And in this case, thousands of smiles.

The vulnerable children and families we serve are often limited in their ability to participate in enrichment programs, due to the economic and/or social-emotional barriers they face. Therefore, The Children’s Center offers more than 20 activities free of charge that support our core programs. These activities heal hearts, empower families, and inspire smiles in the children we serve. Join us by underwriting an activity that interests you. Ranging from $250 – $5,000, each and every activity you support helps us heal the hearts and minds of the future.

Enrichment Support

Summer Camp

The Center for Discovery Summer Camp is an opportunity to engage up to 40 clients while they are out of school. Summer Camp gives campers access to enrichment programming, including arts and crafts, gardening, music, physical fitness, and field trips to museums.

Underwriting covers: daily meals, activities, and field trips.

Holiday Shop

Families of The Children’s Center look forward to the Holiday Shop every year. Designated rooms are transformed into a winter wonderland. Parents are escorted by a “personal shopper” and are invited to select gifts for their child. Thanks to our supporters, everything is free to clients. Each child receives a new toy, basic necessities, and winter accessories.

Underwriting covers: filling the Holiday Shop with toys and basic necessities.

Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner

An annual event, this dinner honors the commitment and dedication of our foster parents. We present awards that uplift our foster care and Young Adult Self Sufficiency providers, and recognize exemplary staff support and advocacy.

Underwriting covers: venue, food, a modest and useful gift for foster parents, and a co-branded appreciation gift.

Birthday Club

Children celebrating birthdays each month are invited to attend a party in their honor. This may be the only birthday celebration these children experience, so we enjoy making it a special event. Volunteers are needed to host the event. They pick the month and theme, coordinate, plan and supply the food and activities for approximately 60 people, decorate, register families, serve food, and lead the party activities.

Underwriting covers: food, activities, goodie bags and decoration.

Family Game Night

Game nights allow children to play board games over a healthy meal, helping them develop social and critical-thinking skills. Volunteers bring new educational board games for playtime. They supply and serve food, register families, and lead game stations.

Underwriting covers: board games, grab bags, and food.

Family Art Adventure

Art is a fun, non-threatening way of exploring social interactions and life experiences. These workshops provide art education and appreciation in a safe environment, allowing children to express themselves and build self-confidence.

Underwriting covers: art supplies and snacks.

Holiday-Themed Crafts

Craft sessions allow children, parents, and volunteers to create holiday art together. It fosters a supportive environment for developing social skills and arent/child bonding. Volunteers supply materials, register families, serve refreshments and facilitate crafts.

Underwriting covers: materials and snacks.

Head Start Academy

The Children’s Center Head Start Academy serves approximately 300 children, ages 3 to 5, in Northwest Detroit. We offer full- and part-time classes that support the social, emotional, and intellectual HighScope development curriculum, as well as provide mental health services and enrichment programs. Due to national eligibility requirements of Head Start, the majority of our families are at or below the federal poverty level. As part of our government funding agreement, The Children’s Center is responsible for a $600,000 match through financial contributions, in-kind donations, and volunteer service.

Family Learning Nights

These events are designed to teach parents how to engage with their children using the HighScope curriculum. This evidence-based curriculum is proven to help children excel in language and cognitive learning while promoting decision-making and problem solving.

Underwriting covers: Supplies for hands-on learning units, light snacks, and refreshments.

Center for Family Literacy

The Center for Family Literacy provides parents with the resources to read with children and check out books and learning games for home. Children may also schedule time in the library, or check items out for use in the classroom. We have iPads loaded with childhood apps, as well as 1,000 books, 200 learning games, DVDs, and Leapfrog Learning electronics.

Underwriting covers: books, iPads, learning apps, and lending library software renewals.

Fatherhood Initiative T-ball Event

Children with involved fathers experience fewer behavioral problems and score higher on reading achievement. T-ball is an opportunity to model healthy adult male interaction. More than 80 father figures volunteer to assist classrooms in noncompetitive play. During lunch, fathers participate in a learning session that covers family literacy, health and nutrition.

Underwriting covers: a grab bag for each student, lunch for fathers and volunteers, t-shirts, and take-home learning aids for dads.

Transition Fair

This fair acknowledges the hard work our preschoolers have put into preparing for kindergarten. Each student receives recognition for completing preschool, and families explore learning units based on the HighScope curriculum.

Underwriting covers: decoration, a light dinner, and a book for every child.

Outreach Support

Throughout the year, we host a variety of community events that raise awareness about our services and give thanks to those who support them. By underwriting these important programs, you help us to extend our reach and generate more aid for the children we serve. Opportunities range from $1,500 to $3,000 and benefits are commensurate with your investment level.

Pop-up Dinner Parties

The Children’s Center hosts a variety of pop-up dinner parties throughout the year, aimed at engaging the next generation of Greater Detroit philanthropists. Envision a spectacular five-course gourmet dinner party held at unique locations such as a farmer’s market or in Cadillac Square, where 50 to 100 ticketed guests gather to eat well and have fun to benefit The Children’s Center. Support is needed to help keep ticket prices low (from $49 to $75).

Underwriting covers: subsidizing event tickets.

Corks and Brushes

Corks and Brushes is a mission-focused fundraiser targeting Detroit’s next generation of philanthropists. An instructor leads a two- to three-hour step-by-step art project. Participants paint, enjoy wine, and learn how The Children’s Center uses art to help children convey feelings that can’t always be expressed by words.

Underwriting covers: wine, heavy appetizers, and painting materials.

Celebration of Gratitude

We are grateful for our donors’ ongoing investment in providing help, healing, and hope to vulnerable children and families. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, every November we invite those participating in any of The Children’s Center Giving Circles & Societies to join us for seasonal appetizers, beer and wine, and the presentation of our annually updated donor recognition wall.

Underwriting covers: cost of food, beverages, arts, crafts supplies, and photographer for family photos of guests.

Birthdays Are For Kids

What better way to celebrate your birthday than to give to others? Simply pledge your birthday, set up your fundraising page, and ask your family and friends to celebrate your big day by making a tax deductible donation to The Children’s Center. Donating your birthday is a fun, easy way to make a difference in the life of a child.

Heal children.Heal Detroit.

The future of our city is in our children’s stories. While many begin in heartbreak, that’s only the first chapter. With your help, we can rewrite their future, transforming hurt into healing, despair into courage, and trauma into triumph.

Contact

To further explore sponsoring Underwriting Opportunities at The Children’s Center, please contact our Philanthropy Department at 313.831.5535.