Starr News - Winter 2015

NEWS Vol. 72 • No. 1

Winter 2015

Dr. Martin Mitchell to retire at end of 2015 after 45 years The Carls Foundation invests in PsychSystems Autism Center Alumnus Norman Nugent visited Starr’s Albion campus in 2014 for the first time since his days as a student in 1956-57

Starr News

starr commonwealth leadership Officers

Board of Trustees

Martin L. Mitchell, Ed.D. President Chief Executive Officer

Honorable John Hallacy, Chair District Court Judge 10th District Court Battle Creek, MI

Christopher L. Smith, BBA., CPA Executive Vice President Chief Financial Officer Wm. Chuck Jackson, Ph.D. Executive Vice President Chief Clinical Officer Elizabeth A. Carey, MSW Executive Vice President Chief Strategy Officer Gary Q. Tester, MRC Executive Vice President Chief Development Officer

Craig Carrel, Vice Chair President and Partner Team 1 Plastics Albion, MI Lawrence Givens, Secretary Blackmond and Givens, Inc. Southfield, MI Kyle Caldwell, Immediate Past Chair Program Director Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Flint, MI Stanley Allen Configuration Engineering Wells Fargo & Company Des Moines, IA Scott Bennett Vice President UBS Financial Services Birmingham, MI Doug Clark Mill Creek, WA George A. Goodman Ypsilanti, MI Tom Kolassa Senior Vice President Hub International Battle Creek, MI

Laura Koziarski Child Advocate Battle Creek, MI Jack Kresnak Journalist / Child Advocate Livonia, MI

Trustees Emeritus

President Emeritus

Michael J. Gable Human Resources Executive Orlans Associates, PC Troy, MI

Arlin E. Ness President Emeritus Anthem, AZ

George D. Goodman Executive Director (Retired) Michigan Municipal League Ann Arbor, MI

Kenneth Miller Chief Executive Officer Principal Partner Millennium Restaurant Group Kalamazoo, MI

Dr. Russell G. Mawby Chairman Emeritus W.K. Kellogg Foundation Battle Creek, MI

Randy Neumann Vice President J.F. Daley, Inc. San Antonio, TX

Honorable Eugene A. Moore Chief Probate Judge (Retired) Oakland County Pontiac, MI

William C. Rands Managing Partner Sagres Partners, L.P. Grosse Pointe, MI

William K. Stoffer Chairman and CEO Albion Machine & Tool Co. Albion, MI

Mary E. Rutan Human Resources Director (Retired) Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

Honorary Trustees Anne Willson Dupré Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Toronto, Canada

Erick Stewart President Stewart Industries LLC Battle Creek, MI

Diana Starr Langley Montecito, CA

Bruce Vande Vusse Attorney Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C. Farmington Hills, MI

Sylvia Starr Richey Granddaughter of Floyd Starr Seal Beach, CA

Starr is dedicated to the mission of creating positive environments where children and families flourish.

Starr News Winter 2015 Volume 72 • No. 1 Starr Commonwealth is a nonprofit organization serving children and families regardless of race, religion, color or national origin.

Starr Commonwealth is accredited by the Council on Accreditation.

Founded in 1913, Starr is licensed by the states of Michigan and Ohio.

The Albion campus is a Michigan Historic Site.

Starr Commonwealth receives funds from social agencies, foundations, corporations and individuals.

13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd. Albion, MI 49224-9525 800.837.5591 info@starr.org

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Table of Contents President’s Letter

3

A Legacy of Leadership

4

Alumni Spotlight

8

On Course for Greater Impact

10

Carls Fdn Investment

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Winter 2015

president’s letter Although the services at Starr have changed dramatically since Dr. Mitchell started in 1970, the mission remains the same

A

s we begin a year of great promise for Starr Commonwealth, I am proud to be in my 45th year in this special organization, and having announced my plan to retire in January 2016, this year will also bring an exciting change of leadership.

