If you would like to help working families who’ve hit hard times, a gift today will be matched up to $25,000, thanks to a generous donor.

and help us meet this match challenge!

But the Jacksons aren’t just part of the SAY Detroit family as WHWF recipients — they are what SAY Detroit Play Center’s Athletic Director Dan Boylan calls “legends.” That’s because the eldest boys, Johnethian, 18, and Jeremiyah, 16, joined SAY Play when it first opened in 2015. Boylan recalls witnessing the brothers’ close bond firsthand, as Johnethian stepped in to defend his brother against some roughhousing on the football field. Before Boylan could explain SAY Play’s own rules against that kind of behavior, Johnethian was there to stop it. 

That reserved strength is typical of the eldest Jackson boy, who is an all-around athlete. Several members of the SAY Play staff were in attendance to watch him graduate this past spring from Osborn High School, where he played on the school’s championship-winning baseball team.  

Where Johnethian grew more quietly into his own, Cass Tech junior Jeremiyah arrived a bit more stridently from the first. Equally comfortable on a basketball court and on a stage, he banked a game-winning three-pointer at a summer AAU game and performs music under the duo “J2x.” He’s also frequently lent his voice to share his experience with SAY Detroit, including at the grand opening celebration of the Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center.

It’s a full experience for every kid that gets to go here… I didn’t have anything when I got to this neighborhood, it was just me and my mom and my brothers. I signed up for the Center. They gave me everything. That’s when my life started.

— JEREMIYAH JACKSON

Both Johnethian and Jeremiyah proved themselves natural leaders — in formal ways as summer camp counselors at SAY Play hired through the mayor’s Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GYDT) — and informally by modeling behavior for younger members, including their brother Jackeob, 11, who is new to SAY Play.

Like his oldest brother, Jackeob is quiet and finding his way, but respectful and quick to offer staff help when asked. He’s exploring different activities, and currently enjoying robotics.

There’s no adult who doesn’t smile when they’re asked about one of the Jackson boys, and that’s because of the kind of investment and mentorship our world-class staff at SAY Play makes in every child who enrolls.

SAY Play empowers youth by providing high quality pathways to success in a safe, nurturing and enriching environment.

and double your value as we change the game for Detroit youth! 

Hungry Howie’s®, the originator of Flavored Crust® Pizza, has announced a new breast cancer awareness initiative tied to the brand’s annual Love, Hope & Pizza campaign. This year, the national pizza franchise has partnered with SAY Detroit and Van Elslander Cancer Center in honor of National Mammography Day. On Friday, October 18, Van Elslander Cancer Center’s Mobile Mammogram Unit will be onsite at the SAY Detroit Play Center from noon to 4 p.m. to provide pre-screenings and full mammograms to locals. Attendees are invited to the facility’s Comfort Zone Wellness Room to enjoy complimentary express facials and massages provided by Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa while waiting.

Van Elslander Cancer Center will provide its Mobile Mammography Unit at the Kelly and Matthew Stafford and Friends Educational Center Annex at the Lipke SAY Detroit Play Center (19320 Van Dyke Ave.) to assist with on-site paperwork, pre-screenings, and technician-led mammograms to screen as many patients as possible during the four-hour period. Financial assistance related to insurance is available if needed. Screenings will be scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. All who attend will be registered to be screened. Patients not serviced within the event timeframe be will be assisted by the Van Elslander Cancer Center to make an appointment at another facility at a future date, with transportation assistance if needed. Attendees will also receive gift boxes with items from Hungry Howie’s, SAY Detroit, Van Elslander Cancer Center, Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation, while supplies last.

The SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic’s Outreach Coordinator, Alexis Harvey, will be on site throughout the event to meet with community members and share more information about the clinic’s services.

If you plan to join us, please let us know using the form below!

A new education center bearing the name of former Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford and his wife, Kelly, was dedicated on Monday, April 1 on the campus of the SAY Detroit Play Center.

