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This year
Tell Us Detroit publisher Harold Meeks was honored to
receive from event founder Edward Deeb, 'The Distinguished
Service Award' for tireless support of metro area youth. (Photo by
Claudia Lugo/Tell Us Detroit) |
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Despite
threat
of rain,
thousands
enjoy 35th
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day on
Belle
Isle
By
Wendell
Bryant/Tell
Us
Detroit
DETROIT,
MI (Tell
Us Det)
- One of
the
highlights
of
summer
went off
flawlessly
despite
the
threat
of rain for more
than
35,000
youngsters
from the
metro
Detroit
area
during
the
annual
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day.
The
colorful
event
for
children
celebrated
its
historic
35th
anniversary
on July
12. It is
the
largest
youth
event of
the year in
Michigan.
“The
fun-filled
day gave
kids a
chance
to enjoy
time
away
from
home in
the
middle
of
summer
while
participating
in
supervised,
constructive
activities,
with
1,600
volunteers
helping
and
supervising,”
stated
event
founder
Ed Deeb.
“The day
emphasizes
sportsmanship,
education,
fair
play and
leadership.”
Metro
Youth
Day
began
following
altercations
between
youth
and
Detroit
merchants
in the
summer
of 1980.
The
event
was
created
to show
youngsters
that
businesses,
the
community
and
civic
organizations
do care
about
our
youth.
University
of
Detroit
Mercy
Titans
mascot
greets a
group of
enthusiastic
kids
during
the 35th
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day at
Belle
Isle
Park.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit)
Youth
Day is a
free, annual
event
that
attracts
Michiganders
from
ages 8
to 15.
On
Wednesday,
about
37,000
people
attended the
event,
according
to
organizers,
and took
part in
activities
such as
sports
clinics
with
professional
Detroit
athletes,
talent
shows,
character-building
workshops
and
informational
sessions
hosted
by 12
universities.
“Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day is a
success
story
about
people
and
organizations
working
together
for
harmonious
community
relations,”
said Ed
Deeb,
co-founder
and
coordinator
of the
event.
He is
founder
of the
Michigan
Food and
Beverage
Association
(MFBA),
one of
the
event’s
main
sponsors.
Today,
more
than 340
community
groups
participate
in Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day.
Youth
Day is a
catalyst
in
channeling
children’s
energy
in a
positive
and
constructive
setting.
Special
games
and
activities
are also
included
for the
growing
number
of
disabled
or
handicapped
youngsters
participating.
FBI
community
agents
outfit
Jr. FBI
agents
with
body
amour
to
demonstrate
how it
feels
when
chasing
down
criminals.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit)
Following
receipt
of the
Presidential
Point of
Light
Award
(No.
477), in
1991
MDYD
became
even
more
focused
and
expanded
to
include
youth
guidance,
mentors,
role
models,
anti-substance
abuse
activity,
and
awarding
60 or
more
college
scholarships
to
graduating
high
school
seniors
each
year. To
date
more
than
1,000
scholarships
have
been
awarded
to area
graduating
high
school
seniors.
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day also
honors
non-seniors
from
area
metro
Detroit
high
schools
for
academic
achievement
and
community
service
each
year.
Youth
between
the ages
of 8-15
years
were
able to
participate
in
various
sports
clinics,
contests,
races,
entertainment,
and
visit
the
education
area
including
College
Row
where 14
universities
were on
hand.
Sports
stars,
government
officials,
media
celebrities
and
others
attend
the
event
and
provide
upbeat
messages
and
encouragement
to the
youth.
At noon
a free
lunch
was
served
to youth
participants
and
volunteers,
provided
by
Michigan’s
food
industry
and
members
of
Michigan
Food and
Beverage
Association,
Deeb
said.
(Photo
by HB
Meeks/Tell
Us
Detroit)
More
than 340
community
and
youth
organizations
participate
in Metro
Youth
Day,
including
more
than 220
businesses,
civic
organizations
and
government
agencies
as
sponsors.
“When we
help and
work
with our
kids, we
provide
meaning
to their
lives
and
service
to
humanity,
which I
feel is
the best
work of
life,”
Deeb
said.
“We want
to
inspire
our
youth to
do the
most
good, in
a
crime-free
environment.”
To learn
how you
can
participate
in the
future
as
organizations,
volunteers,
sponsors,
or to
register
youth,
contact
MFBA
(586)
393-8801
or visit
our
website
at
www.metrodetroityouthday.com
.
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