Our board of trustees is expected to announce my successor in April 2015, which will allow a number of months for a smooth transition for the incoming president and CEO. As we prepare to welcome Starr’s fifth president since our founding in 1913, we are focused on ensuring that our programs are operating with long-term, robust plans for growth and sustainability — establishing paths to more children and families who can benefit from our strength-based services.

The ways in which Starr is going about its mission have evolved compared to when I started my career here in 1970.

In fact, major transformations have occurred since I became president in 2004, and the reality is that we must continue to change and reinvent ourselves if we are to continue meeting the needs of children and families.

What has not changed, however, is the value system that has underpinned our work for more than a century. The belief in the greatness of each and every child, the belief

in the oneness of humankind, and a dedication to truly understanding where a person is before we try to help them overcome their challenges.

It has been a remarkable privilege to have served as the steward of these values and to experience the impact they have had on so many young lives.

To see the transformation of young people, including many who have faced significant challenges in their early years, has always been inspiring and through that opportunity to help, my family and I have received far more than we could ever give.

As I reflect on the impact that I have seen Starr achieve over the years, I am truly thankful to all of our friends, donors and partner organizations for making it possible.

Starr is blessed to have wonderful support from individuals and organizations throughout Michigan and across the nation, and that support makes a positive difference to thousands of children and families every day.

Thank you for supporting our organization for more than 100 years.

Martin L. Mitchell, Ed.D. President & CEO

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4

A Legacy of

Leadership After a 45-year career serving children and families at Starr, Dr. Martin Mitchell will retire at the end of 2015

D

r. Martin Mitchell has announced that he will retire at the end of 2015 after 45 years of service as a human service industry leader at Starr

Commonwealth, including the last 11 years as president and CEO. During his tenure, Dr. Mitchell has led the expansion of the organization into significant new areas of service, including the training of professionals across the world through the Starr Global Learning Network, behavioral health programs that serve thousands of families every year in Michigan, and education through Starr’s recordbreaking launch into charter schools.

In the last year, Mitchell and his executive team have taken Starr through a historic transition, with the organization’s longstanding residential program in Albion now being managed by Sequel Youth and Family Services, a national human service agency. The partnership aims to expand the reach of Starr’s residential services, with Sequel bringing young people from across the country to the campus.

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With a new operating model in place

a great board, great staff and great

On the succession plan, Hon. John

at Starr’s Albion campus, and through

donors serving wonderful children,

Hallacy added: “We are conducting

its diverse range of other programs,

families and communities has been a

a national search to identify the very

the organization aims to significantly

privilege words cannot describe.”

best candidate to succeed Dr. Mitchell

expand the number of children and families it serves. The goal is to increase those served directly from around 3,000 in the last year to more than 8,000 per year by 2019, as well as expanding Starr’s training programs to reach more than 20,000 professionals a year from the current 17,000.

Starr’s chairman, Hon. John Hallacy, said: “Starr’s board of trustees has known of Dr. Mitchell’s intention to retire at 65 for some time, and is united in its deep respect for the remarkable contribution he has made to the cause of improving the lives of young people, families and communities.

and the board is committed to appointing an individual who cannot only expand the reach of Starr’s services but who lives and breathes the values that have defined Starr for more than a century. We expect to make an announcement on Starr’s new leader in April.”

Announcing his retirement plan, Dr.

In addition to demonstrating great

Over the course of Dr. Mitchell’s 45

Mitchell said: “It has been an honor to

leadership at an organizational level,

years at Starr, the organization has

serve children and families with Starr

Dr. Mitchell has long been recognized

transformed from a single-service

for 45 years. It is a special thing to

nationally for his commitment to

agency to being a respected leader

know that the organization you work

standing up for the interests of society’s

in several service areas, including

for is improving the lives of young

most vulnerable young people. We are

professional training, community-

people and families every day. We

truly thankful for his impact on the

based youth services, managed care,

exist to provide support to those who

expansion of Starr Commonwealth

foster care, behavioral health and

need it most, and we’re now able to

into communities across the country

education, in addition to its enduring

reach more families and communities

and around the world.”

residential program. Since becoming

than ever before.