Called the “Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center,’’ the facility expands SAY Play’s footprint by nearly 15,000 square feet, allowing the after-school center to add additional academic and enrichment programming to improve educational outcomes for hundreds of Detroit youth (ages 8-18).

“This whole day, this whole event, this whole place is about growth,’’ said SAY Detroit founder Mitch Albom, who created SAY Play in 2015. “Growth of an organization … Growth of a really talented number one draft pick … Growth of a hole in the ground that … has lifted from the dirt into this beautiful building that you’re here now sitting in. And most importantly, the growth of every child that comes through the door here… And if you believe in the future, then you have to believe in growth. And that’s what we’re here to do.’’

Along with Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, City Councilperson Scott Benson, State Representative Donavan McKinney, the Staffords – who provided the initial $1 million gift toward the expansion – were on hand for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Matthew spoke of realizing that after selling their house when they moved to Los Angeles, SAY Play is now the “home” the couple still have here in Detroit.

“As impressive as the house is, what makes it a home is the people in it.” he told the nearly 100 guests who were gathered. “What we can do for the kids around here is an amazing thing and something that I’m really proud to be a part of.”

The facility features six multi-purpose classrooms, a “black box’’ theatre, workplace development space, learning labs and more. It “not only expands the operating space for our center, it expands opportunities and experiences for this community and beyond,” said Eric Reed, SAY Play’s executive director.

The ceremony also carried an impromptu recurring theme: “it takes a village.” A tenth grader as Cass Technical High School who has attended SAY Play since the age of 7, Jeremiyah Jackson spoke of being “raised” by the staff, whom he considers family. “It’s a full experience for every kid that gets to go here. And I want you to know that, like you all are providing a lot for each and every kid that comes here… I signed up for the center. They gave me everything. And that’s where my life started.” High school senior Allison Woodard spoke of the opportunities SAY Play has given her, including her first job as a peer mentor and “unforgettable experiences like last May, [when] me and five other students went on a trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. And when I say that was my first plane trip and my first time out of the country, it was crazy!”

Kelly Stafford, too, celebrated “being raised by the community of Michigan. We were kids when we came here. You guys groomed us to be the people we are today and we are so honestly proud to give back to the community that gave us so much and to watch these kids turn into adults.”

Representatives from other legacy gifts on hand for the ceremony included the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation, Clarence and Jack Himmel Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Trinity Health, The Forbes Company, Artichoke Garlic Foundation, and the Tom Gores Family Foundation.

Teasing that the playoff loss could help smooth the way to a warm welcome, Kelly looked forward to returning again and again to see “what this place does and turns into in the future.”

Welcome with open arms, indeed.

Last month we welcomed students into the new Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center on the grounds of the SAY Detroit Play Center at Lipke Park. Students are enjoying a more productive learning environment in expanded classroom space, access to learning labs and a theatre.

On Monday, April 1, SAY Detroit will welcome our three $1 million leadership donors: the Staffords, and representatives from the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation and the Clarence and Jack Himmel Foundation to celebrate the new space and the new opportunities it creates for our students and the local community. 

A special thank you to the more than 1,000 general donors who contributed to expand SAY Play.

We can’t wait to highlight student programs in the next newsletter. Stay tuned!

EAT Detroit is Back!

SAY Detroit’s highly anticipated EAT Detroit is Tuesday, June 18, 2024! EAT Detroit showcases our city’s diverse culinary scene with a one-of-a-kind experience to benefit our most underserved citizens, all in one night. You don’t want to miss out on experiencing restaurants such as The Whitney, Le Suprême, and Hamilton’s.

Enjoy featured dishes and craft drinks from top restaurants while helping SAY Detroit provide pathways to success for Detroiters in need through learning, health care, and housing.

Wellness Wednesday Continues Insurance Education

For many, it’s peace of mind. It’s protection for your family.

Krystal Woods, Life Insurance Professional

The March Wellness Wednesday hosted two dozen women to discuss the benefits of life insurance. A repeat guest for the SAY Detroit Health Clinic’s monthly luncheon, Krystal Woods, a life insurance professional, shared how GoFundMe is not life insurance. She highlighted that it is a personal topic and that people buy it for various reasons, including covering burial and funeral expenses. Wellness Wednesdays’ next session is April 17 and will discuss healthy eating and exercise. Register here.

