Detroit Goodfellows seek nominations for Junior Goodfellow Of The Year

HOME I I HI TECH NEWS I SPORTS I CONTACT

000

Detroit Goodfellows seek nominations for Junior Goodfellow Of The Year

As part of the 29th annual Tribute Breakfast, the honor will recognize a young community member who helps those in need. Submission deadline is Sept. 7

DETROIT - The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit is seeking nominations for the second annual Ernest Lofton Junior Goodfellow of the Year Award to recognize a young community member who makes a positive difference. The award was created to honor the longtime Detroit Goodfellow and United Auto Workers labor leader who worked tirelessly to advance the Goodfellow organization’s effort to make a difference in the lives of the children of Detroit.

Nominees should be age 13-18, have performed community service or other volunteer activities helping people in need, and reside in Detroit, Highland Park, Harper Woods, River Rouge or Hamtramck (the communities the Detroit Goodfellows serve).

Nominations for the Junior Goodfellow of the Year Award can be submitted by email to Sari Klok Schneider at sarigoodfellows@gmail.com naming the candidate and why he or she should be recognized with this honor. All submissions must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 7.

The Junior Goodfellow will be recognized at Detroit Goodfellows 29th annual Tribute Breakfast on September 25 at 8 a.m. at Cobo Center. This year’s breakfast will honor City of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan with the prestigious Edward H. McNamara Goodfellow of the Year Award, which is presented to distinguished and noteworthy individuals who have significantly contributed to the community.

In 2017, the inaugural Ernest Lofton Junior Goodfellow of the Year Award recipient was Jeremiah Steen, who was a junior at University of Detroit Jesuit High School. Steen was recognized for his volunteer work as a youth soccer coach with Soar Eagle Sports Club and for Detroit Area Agency on Aging Holiday Meals on Wheels program.

The Junior Goodfellow of the Year award pays homage to Ernest “Ernie” Lofton who passed away in 2016. He was a truly special person and an exemplary Goodfellow who was a recipient of Goodfellow holiday packages as a child and later became a Goodfellow of the Year honoree. He was involved in the organization for many years on many levels, and especially with the Tribute Breakfast. The Junior Goodfellow of the Year Award will honor his legacy as part of all future breakfasts.

Tickets for the 29th annual Tribute Breakfast are $150 or $1,500 for a table of 10. There are also special $10,000 and $5,000 Santa Circle tables available. Additional corporate sponsorships are also offered. For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Detroit Goodfellows director Sari Klok-Schneider at (586) 775-6139 or sarigoodfellows@gmail.com. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.detroitgoodfellows.org.

Revenue raised at the benefit event will go toward the Detroit Goodfellows’ 2018 fundraising goal of $1.25 million, which will help provide 33,000 holiday gift packages containing clothing, books, candy and toys for needy children in Detroit, Highland Park, Harper Woods, River Rouge and Hamtramck.

Founded in 1914, the Detroit Goodfellows is the original and oldest Goodfellows organization and is not affiliated with any other Goodfellow group. It also sponsors a dental program for children through University of Detroit Mercy Dental School, awards scholarships through Wayne State University, provides free shoes to children in need and helps send hundreds of needy children to camp each summer.

The Detroit Goodfellows holds a four–star rating from Charity Navigator. As America’s premiere charity evaluator, Charity Navigator provides donors with information to give them confidence in their charitable choices. The four–star rating is the highest rating given by Charity Navigator. To view the Detroit Goodfellows Charity Navigator listing, please visit www.charitynavigator.org and search under Old Newsboys Goodfellow Fund of Detroit.

Tax-deductible donations may be sent to: The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit, P.O. Box 44444, Detroit, MI 48244-0444. Donations may also be made using the organization’s secure website: www.detroitgoodfellows.org and by texting DetKids to 56512.

For more information contact Detroit Goodfellows Executive Director Sari Klok-Schneider at (586) 775-6139 or sarigoodfellows@gmail.com, visit www.detroitgoodfellows.org, or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/DetroitGoodfellows, Twitter at @DetGoodfellows, and on Instagram at DetroitGoodfellows.