“My wife, Shirlee, and I are so grateful to have served at Starr for so many years. Through helping thousands of children and watching them transform into caring, responsible adults, our family has personally received far more than it could ever give. It has truly been the highest honor to be a part of the strength-based, helping process pioneered at Starr.”

He added: “I have had the honor to witness the strengths of thousands of young people blossom by simply giving them the opportunity to access their own resilience and to grow. That’s what Starr does, and to be a part of an organization that has 6

Mitchell and his wife, Shirlee, are pictured in New York after accepting the Nordlinger Award.

In 2013, Dr. Mitchell received the Samuel Gerson Nordlinger Child Welfare Leadership Award, a national honor from the Alliance for Strong Families and Communities, recognizing his exceptional contributions to the advancement of quality services for children and families. A wide range of leaders, as well as Dr. Mitchell’s colleagues, have paid tribute to his achievements at Starr, and in the human service sectors as a whole.

U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow said: “Dr. Mitchell has been a respected The Mitchell family gathered to celebrate Starr’s 100th anniversary at Founder’s Day 2013.

advocate for Michigan children and families, dedicating nearly 50 years

president and CEO in 2004, Dr.

in grades K-7, making it one of

to Starr Commonwealth’s mission to

Mitchell has led some of Starr’s most

Michigan’s largest and fastest growing

help every child succeed. He will be

significant program launches.

elementary schools. Additional

greatly missed, and I wish him well as

academies are set to open in the next

he begins this exciting new chapter in

few years.

his life.”

Reclaiming Youth International, The

In community-based services, Starr

Susan Dreyfus, president and CEO

National Institute for Trauma and

has become one of the Michigan’s

of the Alliance for Strong Families

Loss in Children, and Glasswing. To

largest providers of in-home behavioral

and Communities, said: “The National

date, these programs have reached

health services. Having acquired

Alliance for Strong Families and

professionals in more than 60 countries

PsychSystems, a behavioral health

Communities is a more focused

with training in positive youth devel-

agency, in 2013, Starr now provides

organization with a stronger network

opment, trauma-informed practice

in-home services across the state,

because of the strategic influence of

and racial healing. These programs

including a significant program in

Marty Mitchell. Marty has served in

reach more than 17,000 professionals

Battle Creek that serves hundreds of

many roles over the years, including

each year currently and are expected

families each year.

on our board of directors and recently

In 2009, Starr launched its Global Learning Network, composed of

to exceed 20,000 per year within the next five years.

Dr. Mitchell has co-authored numerous publications, including a book entitled

In 2012, Starr opened its first charter

“Deep Brain Learning: Pathways to

school on the east side of Detroit

Potential with Challenging Youth,”

with 525 students in grades K-5, a

and is a senior editor for the interna-

record-breaking launch for a school

tional journal “Reclaiming Children

authorized by Central Michigan

and Youth,” with Dr. Larry Brendtro,

University. Starr Detroit Academy

Starr’s second president, and Dr.

now serves more than 850 students

Nicholas Long.

on our first CEO Council of Advisors.

He always reminds us that our power is our network and our calling is to ultimately improve the lives of children and families, and to strengthen their communities through the excellence and influence of our great network.”

On Course for Greater Impact See page 10 7

Starr alumnus Norman Nugent and his wife, Evelyn, here at the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone in Yellowstone National Park, traveled more than 12,000 miles across the U.S. in 2014.

alumni spotlight Norman Nugent visited Starr’s Albion campus in August 2014 for the first time since he was a student in 1957

B

ehind the wheel of a motorhome, Starr alumnus

home in the small town of Garland, Maine. Nugent quips

Norman Nugent heads north on Interstate 69 in

that there are more cattle than people.

northern Indiana, accompanied by his wife of 48

years, Evelyn.