Little Caesars Love Kitchen Serves Slices at SAY Play

Little Caesars Love Kitchen made a special trip to SAY Play to serve up slices to the students and staff! Since its inception in 1985, the Love Kitchen has served nearly 4 million people as it travels across the U.S. providing relief to the food insecure, people without housing, disaster survivors, military and first responders.

President and CEO of Little Caesars Enterprises, Inc., David Scrivano, personally handed out slices after taking a tour of the new Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center. Students were lucky if David prepared their plate – he knew he was feeding growing kids and was happy to give three slices per kiddo!

Take a look at the highlights ››

Helping Community Grow

A Time to Help joined dozens of other volunteers on Saturday, March 23 at Optimist-Parkgrove Park on the city’s east side to help plant 72 trees in and around the residential park to beautify and, more importantly, create a more healthy environment for the people who live there.

ATTH’s next project is April 20 at Mother Batie’s (United Sisters of Charity) in Highland Park. Read more

In partnership with Life Leaders Inc., SAY Play hosted Scholarship Marathon at the SAY Detroit Play Center on Saturday, Feb. 3. More than 30 students – high school juniors, seniors, and college freshmen – spent the day learning about college scholarships.

The event consisted of panel discussions with representatives from Grand Valley State University (GVSU) and Wayne State University (WSU) schools of business, admissions, and career services. Students learned about the college application process, life on a college campus, and how to research for and apply to scholarships. Students applied for more than $275,000 in scholarships at the event. 

March is reading month!

In honor of March is Reading Month SAY Play is inviting members of the SAY Detroit community to volunteer 30 minutes of their time to read to SAY Play students during the reading literacy cohort sessions. Our goal is to promote a love for reading, enhance literacy skills, and foster community engagement. 

Calling all volunteers

A Time to Help (ATTH) volunteers are needed to lend a hand to The Greening of Detroit on Saturday, March 23 from 9-11 a.m. at Optimist-Parkgrove Playground in Detroit. Join ATTH and 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.

SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic hosts Wellness Wednesday

Held at the Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center in Highland Park on February 21, the meetup shared various local resources available to community members. It also welcomed Ashly Tutwiler from The Alzheimer’s Association,  a celebration of Black History Month, and a new raffle prize winner. 

Below is raffle winner, Ms. Ozella!

SAY Play celebrates completion of the Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center!

On Monday, April 1, SAY Detroit will welcome Kelly and Matthew Stafford, the A.A. Van Elslander Foundation and the Clarence and Jack Himmel Foundation to the grounds of SAY Play to celebrate the opening of the recently constructed 15,000-sqaure-foot annex, which features six classrooms, learning labs and a theater.

The new space, launched by three leadership donations of $1 million each, would not have been completed without the generosity of hundreds of other donors, like you, who contributed over the past three years to this impressive initiative. The annex allows SAY Detroit to expand its services and house a growing and diverse range of programming, including vocational and technical training for adults. Stay-tuned for more details!

Save the Date for EAT Detroit!

SAY Detroit’s highly successful EAT Detroit is Tuesday, June 18, 2024! EAT Detroit showcases our city’s diverse culinary scene with a one-of-a-kind experience benefitting our most underserved citizens, all in one night. Enjoy featured dishes and craft drinks from top restaurants while helping SAY Detroit provide pathways to success for Detroiters in need through learning, health care, and housing. 

It’s that time of year – tax season!

Tax season is a great time of year to make a non-cash donation to SAY Detroit! The gift of stock is a simple way to make a powerful gift and allows you to skip the capital gains tax. To learn more, please call us at 313-826-0111. 

We are extremely thankful to the more than 2,200 donors who made a gift to SAY Detroit in 2023. It is because of you, our donors, and volunteers, that SAY Detroit can do so much good in the Detroit area, focusing on learning, health care, and housing.

