We’re Cooking up Something Special!

Enjoy tasting dishes and craft drinks at top restaurants in a one-night, city-wide culinary event and help SAY Detroit provide pathways to success for Detroiters in need. Pick a starting restaurant for general admission or upgrade for a VIP experience to begin and end your night at Michigan Central Station with an exclusive reception and dessert party. And while you are at it, help us celebrate our 20th year!

Detroit Partners Invest Big in Wellness at SAY Play

Wellness at the SAY Detroit Play Center is built into the foundation of our programming. We believe that teaching students the tools to take care of themselves, both physically and mentally, is at the core of becoming a positive member of our community.

Last week, The Detroit Pistons Foundation, Children’s Foundation of Michigan and the Robinson Family Foundation (RFF) joined students and staff at SAY Play to formally announce a $55,000 investment in SAY Play’s Wellness Program. They see the benefit too!

Follow the story:

CBS Detroit:

• Pistons’ Duncan Robinson donates to SAY Detroit Play Center LiveWELL Program
• Pistons guard Duncan Robinson talks giving back to kids in Detroit community

MLive: Pistons, ex-Michigan guard announce $50,000 grant to youth mental health initiative

WDIV

• Pistons’ Duncan Robinson shares personal story while supporting Detroit youth mental health
• Pistons SG Duncan Robinson talks teaming up with SAY Detroit to expand youth wellness program

WJR: Pistons’ Star Duncan Robinson Teams Up with WJR’s Mitch Albom for $50,000 SAY Detroit Donation

A Time to Help Partners with Greening of Detroit to Improve Air Pollution

A Time to Help was back at it on Saturday, March 21, partnering with The Greening of Detroit to plant trees at Piwok Park. Piwok is located in a highly industrialized area of Detroit, resulting in high air pollution for the park and the surrounding neighborhood. The planting of trees will provide cleaner air, improved stormwater management, temperature control, and beautiful green spaces, making a lasting difference for Detroit residents for years to come!

VOLUNTEER

New Kitchen Provides More than Food

Providing nutritious food and teaching lifelong healthy habits has been a priority at the SAY Detroit Play Center from the start. Thanks to a donation from the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation, that commitment has expanded by 1,200 square feet with the addition of a new state-of-the-art kitchen.

Earlier this month we celebrated the new facility, our funders, and our original “chef,” Mrs. Falls, for whom the new kitchen is dedicated.

What Are You Reading during National Reading Month?

This month, SAY Play students are reading novels and short stories that reflect their own lives to support comprehension and a lifelong love of learning.

Later this spring, we are launching an AI reading coach, partnered with a real-life teacher, to expand our reading intervention program to all students. You can support SAY Play reading intervention by making a gift today!

Mitch’s Picks

Ever wondered what the world’s bestselling authors read for inspiration? SAY Detroit founder Mitch Albom was recently asked by Katie Couric Media to share some of his favorite books – are any of his on your #TBR pile?

Diabetes Prevention Program Launches at SAY Clinic

This month, the Trinity Health Michigan Diabetes Program launched at the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic. The prevention program is an evidence-based, nationally recognized program for those at risk of type 2 diabetes.

The yearlong program begins with 16 weekly sessions, followed by monthly maintenance sessions to provide ongoing support. Read more ››

Also this month, our Wellness Wednesdays women’s support group discussed maintaining a healthy weight. Read more ››

Providing nutritious food and teaching lifelong healthy habits has been a priority at the SAY Detroit Play Center from the start. Thanks to a donation from the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation, that commitment has expanded by 1,200 square feet with the addition of a new state-of-the-art kitchen.

The upgraded space includes commercial-grade cooking equipment, a walk-in refrigerator and freezer, a ConvoTherm dual oven, a dedicated dish room (no more paper plates!), and more — allowing us to better serve the 170 students and staff members we feed each day during the school year.

Beyond daily meals, SAY Play is developing a culinary curriculum that will offer hands-on cooking education and healthy eating classes, helping students build skills that last a lifetime.

Wellness Wednesday Discusses Diabetes

Healthy lifestyle goals set at the end of last year were put into action at the first Wellness Wednesdays support group meetup of 2026. The session focused on diabetes management and prevention. Did you know that 1 in 10 people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with the disease, but 1 in 5 don’t even know they have it? 