On the way to Detroit to visit Nugent’s older sister and

The couple is on the last leg of a five-month trek across the

Indiana.

country in 2014, visiting old friends and relatives, many of whom they haven’t seen in years. They’ve already been to South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Oregon, California, Texas

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other family members, the couple passes through Angola,

Nugent begins to wonder why that sounds so familiar. A while later he sees a sign for Albion, Michigan. Suddenly it

and several other states, covering a total of 12,000 miles.

hits him.

All the more impressive is where they started — their

“I wonder if it’s still there,” he says to himself. A slight

“When I visited the campus with my wife, I ran into some boys. I told them to listen to what these people are telling you because it will change your life. I truly believe that.”

- Norman Nugent, Starr alumnus

change of plans sees the Nugents

Starr helped me realize that my home

until later in life that you realize how

making a pit stop at the Albion post

wasn’t a good environment and that

much this place does for people.”

office, where Nugent would learn that

there may be something away from

the place he credits with changing

home that might be better.”

his life was still fulfilling its mission nearly 60 years after he left.

managed customer service centers

returned home and began working to

across the U.S.

help support his family. In 1960, upon

Nugent, 72, roamed the campus from

turning 18, he fulfilled his dream of

1956-57, the memories came flooding

joining the Navy.

Coupled with his experience at Starr,

“It brought back a lot of memories,”

a two-decade stint in the Navy taught

Nugent said. “I had no idea Starr was

him valuable life lessons and prepared

still around. This place had changed

him to succeed.

my life. I was so happy to see what it’s

AT&T after leaving the Navy and

After leaving the program, Nugent

Although Starr has evolved since

back.

Nugent embarked on a career at

He later worked for an engineering and construction company, Foster Wheeler, serving as the corporate records manager in New Jersey.

Upon retiring he moved to his current home in Maine. Nugent and his wife also have two children, a

“It woke me up a bit,” Nugent said. “I

daughter and a son, and he believes

knew that if I didn’t do something to

his accomplishments can all be traced

Growing up in Detroit, Nugent and

change my situation, the rest of my

back to his development at Starr.

his family struggled financially. When

life wouldn’t be worth much. Had I

the state decided to remove the children

not gone to Starr and then joined the

from the home, Nugent, who said he

Navy, I certainly wouldn’t be where I

was too old for foster care at the time,

am now. I wouldn’t have married the

was sent to Starr.

woman I married. I would probably

become today.”

The structure of activities in Starr’s

still be in Detroit.”

program provided stability foreign to

Looking back, Nugent believes he

his childhood thus far.

didn’t realize at the time how much

“I hated going to school while I was at

his placement at Starr meant.

“The more you know from an educational standpoint, the better off you are,” Nugent said. “Starr opened a whole new book for me in that regard. Starr also gives you values and perspective.

“When I visited the campus with my wife, I ran into some boys. I told them to listen to what these people are

home,” Nugent said. “But I think that’s

“In hindsight, I didn’t appreciate

telling you because it will change your

because of the place I was in. Once I

Starr for what it did for me as much

life. I truly believe that. It’s great to see

got to Starr, things changed. Schooling

as I should have,” Nugent said. “The

Starr doing better than ever, and when

had a bigger impact on me, and I

discipline at Starr helped. The education

I come back to the area I will be sure

learned that I wanted better for myself

I received was wonderful. But you

to visit again.”

than I was getting back in Detroit.

don’t think that at the time. It’s not 9

On course for greater impact After the historic transition of the management of residential services, Starr’s future is bright as the number of young people served grows

A

s Starr prepares for a transition of leadership,

The overall shift in direct services has been to build

its programs in education, behavioral health,

services that reach children and families in their homes

juvenile justice, child welfare and professional

and communities.

training continue to develop with the aim of reaching new and CEO.