We have a lot to be thankful for this winter as we open the doors to the new Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center on the campus of the SAY Detroit Play Center at Lipke Park (SAY Play).

Michigan basketball team visits SAY Play

SAY Play and University of Michigan basketball team (Stadium and Main Foundation) partnered to offer a free basketball clinic to local youth and SAY Play students in December.

Take a look at the news clip ››

Let’s gooo!

SAY Detroit is proud of our Detroit Lions and the relationship we have shared with two great NFL quarterbacks.

Jared Goff generously donated signed footballs to the 2023 SAY Detroit Radiothon with Mitch Albom. Auction winner and SAY Detroit donor John Patrico gifted the signed football to his 7-year-old grandson. The gift was a huge success and a favorite item for this young Lions fan.

Matthew Stafford’s fan base took it upon themselves to donate to SAY Detroit in honor of the Stafford family after the Jan. 14 game and helped raise $4,700 in just one day.

The Staffords are close friends of SAY Detroit and have donated their time and dollars to SAY Play, most recently with a $1 million donation to the Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center, a nearly 15,000 sq. ft. expansion to SAY Play. Stafford Field is a fan favorite with SAY Play students who spend countless hours running drills and playing games outside on the turf. Kelly and the girls visited SAY Play before the Lions vs. Rams game on Sunday, Jan. 14.

First Wellness Wednesday of 2024

The SAY Detroit Health Clinic hosted its first Wellness Wednesday of 2024 on January 17 at the Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center in Highland Park. The topic was preventative care.

SAY Clinic’s Nurse Practitioner, Carla Butcher, encouraged participants to have their glucose levels and blood pressure taken at the luncheon and shared a checklist on preventative care. The next Wellness Wednesday is set for February 21 and will focus on community resources. Read more ››

Made Better for Better 

Brown Bag Popcorn is air popped without oil, which means less fat. Handcrafted from non-GMO corn, every kernel of profit supports people in need through SAY Detroit. If you missed National Popcorn Day on January 19, don’t worry — Brown Bag Popcorn is celebrating the ultimate treat until February 14 with an exclusive discount for donors like you. Use checkout code SAYPOPCORNDAY at brownbagpopcorn.com to save 20% off your entire order. 

They’ve got a flavor for every sentiment but be sure to order your Valentine’s gifts by February 5 for on-time delivery.

Save the Date: EAT Detroit 2024

Prep those taste buds. EAT Detroit is Tuesday, June 18. Stay-tuned for more details!

Join the waitlist ››

SAY Detroit is proud to share the appointment of Charles Rothstein, founding member of Beringea, as the new chairman of SAY Detroit’s Board of Directors, succeeding founding chair Rob Orley, who will remain a member of the board.

Mike Land, southeast Michigan regional president for Huntington National Bank,  joins the SAY Detroit board as a general member. Land fills David Provost’s seat, who stepped down to become chairman of the board of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan.

SAY Detroit is grateful for our board members and the service they provide. Please join us in welcoming Charlie and David into their new roles!

Volunteer as a Tutor at SAY Play

More than 150 students are registered for fall SAY Play programming and we are in need of extra volunteers to serve as tutors in the D.E.E.P. (Digital Educational Enrichment Program). Before students can move on to West African drum and dance, fashion fundamentals, screenwriting workshop, exploring photography and other fun activities, they must complete their homework and get organized for the next day of school! 

Mi-Cycle Partners with The Westside Cultural and Athletic Club for Bike Giveaway!

On Saturday, Sept. 16 Mi-Cycle collaborated with The Westside Cultural and Athletic Club and distributed more than 70 bikes to local youth.

The Westside Cultural and Athletic Club has been a long-time benefactor of the SAY Detroit Radiothon with Mitch Albom. Its leader, Erica Wright, founded the organization out of her home in the mid-1970s with a mission of guiding young people.

SAY Play Annex Construction Progress

We are excited. Are you excited? The SAY Detroit Play Center annex is in the final construction phase! The Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Educational Center looking forward to a grand opening in the new year. Check out the walking tour!  

