A word from our director....

When you hear the word “philanthropy” what comes to mind?  Is it rich people giving away tons of money to causes that are important to them?  We probably all know people directly or indirectly who do just that.  In fact philanthropy means: the desire to promote the welfare of others, expressed especially by the generous donation of money to good causes.

When I read that definition, it sounds a lot like what Jesus asked of us. Love others and give generously.  Of course, he knew that if He could inspire us to give of ourselves to others we would be the beneficiaries.  It is in fact better to give than receive…..really!  When we recall how so many here in our community give to others out of their own poverty we are so humbled.  

When Marilyn and I could no longer suppress the innate desire to do something about wrongs or injustices that we long looked upon, we did what we knew was asked of us. We did what we could, with what we had to give. We were then prompted to give more and in different ways and we did. That meant, for us, moving into the Regent Park community of Detroit from the comfort of our Grosse Pointe home only a few years after we had launched Lifebuilders.  For you that might mean something very different; maybe volunteering a day with youth or making sandwiches for those in need. The ‘desire to promote welfare to others’ is expressed in any way you can give it.    We can all be philanthropists.  It is not just a term for the wealthy.

So, what is the calling that you are hearing? Each of us hears a call every day, and each of us can give what we can, with what we have.  Our  encouragement to you is to not miss the opportunity to give yourself away to something when you are continually burdened by some great wrong or injustice.  You can suppress this desire to lend a hand, to make a difference but you will only fully realize real joy when you see the light of hope come on in a person’s life or even a great wrong made right as a result of you saying “I’ll do it, let me help, let me go”. How can we at LifeBUILDERS help you live out that calling?  Whether big or small, philanthropy changes us and changes those around us, and we want to continue to see the change for good in Detroit!

-Larry Johnson, LifeBUILDERS Executive Director

LifeBUILDERS is proud to announce it is one of 48 nonprofit organizations across the U.S. to be awarded a $5,000 Nike Community Impact Fund (NCIF) Grant. The NCIF grant is designed to support organizations that build strong communities and give kids opportunities to enjoy physical education, sports and play.

The LifeBUILDERS NCIF grant will be used to provide funding for the expansion of a neighborhood Flag Football team which includes coaching, transportation, equipment, and facility upkeep.

A committee of Nike Community Store employees from each city chose grant recipients that give youth early, positive experiences in sport and physical activity and strengthen communities.

“We are grateful to be chosen by Nike for this grant,” said Larry Johnson, LifeBUILDERS Executive Director. “These funds will have a dramatic community impact right here in Detroit through our youth sports programs by funding our Flag Football team.”

Since 2010, the Nike Community Impact Fund has awarded more than 375 nonprofit organizations with more than $3.75 million in grants. With the most recent round of grants, the total impact for 2016 now stands at $800,000.

Seeking a Professional to Join LifeBUILDERS as Director of Home Ownership

LifeBUILDERS has been chosen as a finalist along with 15 other nonprofit organization in Detroit to partner with Detroit Revitalization Fellows, a program of Wayne State University. Applications will be accepted on the the DRF website through February 10, 2017.

LifeBUILDERS is an employer finalist for Detroit Revitalization Fellows 2017-2019 cohort. We are looking for a talented mid-career professional to act as a Director of Community Home Ownership focusing on turning renters into homeowners, and creating and managing programs designed to aid current and prospective homeowners in the financial management and literacy required to effectively qualify for and payoff a mortgage.  Could that be you? Apply to be a fellow at www.detroitfellows.wayne.edu.

Detroit Revitalization Fellows matches talented mid-career leaders with civic, community and economic development organizations working at the forefront of Detroit’s revitalization efforts.

The program strengthens the city’s talent pool while building the capacity of key organizations driving progress in the city. Fellows serve full time for two years in salaried positions while engaging in rigorous leadership development, which includes monthly workshops, study trips and “Detroit Dialogues” with community leaders around key issues.

“If you care about Detroit and you’re dedicated to seeing a Detroit that is providing opportunities for everyone who is here, in addition to the people that want to be here, this is really an unparalleled opportunity for having an impact,“ adds Aaron Goodman, a 2015-17 Fellow serving as community engagement manager at Community Development Advocates of Detroit.

For more information or to apply, visit detroitfellows.wayne.edu.