Michigan behavioral health services go coast to coast, home by home

“Our mission of creating positive environments where

For decades, Starr has served the Battle Creek and Detroit

communities, according to Dr. Martin Mitchell, president

children flourish is being realized in a diverse range of programs that are forecast to grow rapidly in the next five years. Over the last year, we have focused on making our programs stronger financially and ensuring they each have a long-term plan for growth. Now the focus is on delivering on those plans,” Mitchell said.

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communities through community-based programs. In Battle Creek, the in-home mental health program works with hundreds of children and their families each year, helping to avoid out-of-home placements and keeping families together.

The newest addition to Starr’s community-based care is

While Starr has long been known for working with young

PsychSystems, a behavioral health organization founded in

people from the juvenile justice and child welfare systems,

2001 that serves children and adults with developmental

the last decade has seen significant expansion in the areas

disabilities. PsychSystems joined Starr in 2013 and brings

of charter schools, training for professionals who work with

experience in behavioral health, including anger management,

children, and behavioral health, including autism services.

social skills training, individual therapy and behavior

assessments. Primarily serving clients in southeast Michigan, PsychSystems, along with Starr Battle Creek, allows Starr to provide in-home services to most of southern Michigan. To meet the growing needs of children and families living with autism, Starr and PsychSystems opened the PsychSystems

In Battle Creek, the in-home mental health program works with hundreds of children and their families each year, helping to avoid out-of-home placements and keeping families together.

Autism Center, which is located in Harper Woods, Michigan. The

Glasswing Racial Healing, practi-

referred residential program on the

PsychSystems Autism Center is able to

tioners from around the world can

Albion campus to Sequel Youth and

get the assessment process completed

learn from Starr’s expertise in these

Family Services, a national leader in

in as little as 30 days, allowing trained

areas. In 2013-14, more than 17,000

programs for young people.

autism technicians to start delivering

professionals were trained through

Applied Behavior Analysis treatment,

the Starr Global Learning Network,

the gold standard in autism care, in a

representing countries from around

timely manner.

the world. The reach of these three

Youth Services transform lives in the community

programs already spans more than 60 countries, and this grows each year.

Through this partnership, Starr’s program will go from serving youth solely from Michigan to working with young people from across the United States.

Starr Educational Services takes the impact upstream

Since December, the program has

assistance program that helps young

With the acquisition of the Children’s

people with academic and social

Home of Detroit (CHD), Starr

As of January, all of the young people

needs to supervised independent

Educational Services, a nonprofit

living. An outpatient substance abuse

management company, opened Starr

program is also available using The

Detroit Academy for the 2012-13

Seven Challenges curriculum, a

school year. In the school’s inaugural

nationally recognized treatment

year, it served more than 520 K-5

method. Working directly with young

students, a record opening for Central

people in the Detroit community

Michigan University, the authorizing

creates stability for each young person

entity for Starr. The Academy now

and allows them to develop with the

serves more than 850 young people in

support of family and friends.

grades K-7 and will continue to grow

At Starr Detroit, a wide range of programs are offered, from a youth

Training and knowledge support professionals across the globe As a leader in programs for children

each year, offering high-quality educational services and Starr’s strength-based model of positive youth development. Additional schools are

averaged 110 students on campus per day, with a current capacity of 112. are from Michigan, but Randy Copas, the executive director of the program, said that will change in the coming months.

Sequel’s expertise in working with kids who come to programs from other states is essential to the business development process for the Albion campus.

“Working out the contracts with other states takes time, but we anticipate that to start ramping up sooner rather than later,” Copas said. “We have several states scheduled to make visits

and adults, Starr is fortunate to employ

expected to open in coming years.

some of the foremost experts in trauma,

Starr residential set to reach more Michigan counties, states

good. Our admissions team really

for Trauma and Loss in Children (TLC),

December 2014 marked the manage-

Reclaiming Youth International and

ment transition of Starr’s publicly

greater number of counties throughout

positive youth development and racial healing. Through The National Institute

to the campus, which is obviously hit the ground running, and we’ve already started getting kids from a Michigan.”

