering environments where everyone is included and valued — with a real and positive impact on us all. Join us in ensuring that everyone – regardless of age or ability – is 100% included and 100% empowered. Make a donation, make a difference. Give at www.EastersealsMichigan.com
Dr. Lynda Misra, founding associate dean of undergraduate clinical education at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine was elected chairperson. Dr. Misra has served on the board since 2015.
Dr. Lynda Misra
Ian Wilson, senior associate general counsel at Beaumont Health was elected vice chairperson. He has been on the board since 2013. John Zerbo, president of Zerbo Consulting, was elected as treasurer for another term. He has been an Easterseals Michigan board member since 1991.
Ian Wilson
Annette Marcath, chief information officer at Health Alliance Plan was elected as secretary. In 2018 she was named one of the Notable Women in Tech by Crain’s Detroit. She has been an Easterseals Michigan board member since 2018.
WELCOME TO THE BOARD! Ruben Familia, director of ANA Leader Growth Solutions for Amway.
John Zerbo
Annette Marcath
Ruben Familia
Scott Barnett
Scott Barnett, partner at Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP. As a reminder all board meetings are open to the public. Go to www.EastersealsMichigan.com to see meeting dates and locations.
5% 9% 50%
25% 11%
Raffle Winners PEOPLE SERVED: 12,406 The number of people served by Easterseals Michigan fiscal year 2018 (10/1/2017 – 9/30/2018) n 0-6: 1,146
n 27-64: 6,238
n 7-17: 3,047
n 65+: 652
n 18-26: 1,323
Thank you to everyone that participates in our raffles. Your support helps us to serve thousands of families every year. November – Brian W. of Brighton, MI won $100,000 on November 17, 2018. February – Rudy K. of Linden, MI won a 2019 Dream Car and $50,000 on February 23, 2019. April – David C. of Troy, MI won a 2019 Jaguar or Range Rover and $50,000 on April 13, 2019.
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Bridgewater Place, Grand Rapids
September 21, 2019
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