To further support our patients and community the SAY Clinic is launching a new diabetes prevention program in March. Details here.

A Time to Help Gives to our Community

Nearly a dozen A Time to Help volunteers rolled up their sleeves and served Detroit’s homeless at the Pope Francis Center this past Saturday, Feb. 21. ATTH volunteers served breakfast and lunch, cleaned showers, did laundry, and assisted in distributing hygiene and clothing items. By the end of the day, our volunteers had assisted more than 225 guests!

And don’t forget, we are always looking for volunteers to help out at SAY Play!   

Dental Care Now Provided at the SAY Clinic!

This summer the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic moved to a new, more modern facility that gave us the opportunity to expand our services and outreach in the community.

The SAY Clinic now offers dental care to our uninsured patients two Saturdays a month in collaboration with University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry.

Two of our three dental operatories are currently in use, with plans to open a third for pediatric exams in the future.

SAY Play Celebrates Black History Month

To celebrate Black History Month, SAY Play staff organized field trips and artistic projects that recognized Black leaders who worked and continue to work for equality.

Art Expression

The walls of SAY Play proudly display vibrant student-made posters, honoring those who paved the way, like Martin Luther King, Jr.

Henry Ford Museum Field Trip

SAY Play students visited the Henry Ford American Innovation Museum and engaged in the “Made in America” exhibit – a display of Black Heritage in America, including the Rosa Parks Bus.

Tuskegee Airmen Museum Learning Series

Students visited the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum at Coleman A. Young Airport every Friday for six weeks. They learned about the rich history of the Tuskegee Airmen and participated in a series of lessons based on Computer-Aided Design (CAD).

Super All Year.

What started with a sentence in a column 20 years ago today, has grown into two decades of action serving more than 4,000 each year with learning, health care, and housing programs for Detroiters in need.

Our mission is personal, powerful, and SUPER…ALL THESE YEARS.

As we reminisce about our beginnings, we also look FORWARD to our ongoing impact. There is still work to be done. And with your partnership, we know we are ready.

Stay tuned for more stories of success as we mark this milestone anniversary and join us as we SAY Detroit and say something amazing!

Radiothon Sets Record

Thank you, thank you, thank you! From the bottom of our hearts, we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our community during our annual SAY Detroit Radiothon, hosted by Mitch Albom on December 11, 2025.

Together, we raised $2,494,040.02 to support Detroiters in need through the SAY Detroit Play Center, SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic, Mi-Cycle, and many of our other vital programs. Your support is changing lives—thank you for making this impact possible.

SAY Play Makerspace Provides Tools for STEAM

During the month of December, SAY Play students participating in the Makerspace curriculum took field trips to the Tuskegee Airmen National Museum at the Coleman A. Young Airport to learn 3D Printing and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) design; the digital tools engineers and creators use to design everything from airplanes to sneakers.

Through hands-on lessons, students sketched ideas, modeled shapes, troubleshot designs, and learned how to bring their creativity to life in 3D. Each session required critical thinking and experimentation. Read more ››

Women’s Support Group Focuses on Lifestyle

SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic’s monthly women’s support group is focusing on a healthy lifestyle during its February Wellness Wednesdays gathering. Certified Health Coach Janine Green will lead the session. Community members must register and are provided with transportation and lunch.

It Takes a Village

We have said it before, and we will say it again and again – it takes a village to support Detroiters in need. On Saturday, Jan. 17, volunteers from our very own A Time to Help and our friends at the Dre Project, met at SAY Play to stock the Community Resource Hub full of essential pantry items for members of our community needing help.

Stay tuned for information on February’s volunteer activity.

Many of us will share a table with close family and friends this week, reflecting on the things we are grateful for: family, friendships, health, food, clothing, and so much more.

In this spirit, SAY Detroit would like to thank EVERYONE who supports our mission to provide pathways to success for Detroiters in need.

We are thankful for the kindness and support of you, our donors and volunteers. For the partnerships with fellow Detroit community organizations. And for the determination and resilience of the people we support.

Happy Thanksgiving!

