Over $60K in scholarships to be awarded to 100 high school grads at Metro Detroit Youth Day

DETROIT, MI – One hundred college scholarships totaling $60,000 will be awarded to high school graduates at this year’s 33rd annual Metro Detroit Youth Day (MDYD) at Belle Isle’s athletic fields on Wednesday, July 15.

“Each year, our goal is to inspire our youth to pursue a higher education, graduate and become our future leaders right here in Michigan,” said Ed Deeb, founder and chairman of Metro Detroit Youth Day and founder of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association. “We’re proud to award recognize these deserving individuals for their community leadership and academic achievements and award scholarships that will help ease the financial burden of attending college.”

The scholarship award presentation by Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation will take place at 8 a.m. followed by the event’s official kick-off ceremony at 10 a.m. with area dignitaries, sports celebrities and government leaders.

The Prize Coalition was developed to provide resource opportunities to every deserving and willing young person who desires a higher educational experience. Each year during MDYD, more than $35,000 in college scholarships is awarded to deserving students who submitted an application and essay. More than 205 submissions were received this year. With help from Michigan’s colleges and universities, event sponsors, companies, organizations and the general public, more than 1,100 MDYD college scholarships have been awarded since 1991.

“Thanks to the amazing support of our community partners we are able to award nearly double the amount of scholarship money to deserving graduates at this year’s Metro Detroit Youth Day,” said Deeb.

Organizations awarding scholarships this year include Arab American and Chaldean Council, DAC Executives Club, Detroit Lions, Detroit Pistons, DTE Energy, Eastern Michigan University, Health Alliance Plan, Henry Ford Health System, MGM Grand Detroit, Michigan Food and Beverage Association, Michigan State University, Pepsi Beverage Company, Sam’s Club, University of Michigan, Wayne County Community College, Wayne State University, Western Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University and Wrightway Enterprises.

The Michigan Food and Beverage Association will award memorial scholarships in honor of community leaders, including Ortheia Barnes-Kennerly, a Detroit jazz singer and minister; Father William Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis, Focus: HOPE co-founders; Jack Bennett, grocer; Bob Talbert, Detroit Free Press columnist; Phil Lauri, Michigan Food and Beverage Association chairman; Jerry White, Boy Scout leader; Jerry Blocker, TV and radio newsman; Virgil Carr, United Way CEO; and Maryann Mahaffey, Detroit City Council president.

Scholarships will also be presented in memory of Ray Mourad, local restaurateur; Sarah Deeb, lifelong member of the AT&T pioneers and retail business entrepreneur; Sam Logan, Michigan Chronicle publisher; Al Thomas, Boy Scouts leader; Winston Lang, NAACP leader; Sal Ciaramitaro and Anne Ciaramitaro, owners of Ciaramitaro Brothers Produce in Eastern Market; Kay Siblani, Arab American News Reporter.

To donate funds for Metro Detroit Youth Day scholarships, mail a check, payable to “Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation,” to 27700 Hoover Road, Warren, MI, 48093.

In order to participate, students can obtain registration forms by calling 586- 393-8801 or by visiting the website at www.metrodetroityouthday.com.

About Metro Detroit Youth Day
Chaired and founded by Ed Deeb, Metro Detroit Youth Day began in 1981 by Deeb, the late Tom Fox and Jerry Blocker. Metro Detroit Youth Day has established itself as the largest youth-focused event in Michigan. After fatal altercations in 1980 between youth and area retailers in Detroit, Detroit Mayor Coleman A. Young directed Deeb and community leaders to provide resolution. Metro Detroit Youth Day has grown annually from 1,100 attendees the first year to more than 35,000 youth attending. More than 1,600 volunteers, from more than 500 businesses and civic groups, donate their time to supervise the sports clinics, games, contests, luncheon and various other event activities. Metro Detroit Youth Day expanded in 1991 to include youth guidance, mentors, role models, anti-substance abuse activity, motivational speakers, entertainment, awarding of 100 or more scholarships yearly, and honoring outstanding students for academic excellence and community service. Metro Detroit Youth Day has been awarded the Point of Light Award No. 477 from President George H.W. Bush and the Points of Light Foundation, the Michigan Governor’s Award on Physical Fitness as the top youth event along with numerous honors from local and national governmental agencies. More information about Metro Detroit Youth Day can be found at www.metrodetroityouthday.com or on Facebook.