On June 12th, our sixth annual Lisa V. Ford Heart & Soul Volunteer Award Luncheon will show thanks and appreciation for The Children’s Center volunteers who give their time and talents to further our mission. The event, presented by Ford Motor Company, will honor volunteers who have completed 20 or more hours of service during the past year. The following award categories seek to recognize individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to The Children’s Center.

2014 WINNERS!

Lisa V. Ford Heart & Soul Award is presented to an individual who has generously provided extraordinary talent, leadership or service to The Children’s Center.

Simone Smith 

Simone Smith joined The Children’s Center Volunteer Services Committee in February 2012. Since then, Simone has made a lasting impression on her peers and TCC families that she selflessly serves. During the past year, Simone has volunteered at AutoGlow, Detroit Uncorked, Summer Smash, Arts Beats & Eats, the Power of Possibilities Breakfast and through several Donation Stations. She gave up her Saturday afternoon to make and serve lemonade at the DIY Festival in Ferndale to raise money for our agency. Along with her Committee, Simone planned and hosted the October Birthday Party so children from all programs would be celebrated during their birthday month. She is a “Virtual Champion” for The Children’s Center and shares our mission through social media to educate and inspire others to get involved. Despite having important family commitments, Simone volunteered every day of the Holiday Shop, working with our families, accepting Holiday Shop applications, and setting up the retail store. Those that know Simone can attest that she’s organized, creative and willing to lend her time and talents wherever needed including contributing to the beautification and painting of CC’s Boutique. Simone is well deserving of this nomination and embodies the characteristics the Heart & Soul Award represents.

Community Service Award is given to a community/civic organization that demonstrates exceptional organizational initiative, participation, and commitment to the center through volunteerism and service.

The Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan 

The Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan initially became involved with The Children’s Center through their Wee Help Layette program this year.   This program provides beautiful layettes for teenaged mothers with low income in our Infant Mental Health program as well as for our Child Welfare services. These layette kits are delivered by a member of the Assistance League on a monthly basis to our main campus.  The Children’s Center’s teenage mothers who receive this gift are extremely grateful, as with limited resources it is quite a daunting task to be able to provide quality necessities for their new baby, if not for the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan. Each Layette includes new baby clothes, a receiving blanket, bottle, diapers, pacifier, bib, washcloth, onesies, sleepers and a board book.

The Assistance League not only provides these layettes, but this past year they also had an “Assistance League Day” at The Children’s Center.  Members of the Assistance League recruited 18 volunteers and filled a truck full of new clothes for our children that included 300 new coats, 187 new pairs of jeans, 200+ hats and gloves, and 160 new sturdy duffle bags to pack everything in for the children.  They also pre-packed 235 hygiene kits for the families and provided 200 new children’s books.  In just this one day, the Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan provided well over $15,000 worth of much needed goods to our clients.

Corporate Service Award recognizes a corporation or business that exemplifies a strong commitment through employee volunteer efforts and partnership.

Hollingsworth Logistics Group 

In June of 2012, The Hollingsworth Logistics Group adopted The Children’s Center as one of their charity partners. As an organization, their accomplishments during the 2013 calendar year exemplify all that the Corporate Service Award seeks to recognize. Each month, Hollingsworth Logistics conducts themed food drives such as PB&J, pasta and sauce or breakfast items to support our emergency food pantry. For our Back to School Donation Station, volunteers jumped in with both feet taking an inventory of all supplies, setting up an assembly line and stuffing 656 backpacks based on the needs of each child’s grade level. The Hollingsworth team is willing to take on any project and didn’t shy away when it came time to weeding, mulching, and filling our urban garden boxes with dirt. This company dedicates a minimum of two days per month for volunteers to show off their warehousing knowledge arranging the Boutique, organizing toy areas or sanitizing the therapy rooms in our Autism Center. In the month of December, Hollingsworth leadership and staff from multiple departments participated in our Holiday Shop serving as greeters, gift wrappers and personal shoppers. A second volunteer group was responsible for tearing down the Holiday Shop after the event. While this is just a snapshot of the Hollingsworth Logistics’ contributions over the year, their enthusiasm, generosity, and commitment to their corporate social responsibility shines like no other.