A Decade in the Making

This month, the SAY Detroit Play Center celebrated a decade of partnership with the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation. On Wednesday, Nov.18, the Masons presented SAY Detroit with a check of $500,000 – the last installment of a $5 million pledge made 10 years ago.

Read more ››

SAY Clinic Hosts “BabyQ”

Earlier this month, the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic was full of playful energy only new mothers and their little ones radiate. The Clinic’s First Year program hosted a barbecue luncheon (BabyQ) for nearly two dozen moms and expectant mothers in the First Year program. Read more ››

The annual SAY Detroit Radiothon is all-day fun for better days in Detroit and will highlight how the idea and true impact made by SAY Detroit is in its letters:

Super All Year.

We will share moving stories of the people SAY Detroit helps, enjoy entertainment from famous folks close to home and across the globe, and celebrate uplifting testimonials from community partners.

Don’t Forget to Order Popcorn Before Dec. 1

On sale for a limited time to our SAY Detroit donors and friends! Now through December 1, enter code SAYHOLIDAY and receive 10% off your entire purchase* at Brown Bag Popcorn’s new website. All profits support SAY Detroit’s mission to provide pathways to success for Detroiters in need.

Save the Date for the SAY Detroit Radiothon! 

The SAY Detroit Radiothon hosted by Mitch Albom will be hitting the airwaves and streaming video live on Thursday, December 11, from 6 a.m. – 9 p.m. on WJR (760 AM) and at mitchalbomradiothon.com. A signature event for the city’s giving community FOURTEEN years running, the radiothon features those served by SAY Detroit and our partners. You make those stories possible because of your generous support.

Stay tuned for sneak peeks of our celebrity guest lineup, incentive and live auction items, and success stories from the community we support!

Saving Lives with Free Mammograms!

The SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic, in partnership with Hungry Howie’s and Henry Ford Health, brought in a mobile mammogram unit and offered free mammograms to more than a dozen SAY Clinic patients and local community members on Friday, Oct. 10. 

Mammograms save lives by detecting about 80% of breast cancer cases — but only if you have the time, insurance, or funding to access them. Read more ››

How to Include Fruits and Vegetables in Your Diet

The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan’s “Cooking Matters at the Store” spoke with the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic’s women’s support group during our once-monthly Wellness Wednesdays luncheon on October 15. The discussion emphasized healthy eating as you age. Read more ››

Helping Our Neighbors

For the second consecutive year, Mi-Cycle supplied our LEAPS neighbors at the Marygrove Learning Community campus in Detroit with bicycles. LEAPS students live and learn in Detroit with community partners while also taking classes at the University of Michigan Marsal Family School of Education in Ann Arbor.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer with us as we join The Greening of Detroit for a fun-filled day of planting trees and helping to expand Detroit’s canopy cover. All ages are welcome and training and tools will be provided on-site.

REGISTER

Mitch Albom’s Brown Bag Popcorn On Sale!

On sale for a limited time to our SAY Detroit donors and friends! Now through December 1, enter code SAYHOLIDAY and receive 10% off your entire purchase* at Brown Bag Popcorn’s website. All profits support SAY Detroit’s mission to provide pathways to success for Detroiters in need.

*Offer details: Offer valid for small and large popcorn tins on brownbagpopcorn.com between 10/29/2025 @ 12:01 am EST and 12/01/2025 @ 11:59 pm EST. Coupon code SAYHOLIDAY must be entered in coupon field at in cart screen or checkout screen. Not valid on previous purchases.

Make a Gift to SAY Detroit

Thanks for taking an interest in our programming. Help us keep it going! Make a gift to SAY Detroit this fall and you will help us continue our mission to provide pathways to success for Detroiters in need.

Community Leaders Celebrate with SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic

On Wednesday, September 24, the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic celebrated its mission to treat uninsured and underinsured patients in the Detroit and Highland Park communities.

SAY Detroit leadership and community stakeholders toured SAY Clinic’s new and more modern facility at 1355 Oakman Blvd. and learned about expanded patient offerings, such as pediatric care and a plan for dental care.

The SAY Clinic opened its doors to the new facility earlier this summer and has been continuously treating its existing patients while welcoming new ones.  

