2
0
1
1
W
H
A
T
A
B
O
U
T
Y
O
U
W
A
L
K
Our 2011 Charities
Support Your Charity of Choice!
Therapaws of Michigan, Inc., a canine-assisted therapy program serving Ann Arbor and immediately surrounding communities, is dedicated to promoting and fostering the human-animal bond in therapeutic and educational settings. In the spirit of this mission, individual owner-dog teams visit residents and patients in health care facilities, and students in schools and libraries, providing social, emotional, and physical benefits. A strict screening protocol assures the selection of well-mannered dogs of sound temperament and good health.
SafeHouse Center provides services to all survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault regardless of ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, relationship status, veteran status, current or former substance use, current or former involvement with the criminal justice system, religious affiliation, immigration status, physical or mental ability, health status, height or weight.
Over the course of a year, SafeHouse Center serves almost 5,000 women, men and their children through our shelter, counseling and advocacy services.
The mission of SafeHouse Center is two-fold:
1. To provide safety, support, advocacy and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children.
2. To work relentlessly to change the systems and attitudes that allow this abuse to continue.
The Salvation Army’s Ken and Marianna Staples Family Center is more than just a place to stay for the families and individuals who reside there. It is a home with a caring and supportive atmosphere. During their stay, residents work toward establishing greater self sufficiency with the goal of being able to move into permanent housing and employment. With the aid of individual casework services, residents address the causes at the root of their homelessness while enacting permanent, positive change in their lives.
Stiggy's Dogs is a non-profit organization dedicated to the support of our Military Veterans suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury. We offer another way to heal through Psychiatric Therapy Dogs. Our dogs are rescued shelter dogs that are trained specifically for each Veteran. By uniting these Military Heroes and our dogs, we are “Rescuing One to Rescue Another.”
Grass Lake Sanctuary (GLS) is located in Manchester, Michigan, on 145 acres of pristine meadows, wooded trails and natural water areas.
Our mission is to provide retreat experiences focused on nature, relationship building, creativity from the heart, foods for health, de-stressing and rejuvenation.
Our vision is to be the national model for research-based programs and retreats with an emphasis on integrating Life Balancing Connections back into everyday life.
GLS serves a wide variety of groups within the local community, including:
• C. S. Mott Hospital Cancer Kids and their Families.
• Saint Joseph Mercy Hospital Patients
• Health-Challenged and disadvantaged populations.
• Children, adults, families, businesses and schools who desire unique retreat programs and experiences.
Women's Wellness Retreats at the sanctuary is designed to help breast cancer survivors who have completed their cancer treatment – whether that was 1 year or 10 years ago – open to new possibilities of wellness. FULL scholarships are provided through a grant from the Mid-Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen Foundation for the Cure®!
The Fragile X Association of Michigan unites the Fragile X community to:
- Enrich lives through educational and emotional support.
- Promote public and professional awareness.
- Advance research toward improved treatments and a cure for Fragile X and its associated disorders.
Fragile X Syndrome is a neurodevelopmental genetic disorder. Carriers may also be affected by Fragile X-associated disorders. Go to fxam.org and fragilex.org for more information! The University of Michigan has a newly opened Fragile X clinic to help those with Fragile X-associated disorders.
SafeHouse Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to ending domestic violence and sexual assault in Washtenaw County, Michigan. SafeHouse Center provides free and confidential services for any person victimized that lives or works in Washtenaw County. Our programs include counseling, court accompaniment, information and referrals, emergency shelter and personal advocacy.
Our long-term vision is to help provide every child and adult with autism, and their families with access to the most effective and appropriate services so that they can maximize their potential.
Our major goals and activities are to provide ready access to evidence-based therapies and services for children and adults with autism, to provide access to and delivery of specialized training for all who live or work with individuals with autism, to enhance educational, outreach, life skills and vocational systems to allow improved quality of life. The Alliance will enhance research opportunities and encourage collaborative efforts.
