Starfish Family Services Selected for the Community Foundation Challenge – Emergency Food & Shelter
By: Mark Winter
Donations will be matched up to $50,000
INKSTER, Mich., October 18, 2010 – Inkster-based Starfish Family Services (Starfish), a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating brighter futures for the children of at-risk families in metropolitan Detroit, has been selected to participate in the “Community Foundation Challenge – Emergency Food & Shelter” initiative. Starfish Chief Executive Officer Ann Kalass made the announcement.
The Community Foundation Challenge – Emergency Food & Shelter is a year-long initiative supported and designed by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation to help provide operating funds and awareness for emergency food and shelter organizations. As part of the program, the Community Foundation will match new donations to participating organizations at a ratio of one dollar for every two dollars raised.
Last year, Starfish provided more than 313,000 meals to children and families in western Wayne County, and 1,500 nights of safe shelter for teens in crisis. More than ninety-five percent of its programming involves at least one meal or snack per day for each client.
“Starfish takes great pride in providing much-needed food and shelter to at-risk children and families throughout metropolitan Detroit,” said Kalass. “This challenge grant gives us the opportunity to raise community awareness around these critical issues and the important role Starfish plays in supporting families.”
For more information or to make a donation, please call (734) 728-3400 or visit www.starfishonline.org and click on the Community Foundation Challenge icon.
About Starfish Family Services
Founded in 1963, Starfish Family Services is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty by creating family success. Based in Inkster, Mich., Starfish serves vulnerable children and families throughout metropolitan Detroit, providing early childhood and parenting programs, after school programs, children’s mental health services, and emergency shelter to teens and youth in crisis. Each year, Starfish helps more than 9,000 individuals, children and families.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Amanda Ming or Erin Sabo
248.258.2333
[email protected], [email protected]