Lessons to Prevent Kidney Disease at Wellness Wednesdays

The National Kidney Foundation joined the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic’s Wellness Wednesdays women’s support group to share the importance of taking care of our kidneys.

Guest speaker Cynthia Nichols-Jackson said, “Kidneys are the main regulators of our bodies; they are needed to help keep the body balanced.’’

The National Kidney Foundation will return in October for a session dedicated to healthy eating.

Want to Double Your Donation?

Join The Builders today by committing to a monthly recurring gift, and an anonymous SAY Detroit donor will double your gift (up to a total of $10,000.00).

Monthly giving is the most powerful way to give—it provides steady, reliable support that allows us to keep life-changing programs running at the SAY Detroit Play Center, the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic, and beyond.

A Special Thank You to Our Volunteers!

A Time to Help organizes volunteer activities that support SAY Detroit’s programs and our partner organizations.

After the traditional “summer break,” A Time to Help has come back in full force this fall, volunteering at SAY Play, SAY Clinic, and Motown Soup. Stay tuned for more opportunities!

> Meet a Volunteer

Kim Hines, a recently retired school psychologist with 30 years of experience, joined A Time to Help for her first volunteer event at the back-to-school cleanup. After touring SAY Play this summer, she knew it was the perfect place to continue her passion for “inspiring kids to greatness.” Kim is also eager to begin mentoring students in our after-school tutoring program this year.”

SAY Play Rolls Out Red Carpet for Students

Learning, Healthcare and Housing

The SAY Detroit Summer Impact Report, reflecting on the success of 2024 is hot off the press! Read about the SAY Play high school Class of 2025 and the new SAY Clinic facility. Learn more about the programs and community impact YOU make possible.

Build the Pathways

This summer, SAY Detroit is launching a new way to give: The Builders, a special donor community for those who choose to give regularly. Generous recurring giving provides a steady stream of revenue throughout the year for SAY Detroit and the programs we run at the SAY Detroit Play Center, the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic, and our many other initiatives.

When you join The Builders by making a recurring gift, you receive healthy living tips from the SAY Clinic, special recognition during Radiothon, and the satisfaction of building something meaningful in our community.

A Time to Help Posts New Opportunities

Join A Time to Help and volunteer this fall! We have events scheduled for September and October. Join us to spruce up SAY Play in September and package food mixes at Motown Soup in October!

REGISTER

Volunteer for the Detroit Free Press Marathon

October 17-19: The Detroit Free Press Marathon arrives on the streets in Detroit! They are in need of volunteers, and while A Time to Help does not have any official plans to organize as group, you can sign up directly to support this fun activity in our city!

SIGN UP

Summer Camp Highlights

The SAY Play Summer Camp concluded on August 8 with Summer Fest, a community celebration that highlighted the academic and leadership achievements of our students. 

The SAY Clinic shared information about resources available to the community.  And Wayne State University medical faculty and student medical organizations offered blood pressure and diabetes screenings.

Wellness Wednesdays Celebrates Milestones

The monthly women’s support group, Wellness Wednesdays had multiple milestones to celebrate during its August gathering. It was the FIRST Wellness Wednesdays hosted in the new SAY Clinic facility at 1355 Oakman Blvd., it was a longtime attendee, Clara’s 99th birthday, and the subject was dedicated to cancer patients surviving and thriving.

Happy birthday, Clara, and thank you to featured speakers Tiffany Chenault, LMSW and Rachel Wasserman of Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit for leading the inspiring conversation!

LEARN MORE

Do you remember the freedom and joy of summer? The SAY Detroit Play Center’s six-week summer camp is celebrating all that IS summer with our largest group of Detroit youth to date. More than 200 kids, ages 8 to 18, join us at SAY Play every weekday to learn and play in a safe environment.

Students participate in academic enrichment classes, creative arts, athletics, leadership development, and unforgettable field trips.

SAY Detroit Awarded $1.67 Million Grant

The SAY Detroit Play Center was awarded a $1.67 million dollar grant from The Ballmer Foundation in partnership with the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. The grant will support all SAY Detroit Play Center academic and recreational activities. 

