Spiteri Family, Client Testimony

Elizabeth Agius, Board Chair

Desiree Jennings, President and CEO

Detroit, MI, May 9, 2024 – On Tuesday, May 7th, The Children’s Center celebrated its 20th Annual Power of Possibilities Breakfast at the Motor City Casino & Hotel, marking another milestone year of transformative community impact under the theme “Your Story Matters.” The event highlighted the unique stories of resilience, hope, and empowerment that families and supporters bring to The Children’s Center.

This year’s event saw a strong turnout from community members, stakeholders, and generous donors, all gathered to support and uplift the lives of children and families in need. The annual breakfast remains one of the most significant fundraising efforts of the year for The Children’s Center.

The breakfast featured heartfelt testimonials from clients such as the Fallstich family, Kevin Bell, the Spiteri family, and ReShanna DePriest, who shared their journeys of overcoming challenges with the support of The Children’s Center. These stories highlighted the event’s theme, uplifting, inspirational stories of making progress through behavioral health challenges and working to overcome developmental delays.

The morning was led by The Children’s Center’s new CEO, Desiree Jennings, who, in her inaugural address, shared the organization’s accomplishments over the past year. “This past year alone, we’ve helped 556 families write their success stories,” said Jennings. “We’ve achieved an 88% high school graduation rate among our youth in semi-independent living and successfully diverted 82% of kids in crisis from psychiatric hospitals.”

Special recognition was given to Detroit Manufacturing Systems, who was honored with the Hero of Hope Award for their substantial contributions and commitment to the community. The event’s major sponsors, including Ford Motor Company as the presenting sponsor and Detroit Manufacturing Systems at the envision level, were also acknowledged for their pivotal roles in the success of the breakfast.

Board Chair Elizabeth Agius opened the event with a warm welcome, expressing gratitude to the Village of Giving Members and all sponsors for their unwavering support.

The Children’s Center remains dedicated to its mission of providing evidence-based mental health treatments to the children and families, powered by the expertise of therapists, clinicians, and social workers along with the enduring support of their wider community