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investment from the carls foundation to boost autism center staff, equipment

T

he Carls Foundation has invested $151,075 in the PsychSystems Autism Center.

The funds will expand services to meet the needs of the surrounding Detroit area with an additional Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) certified worker and a new specialized play-scape and outdoor space for therapeutic use.

The Autism Center provides ABA treatment, family-based consultation and intervention, and assessment for children with neurological differences in metro Detroit, ages 18 months to 6 years. Language and verbal behavior needs are frequent among this age group, and with evidence-based ABA therapy children can develop better

communication and behavioral coping skills that will ensure each child becomes as independent as possible.

The addition of an ABA service provider will allow the Autism Center to serve more children with neurological differences, which has been operating at full capacity since January 2014 due to agencies having such a backlog of clients for whom services are needed.

The Carls Foundation grant will also fund the installation of a play-scape and outdoor space at the Autism Center, which will include features that are beneficial to the unique therapeutic needs of children experiencing neurological differences such as rubber mats, a slide and climbing wall, an integrated puppet stage and more.

This generous investment continues Starr’s strong partnership with the Carls Foundation. In 2013, Starr received a startup grant of $31,083 to launch the PsychSystems Autism Center at the Starr Detroit Academy campus in Harper Woods, Michigan.

Targeting underserved children of low-income families who qualify for Medicaid, its location on Detroit’s east side was chosen with the intent to provide excellent educational opportunities for the area’s poorest children and families. By providing services at the school, parents of children with neurological differences will see the possibilities of their child succeeding and thriving in an academic setting.

The PsychSystems Autism Center, which serves children ages 18 months to 6 years, has been operating at full capacity since January 2014.

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More than 50 groups from southeast Michigan performed at the inaugural Starr Summer Youth Festival in 2014, including Urban Stringz.

Art of resilience project receives support from grant

S

tarr Commonwealth has received its first ever grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) to support Starr’s Art of Resilience project. MCACA coordinates grants to arts and culture organizations, cities and municipalities, and other nonprofit organizations to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and cultural activity in Michigan. A grant of $22,500, with a portion provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, will support the second annual Starr Summer Youth Festival held in downtown Detroit in July 2015.

Resilience is at the core of Starr’s youth development programs, but it is also a central part of Detroit’s identity.

The city and its neighborhoods have shown great resilience over many years and this tenacity continues to help the city, and the southeast Michigan region, to overcome great challenges.

The Art of Resilience is a project aimed at utilizing art to explore and celebrate the resilience of young people,

families and neighborhoods in Detroit. The Starr Summer Youth Festival showcases the “art of resilience” produced by summer youth arts programs across the metro Detroit region. Exceeding expectations in its inaugural year, the 2014 Starr Summer Youth Festival attracted the participation of roughly 300 children from 50 different youth organizations or groups. Approximately 2,000 members of the Detroit community came out to enjoy performances and exhibitions, and thanks to the generous support received by MCACA we expect these numbers to increase at this year’s festival.

In addition to creating positive opportunities for hundreds of young people to flourish and generating positive stories about the youth of the region, this initiative is building dozens of new partnerships and raising awareness in the metro Detroit area. Starr’s direct impact on children and families in metro Detroit is very significant — it has been throughout Starr’s centurylong history — and this project serves to not only recognize, but to celebrate this impact through support from community organizations.

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Starr News

chaplain’s message

Chaplain Ken Ponds

Throughout his nearly 40-year tenure, Ken Ponds has seen Starr Commonwealth change in numerous ways

I

was surprised a few days ago to be asked to write a

to chapel. However, I believe that the most important

Chaplain’s Message given the tremendous changes

way they prepared the students for chapel was how they

that have taken place at Starr Commonwealth. When

I asked what my theme should be, it was suggested that I reflect upon how things have changed from when I first began as chaplain almost 40 years ago. This is challenging.

