The Detroit Public Schools Foundation encourages students to excel throughout the year with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Support our programs. GIVE NOW!
Purchase an authentic commemorative brick from Cass Technical High School, Finney High School or Chadsey High School for yourself or friends and family.
As we get closer to spring, an effort from last summer is providing a ray of sunshine here at the Foundation.
In late August, families in the Birmingham School District came together to support education by creating “The World’s Longest Lemonade Stand.” On the weekend of the Woodward Dream Cruise, the effort was successful. Parents and businesses came together to put together 349 stands totaling 1,399 feet and 11 inches, breaking the Guinness world record. LONGESTLEMONADESTAND.COM
Much of the funds raised benefitted Birmingham Schools, but the rules of the event allowed sponsor support to benefit other nonprofits. We are grateful that a portion of Ernst & Young’s donation benefits our Foundation, along with the Birmingham Education Foundation. Ernst & Young has a major office presence in Downtown Detroit but, with employees and clients around Metro Detroit, sees itself as a regional firm.
This is part of a growing trend of perception we believe will benefit the Foundation and our community. Funding successful programs that benefit DPS students has a positive regional impact and requires regional support. Those are facts that the region understands now, more than ever before.
Our fundraising appeal at the end of 2011 shows examples of the region’s belief in the greater benefit of Detroit students’ success. We received donations from 268 zip codes in and out of Michigan. Looking to the rest of 2012, we are seeing other potential examples of regional collaboration to support our mission. We look forward to sharing those with you later this year.
DPS Foundation Matches Gifts for Gleaners through Sodexo Support
When I first started in educational fund development, at the University of Michigan in the 1980s, one of my first meetings was with a wealthy family who had sent its children to private schools and then to U-M. I asked them about whether they would consider a philanthropic gift to the university, and I heard, “Universities don’t need any money because the state takes care of them.”
While it was true that the State of Michigan supported public universities with more funds 30 years ago, there was still a need then for philanthropic support.
Students from O.W. Holmes Elementary-Middle School and Paul Robeson, Malcolm X Academy had the chance to meet and shake hands with President Barack Obama on Tuesday, February 7th, as the President hosted the second White House Science Fair.
The event celebrated the student winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions from across the country.
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It’s not often enough that reading the news can put a smile on your face. But, when I saw the results of a new study, it was easy for me to smile.
ArtServe Michigan recently released a study that detailed the return on investment for arts and culture in the state. The report shows that for every dollar the state invests in arts and culture, 51 dollars are contributed to the state’s economy. The facts show what we have long believed – an investment in the arts provides more than just cultural value, which alone is important in its own right.
Experts, including those at ArtServe, have long believed that arts education increases children’s motivation to learn, making them more likely to attend school, and deepens their ability to pay attention. The College Board reports that, over a ten-year period, arts students outperformed non-arts students on the SAT.
The Foundation’s support of successful arts education programs in Detroit touch every age level of students. The PNC Grow Up Great pre-kindergarten program partners with Music Hall to bring artists into classrooms and preschool students into the theater. We have funded and sustained the Evening of Fine Arts to honor the top high school students in vocal, instrumental, dance, fine and visual arts. Plus, the Foundation is funding the Detroit All-City Marching Band and has funded the upgrade of musical equipment at several schools.
We hope others will join us in placing a priority on arts education so our future adults will be well equipped to lead and give back to the community. As a board member of the DIA, DSO, Cultural Alliance of Southeastern Michigan and Arts League of Michigan I am hopeful that we are creating an environment which nurtures future leaders for these and other cultural organizations throughout our region and State. We know this investment has even more than just cultural value, there’s also economic value.
You can find details on the ArtServe study here creativestatemi.artservemichigan.org/impact/education/
More than 500 students from across the state of Michigan competed in the 17th annual Michigan Regional Future City Competition held January 30, 2012 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.
Two teams from Detroit Public Schools received special awards for their displays on safer and greener cities of the future.
