36th
Annual
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day to
be held
July 11,
on Belle
Isle
40,000
kids and
1,800
volunteers
expected
to
participate,
pre-registration
required
DETROIT
- One of
the
highlights
of
summer
for
nearly
40,000
youngsters
from the
Metro
Detroit
area is
the
annual
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day
(MDYD).
This
year
(2018)
the
colorful
event
for
children
will
celebrate
its
historic
36th
anniversary
on July
11. It
is the
largest
youth
event in
Michigan,
and one
of the
largest
in the
nation.
Metro
Youth
Day
began
following
altercations
between
youth
and
Detroit
merchants
in the
summer
of 1980.
Two
youngsters
and one
owner
were
killed.
The
event
was
created
to show
youngsters
that
businesses,
the
community
and
civic
organizations
do care
about
our
youth.
“Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day is a
success
story
about
people
and
organizations
working
together
to
motivate
students
to do
better
in
school,
and to
encourage
harmonious
community
relations,”
said Ed
Deeb,
co-founder
and
coordinator
of the
event.
He is
also
founder
of the
Michigan
Food and
Beverage
Association
(MFBA),
one of
the
event’s
main
sponsors.
Today,
more
than 340
community
groups
participate
in Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day.
“The
fun-filled
day
gives
kids a
chance
to enjoy
time
away
from
home in
the
middle
of
summer
while
participating
in a
supervised,
constructive
setting
with
1,700
volunteers
helping,”
Deeb
continued.
“The day
emphasizes
education,
sportsmanship,
fair
play and
leadership.”
Youth
Day is a
catalyst
in
channeling
children’s
energy
in a
positive
and
constructive
setting.
Special
games
and
activities
are also
included
for the
growing
number
of
disabled
or
handicapped
youngsters
participating.
In
addition
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day will
feature
entertainment
from
musicians
and
singers
from
various
schools.
Also,
the 12th
annual
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day
Youth
Idol
Contest
will be
held
with
performances
from
students
at Youth
Day.
“Today,
we are
more
than fun
and
games,”
Deeb
Said
“Originally,
the goal
was to
offer
games
and
inspire
community
goodwill
and
harmony.
”
Following
receipt
of the
Presidential
Point of
Light
Award
(No.
477), in
1991
MDYD
became
more
serious
and was
expanded
to
include
youth
guidance,
mentors,
role
models,
anti-substance
abuse
activity,
motivational
speakers,
entertainment
and
awarding
more
than 100
college
scholarships
to
graduating
high
school
seniors
each
year. To
date
more
than
1,800
scholarships
have
been
awarded
to area
graduating
high
school
seniors
from the
tri-county
area.
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day also
honors
10TH &
11TH
graders
from
area
metro
Detroit
high
schools
for
academic
achievement
and
community
service
each
year.
Youth
between
the ages
of 8-15
years
will be
able to
participate
in
various
sports
clinics,
contests,
races,
entertainment,
and
visit
the
education
area
including
College
Row
chaired
by John
Ambrose
of
Michigan
State
University.
Some 14
colleges
and
universities
will be
on hand.
Also
there
will be
groups
who
display
their
activities
in the
Exhibit
and
Education
tents
who plan
to
participate.
In
addition,
there
will be
mini-workshops
on
anti-bullying,
fighting
crime
and
anti-obesity.
An
entrepreneurship
workshop
will
also
take
place to
help
teach
the kids
the
basics
of
starting
and
running
a
business
and
being
your own
boss.
Sports
stars,
government
officials,
media
celebrities
and
others
attend
the
event
and
provide
upbeat
messages
and
encouragement
to the
youth.
At noon
a free
lunch
will be
served
to youth
participants
and
volunteers,
provided
by
Michigan’s
food
industry
and
members
of
Michigan
Food and
Beverage
Association,
Deeb
said.
More
than 360
community
and
youth
organizations
participate
in Metro
Youth
Day,
including
more
than 240
businesses,
civic
organizations
and
government
agencies
as
sponsors.
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day
began in
1980
following
altercations
between
a dozen
youngsters
and food
store
owners
on
Livernois
Ave. in
Detroit.
The
youngsters
were
running
into
stores,
grabbing
bottles
of wine
or
liquor
and
running
out of
the
stores
with the
store
owners
chasing
them
during a
two-week
period.
Community
people
and the
Detroit
area
food
industry
were
upset
over the
incidents
and
called
for a
stop to
what was
going
on.
Mayor
Colman
A. Young
called
Deeb and
said the
community
was
quite
angry
over the
altercations.
He said
he would
try to
calm
parents,
but
wanted
Deeb to
calm the
angry
grocers.
The
late Tom
Fox and
Jerry
Blocker
called
Deeb and
wanted
to help
on the
event to
show
that
youth
were
basically
respected
and
appreciated.
Hence,
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day was
formed
36 years
ago.
“When we
help and
work
with our
kids, we
provide
meaning
to their
lives
and
service
to
humanity,
which I
feel is
the best
work of
life,”
Deeb
said.
“We want
to
inspire
our
youth to
do the
most
good, in
a
crime-free
environment.”
To
learn
how you
can
participate
in the
future
as
organizations,
volunteers,
sponsors,
or to
register
youth,
contact
Michigan
Youth
Appreciation
Foundation
at (586)
393-8801
or visit
our
website
at
www.metrodetroityouthday.org
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