There have been so many changes; it would be difficult to narrow them down to just a few or even one. However I’ll attempt one, with this one being from a spiritual point of view.

When I first began, each student cottage and group had a set, for the most part, of older staff who primarily served as house parents. Due to having lived longer than the teenagers with whom they worked, and having experienced the many joys, sorrows, challenges, disappointments, achievements, unexpected events and insights gained from just living life, the house parents were further along in their spiritual journeys than the students.

demonstrated to the students, day in and day out, the grace of their spirituality by how they lived their lives, and how they gave unconditional love and care to each student in the group. Unconditional love and care through listening, wiping away tears, dealing with anger, preparing delicious meals, having high expectations for each student, and just “fussing” over each young person to the point that they understood just how important they were.

When the students came to chapel, many were ready to at least listen to what was being shared and perhaps apply some of what they heard in their spiritual journey. This is no longer the case now. The house parent model has long been abandoned. What change! Today’s model is totally different, with very few older staff working in the cottages. This is not to demean our present staff, who are truly wonderful, caring, talented and spiritual persons themselves.

As a result, they were able to help reluctant teenagers get ready to “go to church” each Sunday, so that they could continue their spiritual journeys even though, if they were like me as a teenager, they did not realize they were on such a journey. I understand that some would begin this process as early as Friday evening and certainly throughout Saturday, as they had the students prep their “chapel clothes,” and engage them in conversations pertaining 14

However, there is a wisdom that comes with having lived a few years, and having experienced more of life that when shared with young people can make an indelible impact upon them. This wisdom and experience is what informed the spirituality of this older staff, a spirituality they were able to pass on to their students.

Winter 2015

Honor & Memorial gifts In Honor of: SUSAN L. BEAZLEY Mrs. Sylvia Richey LYNN CRAMER Mr. and Mrs. Delbert Benson CALEB DONOVICK Dr. Valerie Perdue HELEN DUSENBURY Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Kemerling RICHARD DUSENBURY Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Kemerling MONYGEYWA D. ELLIOT Ms. Elisa Elliot GEORGE D. GOODMAN Mr. and Mrs. Charles W. Puttkammer MR. AND MRS. MILES JONES Mrs. Evelyn Jones MR. AND MRS. RONALD JONES Mrs. Evelyn Jones CAELAN K. KUBAN Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mc Elroy BEATRICE MC ELROY Dr. Caelan K. Kuban MARCELLA MOOTZ Miss Anna Lee Teets Miss Sara Lou Teets JOAN STAUDT PRACY Dr. and Mrs. Robert M. Failing SYLVIA S. RICHEY Ms. Susan L. Beazley DR. JOHN R. SEITA Mr. Brian F. Talty MADELINE I. SHAW-NAJARIAN Dr. and Mrs. Brian Shaw LINCOLNVIEW STARR STUDENTS Mr. and Mrs. Larry Konzen

MONTCALM STAFF

Mr. and Mrs. Bernardo Brunetti

In Memory of: ELLEN A. BARROWS Dr. and Mrs. Paul L. Barrows EDWARD J. BEHRNDT Mrs. Beverly J. Behrndt ROGER BURLINGAM Mrs. Rose Burlingam CHARLOTTE Mr. Gordon Grant U. E. JOHN COLLINS Ms. Kay Collins EDWIN COTTRELL Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. DesJardins WALT DAVENPORT The Crawford’s BRUCE WILSON DAVIS Mr. Robert C. Davis MAURICE N. DAVIS Mrs. Rebecca Davis JUSTINA DEIGHTON Dr. George H. Lauff PATRICIA L. ENDRESS Mr. Richard B. Endress JOHN S. EVANS Mr. and Mrs. Norman H. Knight CONCETTA FALCONE Mr. John Falcone JOHN B. GMEINER Mrs. Marian P. Gmeiner ELVENTA GNESSING Mr. and Mrs. Robert Prudy PHILIP H. HADDRILL Mrs. Bessie Hiddrill WAYNE L. HARTMAN Mrs. Carol Hartman