Staff Volunteer Award

Jessica Kehoe

Jessica is a hardworking employee who takes pride and initiative in participating and contributing to TCC continuous quality improvement.
She volunteers for new projects readily. She has currently taken on a two year assignment for chairing the NEO welcoming committee. She has volunteered to provide excel training and has conducted the training successfully.
Jessica has volunteered for TCC for a total of 28.5 hours in the following activities. She volunteered for the following activities:

• Molina Health & Wellness Fair – Registration
• Power of Possibilities Breakfast – Greeter
• Summer Smash – Photo booth
• Detroit Uncorked – Registration
• Holiday Shop – Gift wrapping

85th Anniversary Award Winners

Civic Legacy Award

Tau Beta Association

The Tau Beta Association was founded in 1901 and has promoted charity, philanthropy and service benefitting Southeast Michigan for more than a century. In 2004, Tau Beta began their partnership with The Children’s Center where the memberships focus on fundraising and volunteerism would make a significant impact on the lives of children. The Tau Beta Center for Discovery, a multi-purpose computer lab and resource room, was established in 2006, making these resources Children’s Center consumers and their families. Over the past decade of partnership, Tau Beta members have hosted countless donation drives, sponsored events, donated their time and talents as volunteers, and served on The Children’s Center Board of Directors. The Association’s annual Spring Market continues to raise both funds and awareness for The Children’s Center. Most recently, Tau Beta Association contributed funds to open a Family Literacy Center located at The Children’s Center Head Start Academy. The Children’s Center is honored to present the Civic Legacy Award to Tau Beta Association for their extraordinary support to our mission for the past decade.

Corporate Legacy Award

Ford Motor Company

The Corporate Legacy Award is awarded to a longtime partner that has made a significant impact on the lives of children and families through financial contributions, programmatic support, brand awareness and volunteer engagement. Ford Motor Company has had strong ties to The Children’s Center since the agency was founded in 1929. Throughout our partnership, Ford has proudly been the Presenting Sponsor of the Center’s signature fundraising events including AutoGlow, Power of Possibilities, Detroit Uncorked, Lisa V. Ford Heart & Soul Volunteer Recognition Luncheon and The Children’s Center 85th Anniversary event. Not only is this sponsorship financial in nature, but the professionals at Ford Motor Company have devoted countless hours over the years participating in the planning committees, providing insight, support, and additional resources to do whatever they can to uplift these events, and at the same time, The Children’s Center. Through the Ford Volunteer Corp, hundreds of Ford Motor Company employees have donated their time to further our mission.

Family Legacy Award

The Couzens Family

Born in 1872, James Couzens’ professional career included serving as the general manager of Ford Motor Company, the Police Commissioner of Detroit and the Mayor of the city, elected in 1919. In 1922, James became a State of Michigan Senator where his vision to serve at risk youth would soon be realized. Senator Couzens provided a substantial gift to The Children’s Fund which soon established The Children’s Center, one of the first child guidance clinics in the country. As The Children’s Center founder, Senator Couzens believed that “no greater obligation rested upon the adults of a civilized nation than the application of their love for their children.” James’s passion for children has continued on through five generations of the Couzens family. His great grandson, Frank Couzens III, served on The Children’s Center Board of Directors from 2007-2012. Frank is survived by his wife Robin and two daughters, Alison Couzens-Craig and Whitney Couzens, who all continue to be loyal supporters and carry on the Couzens family legacy.

Lifetime Achhievement Award

Hali Giessler

Hali Giessler has been a tireless supporter of The Children’s Center since 1968, but an advocate for children for over 60 years. As a former social worker and teacher at several colleges and universities, Hali believes that a child’s education is a critical component in shaping their future. Among his many accomplishments, Hali has served as the Metro Detroit Chapter President of National Association of Social Workers , was named Social Worker of the Year in 1983, received the Outstanding Alumni Award from Earlham College and is a founding Trustee of Grosse Pointe Academy. In 1968, Hali joined The Children’s Center Board of Directors and currently serves on the Programs Committee. Throughout his life, Hali has selflessly shared his time and expertise making a lasting impression on the minds and hearts of our youth. The Children’s Center thanks Hali for his longtime service and is proud to present him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

A Thank You to Our Presenting Sponsor

Lisa V. Ford Heart & Soul Volunteer Award Luncheon

June 12, 2014

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Cliff Bell’s

2030 Park Ave

Detroit, MI 48226

By Invitation Only