The Detroit-area foster children’s charity For The Seventh Generation served 500 foster children in 2013. The number represents significant growth for the organization, which was founded in 2005 and, like most other Michigan charities, has struggled with the economic downturn.
“2013 was a ground-breaking year for us — a year we hope to use as a foundation to serve even more foster children, families, and teens aging out of the foster care system in 2014,” said For The Seventh Generation Executive Director Lorraine Weber. “We particularly want to thank Ronald McDonald House Charities and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southeastern Michigan, which together donated more than $9,000 to allow us to purchase new beds and cribs for more than fifty babies, children, and teens.”
Weber also thanked sponsors of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation’s annual In Seventh Heaven fundraiser, including Charity Motors, The Park West Gallery Foundation, and GEM Asset Management.
According to Weber, For The Seventh Generation provided the following to area foster children, teens, and families in 2013 in addition to the beds and cribs purchased with the Ronald McDonald House Charities grants:
• Seventy-seven foster children, teens, and families picked up essential items like clothing and furniture.
• Seventy-five youngsters picked out presents, had presents picked out for them, and enjoyed snacks, games and holiday-themed festivities at the organization’s 2013 Holiday Bazaar.
• With the help of the local Rotary Clubs of Operation Warm, 150 children and teens in foster care received brand new winter coats.
• More than fifty foster children who are permanent wards of the court received preliminary orthodontic care at the University of Detroit Mercy’s School of Dentistry.
• Four children were served by the Play It Forward music program, which is funded to provide instruments and lessons to a total of twelve foster youth.
• The remainder of the children, teens, and families received a range of items and services including orthodontic care, Prom dresses and related services, and home-improvement services like roof repairs.
“Michigan’s foster care system is only able to provide the basics a child needs to survive,” said Weber. “But these children need so much more if they’re going to thrive and grow up to become productive, healthy adults. Our organization acts as a mediator, collecting requests from foster care workers and matching those requests with the donors and volunteers who come forward to meet them.”
She added: “The orthodontists and dentists, hair stylists, mentors, music teachers, and other volunteers and donors are the ultimate heroes of this story — they make a huge, positive difference in the lives of our area’s foster children and teens that will be felt for generations to come.”
Given For The Seventh Generation’s 2013 success, Weber said that she and the committee that is working to put together the 2014 In Seventh Heaven fundraising gala are looking forward to an increase in the number of sponsors and attendees coming forward to support the event.
Their hopes are bolstered by the fact that Hour Detroit Magazine and Meijer have come on board as early sponsors. In addition, WDET’s Ann Delisi has agreed to emcee the event, which will feature the music of The Blue Water Kings Band.
“For The Seventh Generation is one of metro Detroit’s most important charities,” said long-time community volunteer Linda L. Freitag of Tax Trilogy, LLC, the chair of this year’s event. “I encourage our local business community to sponsor In Seventh Heaven because doing so means helping some of the most vulnerable, at-risk children in our area.
“In addition, our committee is putting together a real night to remember; our goal is to make this year’s In Seventh Heaven the social event of this spring. For just $125 per ticket you can enjoy a fantastic night out, support foster children, and even receive a partial tax deduction — what’s not to love?”
Weber invited potential In Seventh Heaven sponsors to contact her via email at lweber@detroitlawyer.org or by phone at (313) 961-6120, ext. 206.