H. ROWENA HERRING Mr. John E. Herring HAROLD AND MARY HURDLEY Mr.and Mrs. John J. Dick EDWARD A. JACKSON

PHYLLIS AND MICHAEL PALIAROLI Mr. and Mrs. Gino M. Paliaroli CHARLES W. PAPIN Mr. and Mrs. Dean Moenck MARGARET M. PETSCH

Miss Anna Lee Teets

Mrs. Marian M. Wood

Miss Sara Lou Teets

JAMES RICHARDS, JR.

GORDON LANDLEY Ms. Pamela Bockey-Smith RICHARD LECURU Mrs. Martha D. Lecuru DONNA L. LEHMAN Mr. Calvin A. Lehman JOLAN LENKEY Mr. and Mrs. Peter P. Lenkey CLYDE LETARTE Mrs. Kathy LeTarte JAMES EARL LOUGH III Mr. and Mrs. Lance Hawblitz & Family Mr. and Mrs. Mark Veich & Family Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell MARGARET S. LEUTHEUSER Mrs. Anne Willson Dupre Mr. and Mrs. Richard Magsig Dr. and Mrs. Martin L. Mitchell Dr. and Mrs. Arlin E. Ness Mr. and Mrs. Greg Richey & Family Mr. and Mrs. Christopher L. Smith HAZEL L. MALDEGEN Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Maldegen MABELLE MASON Mrs. Elizabeth C. Horne MARIAN B. MATHEWS Mr. Lynn S. Mathews R. BRADNER MEAD Ms. Pam Davis VIVIAN MILLER Mr. Edgar W. Miller

Mrs. Doris Richard GERALD D. ROBINSON Mr. and Mrs. Bill Davis MARION ROBINSON Mr. and Mrs. Bill Davis SHAWNA Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Coyne ROSE ANN SMALL Mrs. Mary E. Mills CHARLOTTE SOUTHWICK Mr. and Mrs. Larry Gill CHRISTOPHER SOUTHWICK Mr. and Mrs. Larry Gill “UNCLE” FLOYD STARR Mr. and Mrs. Reginald S. Trotter ELTA HELEN ARBER STARR Mr. Michael R. Weaver EILEEN WALLING Mr. Robert Walling FRED WEBERLING Mrs. Fran Weberling OLIVE B. WHITE Mr. Robert G. White LAILA JANEVIC WIERENGA Mrs. Patricia Perosak ERVIN J. AND HELEN A. WILEE Ms. Beryl H. Martin PAMELA WINGERTER Mr. and Mrs. Bob Rowbotham HARRIETT H. YORK Mr. Alton G. York

HONOR GIFTS are thoughtful ways to remember a special person and/or a special occasion, such as a birth, birthday, anniversary, graduation, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, while also helping Starr children. Honor gifts also may be made online at www.starr.org.

MEMORIAL GIFTS offer an enduring tribute to the memory of a friend or loved one, while extending a helping hand to the children of Starr. Memorial donations also may be made online at www.starr.org.

The current gifts reflect the period from 10-25-2014 to 1-30-2015. Donors are listed below the name of the person in whose memory or honor they contributed.

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Non Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Permit #975 Lansing, MI 13725 Starr Commonwealth Rd. Albion, Michigan 49224 www.starr.org

Duplicate mailing? Call (800) 837-5591 Address service requested

Help them take their learning to a higher level.

Since 1978, we’ve provided Starr graduates the opportunity to pursue higher education through the Starr Commonwealth Scholarship Program. Last year, 49 students were awarded more than $150,000 in fund assistance, however, total requests exceeded $300,000. Your generous donation will help us continue to provide scholarships to students who want to reach even higher.

Please donate today.

To give online, visit www.starr.org/donate. For more information, please contact Sherie Veramay, senior major gift officer, at 800.837.5591 or veramays@starr.org.