Start Your Holiday Shopping with Brown Bag Popcorn!

Purchase delicious Brown Bag Popcorn for everyone on your holiday gift list and support the good works of SAY Detroit! Visit brownbagpopcorn.com and place your order today! 

Also, learn more about our Make the Pledge program!

Far from it.

Out on Stafford Field on Saturday morning, one of SAY Play’s youth football teams was on the field, while inside — and out — volunteers from A Time to Help were scrubbing, sorting, cleaning, mopping, weeding, and much more, helping to prepare the building for its after-school programming.

The morning featured a prolonged visit from SAY Detroit founder Mitch Albom, who welcomed the group and toured the new Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center, which is nearing the end of construction. Scheduled to open in late 2023 or early 2024, the center will allow SAY Play to welcome additional participants and expand its educational and enrichment services.

For Lisa Schmansky, who began volunteering with ATTH a few years ago, the project was fulfilling because of the people SAY Play benefits — Detroit’s underserved youth.

“If I could volunteer every week, I could,’’ she said. “I first got involved after reading Mitch (Albom)’s column, and then started learning more about it. Now that I’m retired, volunteering is something I like to do and (ATTH) exposes you to so many different things and projects.’’ ATTH’s next project is Oct. 14 at Motown Soup. Although the event is listed as full, please join our waiting list and register at atimetohelp.org.

SAY Play Expansion in Progress

The Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center on the grounds of the SAY Detroit Play Center is well underway. The backhoes and cement trucks are on the property. The water pipes and electrical lines have been dug and foundations are in. We are so close, we are picking out paint colors.

Thanks to $1 million dollar gifts each from Matthew and Kelly Stafford, the A.A. Van Eslander Foundation and the Clarence & Jack Himmel Foundation, our vision to expand the premier learning center became a reality. 

More than 1,113 of you made donations to provide additional classroom space, learning labs, and a theater. The new space will help SAY Detroit host a growing and diverse range of programming for Detroit children, teens and adults.

Did you say “SAY Play?”

Ernie Johnson, Jr., co-host of “Inside the NBA” was a featured guest during the SAY Detroit Radiothon with Mitch Albom in December 2022. He offered a custom video greeting from himself and his cohosts as an auction item – a SAY Play donor purchased the opportunity and donated it back to the SAY Play. We are thrilled to have Ernie Johnson, Jr., Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley help us share the good things happening at the SAY Detroit Play Center. Take a look:

EAT Detroit returns tonight!

We expect more than 1000 people to join us for EAT Detroit, an event designed to showcase our city’s diverse culinary scene while helping our most underserved citizens. Our guests will sample food and drinks from more than 20 restaurants throughout the city. Tune into our social channels for live updates and perhaps even a Mitch Albom sighting!

Diabetes prevention focal point of new programming

Yesterday, the SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic launched the Diabetes Prevention Program open to patients and community members who are “at risk” for developing type 2 diabetes. Race and ethnicity play a large role in one’s likely hood of developing type 2 diabetes, with Non-Hispanic Blacks at the top with a 12.1% risk.

The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is a partnership of public and private organizations helping patients prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. 

The yearlong program begins with 16 weekly sessions (in person at the Ernest T. Ford Recreation Center in Highland Park). The following sessions are held once monthly to support patients to be more active, eat healthy, lose weight, manage stress, and stay motivated.  

Read more ››

Summer’s here!

Celebrate the summer months with Mitch Albom’s Detroit Water Ice and Brown Bag Popcorn! Whether you need that special catered dessert table for your next party or a fun snack for your family, Detroit Water Ice and Brown Bag Popcorn have you covered. Plus, all proceeds go to support SAY Detroit programs and we LOVE that!

The 15,000-sq-ft annex will include classrooms, learning labs, and a theater, made possible by $1 million dollar gifts each from Matthew and Kelly Stafford, the A.A. Van Eslander Foundation, and Clarence & Jack Himmel Foundation. And of course, from more than 1,000 individual donors across Michigan who are invested in the success of the students who attend the premier learning center.