In some traditions, thirteen is associated with bad luck. But you wouldn’t know it if you work with or support SAY Detroit because yesterday’s annual Radiothon — our thirteenth — proved that number to auspicious; we broke previous fundraising records to ring in $2,227,573.44 by the end of the 15-hour event! That is all due in thanks to the generosity of donors and sponsors sitting as close as the audience in the North Grand Court of the Somerset Collection to the friends of SAY Detroit bidding and donating from Florida, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Washington, and Ontario!
The Radiothon is more than a fundraiser, it is a testament of what a community can accomplish when it delivers on a shared belief that we helping our neighbors in need helps lift us all. Chris Spielman, former Lions player and now front office staff perhaps said it best when he joined host Mitch Albom early in the day:
What you give will grow and what you keep you’ll lose. If you give it away, it will grow, spread and prosper. If you keep it all to yourself, eventually it dries and dies. And you wind up losing it. So why not give it to people who need it?
Chris spielman
The Detroit Lions certainly helped deliver some other wins for SAY Detroit this year, as coach Dan Campbell, Alex Anzalone, and none other than QB Jared Goff all took the time to join the Radiothon live and offered up signed memorabilia and must-have auction experiences to “hang” with them during training camp in the summer, raising nearly $15,000.
The event also welcomed Detroit friends near and far, including Hugh Jackman, Stephen King, J.K. Simmons, Jeff Daniels, Hoda Kotb, Anderson Cooper, Jane Pauley, Tim Allen, Dr. Phil, Dave Barry, Lily Tomlin, Hank Azaria, Lomas Brown, Tom Izzo, Bernie Smilovitz and Carmen Harlan, Desmond Howard, Dan Dickerson, Mike Tirico, Jim Leyland, Dylan Larkin, Tarik Skubal, Cade Cunningham — and many more! And once again we were treated to the musical styling of John Pizzarelli, who brought the house down with “There is No One Quite Like Hugh” and “There Ain’t No Way to Stop Dan Campbell’s Guys.”
It also welcomed the voices of those served by SAY Detroit, its staff who are hard at work in the city every day, and some of its collaborators in the community. The SAY Detroit Family Health Clinic offers so much more than primary care to the thousands of patients in Highland Park and wider Detroit area. Patient Carla Fluker tearfully opened up about how nurse practitioner Carla Butcher helped save her life after suffering a stroke, while patient and veteran Charles Muhammed shared that he felt it meant a lot to see people who looked like him and that he could trust.
Better Together program coordinator Darryl Woods introduced Pershing High School Principal Bryant Tipton, who shared that the programs “peace initiative” had fundamentally “changed the whole climate and culture of our school.” Student Corry, dressed to impress because he wanted to emulate the respect and professionalism his principal models every day, agreed that the experience and program opened his perspective. Don Tulski, President of the nationally-renowned College for Creative Studies brought freshman Jacey Williams, scholarship award recipient and digital artist, whose dream is to cultivate beauty in Detroit through muralism. (View his art here.)
On stage and up for sale is the Mi-Cycle One™, the Dutch commuter bicycle designed and assembled at the Mi-Cycle program workshop, which makes transportation possible for everyone by repairing used bicycles – and building new ones — and distributing them to children and adults in need of wheels for work or recreation. The program just gave away its 850th bike this year alone! The program also creates meaning employment opportunities for people in transitional situations; program director Chuck Nagy brought employee Anthony, who was been working with the program for two months. He has become a skilled mechanic and a model employee. Through COTS shelter’s resources, he is excelling in life skills and financial classes, and working hard to transition his family into more permanent housing. We’re proud to be a part of that process, and proud of Anthony’s great work!
The honored traditions of presenting the families who received a house during the Working Homes / Working Families program returned once again. You can learn more about the Johnettia Jackson and her “legendary” boys and Kai Green and her family, all also participants in SAY Play’s programming here.
This day of joy and giving, of grace and ceremony, of thoughtful planning and a little luck, would not be possible without the incredible work and generosity of our volunteers, sponsors, and our donors.
“SAY Detroit and say something amazing.” We couldn’t say — or do — anything good with your help. And we are grateful Follow along in as we put this good will and generosity to work!