We intend to (1) revolutionize access to evidence-based therapies and services for children and adults with ASD, (2) revolutionize access to and delivery of specialized training for all who live or work with individuals with autism, (3) revolutionize educational, outreach, life skills and vocational systems, and (4) revolutionize research opportunities through collaboration and increased funding.
OUR MISSION
The mission of the Autism Alliance of Michigan is to lead unprecedented collaboration that will improve the quality of life for individuals with autism and their loved ones through education, comprehensive services, coordinated advocacy, and cutting-edge research.
VISION
OUR VISION IS BOLD:
Our goal is to create long-lasting changes that prevent problems from happening in the first place. Our vision for Washtenaw County in the next three years is bold and includes funding for five key areas:
- An early childhood care and education initiative that will improve the availability and quality of needed early care and childhood resources.
- A shelter and housing plan that will increase supply and improve access to decent, affordable housing and provide emergency, transitional, and permanent housing.
- A county-wide food provider network that will improve the systemic coordination and efficiency of the food collection and distribution efforts.
- An aging in place initiative that will ensure basic needs resources are available to support the independence and safety of older adults and their caregivers.
- An access to health care initiative that will increase the number of children and families who have access to and receive health care.
UNITED WAY does what no single organization alone can do. We bring together leaders from government, corporations, human service providers and the community to develop innovative solutions to local issues. We leverage funding for the network of programs that — together — can make a meaningful, measurable difference.
TOGETHER, we can accomplish more than a single person, group or organization. United, we can inspire hope and create opportunities so that everyone can become independent. We invite you to be part of the solution. WE INVITE YOU TO LIVE UNITED.
United Way makes a long-lasting impact by addressing the underlying causes of problems and helping people who are faced with challenges move from crisis, to stability — to independence.
Therapeutic Riding, Inc. (TRI) is a volunteer-based organization that provides personal growth through the horseback riding experience to children and adults with disabilities in the Washtenaw County area. Our mission is to develop physical, cognitive and emotional capabilities and to enhance self-esteem through therapeutic riding.
North Star Reach (NSR) is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization located on 105 acres in Pinckney, Michigan that will provide a life-changing camp experience and enrich the lives of children with serious medical challenges by offering empowering activities, specialized medical supervision and caring relationships while helping to restore the joys of childhood.
As an aspiring member of the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, it will serve children with serious illnesses within a 500-mile radius including the University of Michigan’s C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, William Beaumont Hospital and patients from other children’s hospitals in the Great Lake Region. It will be open year-round and include a state-of-the-art health center, dining hall, cabins to house campers and staff, arts and crafts facilities, a nature center with hiking trails, athletic court and recreation area, an accessible tree house with zip line, archery range, amphitheater and waterfront docks all designed to fit in a rustic camp environment.
A needs assessment revealed that less than 10% of children in the state of Michigan and surrounding Great Lakes areas with serious medical challenges have an opportunity to attend summer camp. North Star Reach will help more than 1,500 underserved kids each year. Campers will experience all of the fun, joy and independence that healthy children receive at camp and appreciate a rare sense of normalcy. They will leave with improved self-esteem, restored childhood and a sense of accomplishment at attempting challenges in an environment that provides physical, emotional and medical support and supervision. Children and their families will attend camp free of charge.
A camp for kids with serious medical challenges
HSHV’s mission is to support the loving, responsible care of all animals in our community by:
- Ensuring proper, nurturing care for the animals in our shelter
- Placing all adoptable animals in loving homes
- Reducing pet over-population
- Caring for the physical well-being of animals in our community
- Providing education and outreach to the community
- Stopping animal cruelty
In support of TRI-FECTA (TRI providing riders with Fun, Excitement, Challenge, and Therapeutic Adventure) you can choose your favorite horse or pony! The TRI-FECTA “race” helps TRI earn the funds to feed and care for their beloved horses and ponies. Help bring all of them across the finish line! Place your bets now for this year’s race.