We are so thankful and appreciative to continue SAY Detroit’s relationship with The Ballmer Group in support of the overall success of our students. Thank you!

A Time to Help Opportunities Coming Soon

Founded in 1997, SAY Detroit’s A Time to Help volunteer program has completed more than 200 projects for SAY Detroit and partner organizations, ranging from repairing houses, delivering meals, beautifying city streets and parks, and packing food.

Please join us in welcoming Clare Kelley, our new Volunteer Coordinator, and stay tuned for a calendar of A Time to Help opportunities.

Annual Impact Highlights Success!

SAY Detroit’s annual Impact Report will be landing in your inbox soon!

Everything SAY Detroit accomplishes is because of you. Your time, your talent, and your treasure make it possible for SAY Detroit to successfully fulfill its mission.

— RICHARD KELLEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EAT Detroit Fun

On a beautiful Monday evening earlier this month, more than 1,200 passionate supporters came together for our annual EAT Detroit fundraiser, featuring some of Detroit’s most delicious restaurants. Together, we raised $200,000, which funds vital programming at the SAY Detroit Play Center, the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic, Mi-Cycle, and so much more.

EAT Detroit included a VIP reception and afterglow at the restored Michigan Central Station and restaurants with a remarkable cumulative 20 James Beard Award nominations, with thirteen of those restaurants named as one of the Detroit Free Press’ “Top 10” over the past few years.

SAY Play Wraps Up Productive Year

The SAY Detroit Play Center wrapped up a successful year earlier this month! Thank you to all the students who joined us after school and made SAY Play their second home. And a special shout-out to our “Students of the Week” who demonstrated leadership qualities throughout the year, including integrity, self-awareness, empathy, effective communication, adaptability, and resilience. More than 25 students were recognized throughout the 2024-2025 academic year.

Changing Lives with Bicycles

SAY Detroit Founder Mitch Albom is ‘Going Forward’

In preparation for our annual summer fundraiser, EAT Detroit, Scott Atkinson of HOUR Detroit sat down with SAY Detroit Founder, Mitch Albom.

Wellness Wednesdays Moves to New Home

The June Wellness Wednesdays luncheon welcomed 20 women who participated in a discussion, led by Verlycia Dixon, a community health worker at Henry Ford Health System, about personal health advocacy.

After a one-month hiatus in July, Wellness Wednesdays will return on Aug. 20 to its new home at SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic, which recently relocated to a larger, more updated space at 1355 Oakman Blvd., Detroit, 48238, just over a mile from the Ford rec center.

Annual Summer Fundraiser SOLD OUT

We’re so grateful to everyone who helped make EAT Detroit a sold-out fundraiser! Your support is helping SAY Detroit provide pathways to success for Detroiters in need. With a focus on solving learning, health care, and housing challenges, SAY Detroit empowers 4,000+ individuals and families each year, driving equitable and thriving communities.

SAY Play Celebrates High School Graduates

The SAY Detroit Play Center’s High School Class of 2025 is a special one – several of them have been with us since SAY Play first opened its doors.

Earlier this month some of our seniors came back to SAY Play for the annual Senior v. Staff basketball game. Even with three seniors attending Division II 4-year universities on athletic scholarships, SAY Play Staff squeaked through for a “W”.

Before the game seniors were invited to share parting words to the younger SAY Play students. Congratulations Class of 2025 — the feelings are mutual!

New Space Expands Patient Offerings

The SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic has moved! Our new home is 1355 Oakman Blvd., Detroit, 48328.

The new, larger space, with a bus stop immediately out front, allows us to continue expanding services to our patients. The facility features seven exam rooms, 3 dental operatories, a community resource room and more.

Within the year we plan to add Family Medicine to our medical offerings and in 2026 we plan to offer dental services. Stay-tuned for more details!

Looking for A Time to Help?

SAY Detroit is currently building our summer A Time to Help volunteer schedule. Visit https://saydetroit.org/volunteer/ to stay updated.

Let’s SAY Thank You to our EAT Detroit Sponsors!

CO-PRESENTED BY

MEDIA PARTNERS

Platinum Palate & Gold Gourmet Sponsors

Bronze Bite-Sized Sponsors

Copper Culinary Friends