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Farmington Farmington Hills Foundation For Youth And Families

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Foundation Raises $76,250 to Help Farmington Area Youth and Families

The annual Heart and Soul Gala drew a near sell-out crowd to Sellers Buick Pontiac GMC in Farmington Hills.

Retiring Farmington-Farmington Hills Community Foundation director Barbara Yuhas couldn't have been more pleased with her final Heart and Soul Gala.  The non-profit's signature event raised $76,250 during the Saturday event at Sellers Buick Pontiac GMC in Farmington Hills, $17,500 more than last year's total. Yuhas, who received a standing ovation after she spoke, said she would miss being part of the foundation and the community. "This is a bittersweet evening for me," she said, adding her thanks to the foundation board.  Farmington resident Walter Gajewski accepted the Riley Award for Altruism, named in honor of Dolores and George Riley, whose contributions to the community include donations that helped complete Riley Park in downtown …

stacy Wallach

5:38 pm on Monday, February 13, 2012

What a wonderful event! We are only sorry we were out of town this year and had to miss this great evening! Kudos to my friend Bonnie Murphy who worked tirelessly to make sure the evening went off without a hitch!   more ›

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Bring Home a Puppy from 2012 Heart and Soul Gala

The Farmington/Farmington Hills Community Foundation's signature event will be held Feb. 11.

The coat check room won't be the only place you'll find a furry coat at this year's Farmington/Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families Heart and Soul Winter Gala, held Saturday, Feb. 11, at Sellers Buick GMC in Farmington Hills. This year's fund-raising auction features 11-week-old Chief, a black chihuahua-terrier mix named in honor of former Farmington Hills Police Chief Bill Dwyer, a Gala co-chair. In the words of one of the puppy's admirers, Chief is “very sweet, loves to cuddle, and is catching on to outdoor potty training very quickly.” Chief’s shots will be up-to-date, and he’ll be ready to go home with his new owner. But if a puppy isn’t in your plans right now, there are plenty of other auction items that will be sold to…

Jennifer

10:01 am on Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Seriously? Auctioning off a living creature to the highest bidder AND a hunting trip? Guess the circle of compassion for these folks only has room for humans.   more ›

Monday, November 28, 2011

Partners Seek Funding Solutions for Farmington Schools Backpack Program

More than 380 families are eligible to receive backpacks filled with food to help them through the weekend.

Last year, 118 Farmington Public Schools (FPS) children took home backpacks every other weekend that helped feed their families. While the Bountiful Backpack program hasn't gotten underway this year, 386 families qualify to receive one. And that has school officials and the Farmington-Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families looking for a way to cover the cost of distributing the bundles of non-perishable food items during the school year.  The food is purchased from Busch's Fresh Food Market by Bonnies James, principal at Visions Unlimited, a post-secondary special education program for young adults ages 18-26 with developmental and physical disabilities. James said students gather foods, pack orders and track inventory as part …

Foundation's Riley Award for Altruism Goes to Farmington Resident

Walter Gajewski is honored for contributions to downtown Farmington.

From the Harvest Moon celebration to the Farmington Farmers and Artisans Market, Farmington resident Walter Gajewski has been deeply involved with the city's central business district. At the 2012 Farmington-Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families Heart and Soul Winter Gala, held at Sellers Buick GMC on Feb. 11, he will be honored for his contributions, with the Riley Award for Altruism. The award debuted in 2010, when Dolores and George Riley were honored for their contributions to the community, including donations that helped complete Riley Park in downtown Farmington and Riley Skate Park in Farmington Hills, among many other projects. According to materials provided by the Foundation, the award "recognizes there are generous…

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Busch's Delivers Duck Race Grand Prize

With a new member arriving soon, the Halton-Balogh family will make good use of the groceries.

Amanda Balogh was out of town at Girl Scout camp July 17 when a yellow duck with her number on it finished first in this year's Farmington-Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families Duck Race. It was the first time the 13-year-old East Middle School student missed the event, held for the past seven years at Shiawassee Park in Farmington. When she heard about the win, she said, "I was really excited." On Wednesday, Balogh finally picked up her prize: a Busch's Fresh Food Market gift card that's loaded with $50 each week for a year. The total value of the prize is $2,600. Amanda's mother, Lynn Halton, said that with a daughter in college, a football-playing son and a foreign exchange student due to arrive this month, "This will …

Monday, July 18, 2011

Duck Race Raises $15K for Farmington-Farmington Hills Foundation

The Farmington Public Safety duck won the corporate race upside down.

Farmington Public Safety (FPS) Director Bob Schulz looked pretty happy about his department's painted duck winning the corporate title at Sunday afternoon's Rubber Duck Race at Shiawassee Park. The FPS duck was in the lead heading into the home stretch, even though it floated upside down for most of the way. It got caught up along the bank, allowing a few of the other ducks to move within striking distance, but at the last minute, it floated past the finish line. "It was a very strenuous day," Schulz joked, chalking up the win to "great teamwork." He said the duck is one of several the department has entered; Sgt. Jeff Brow takes responsibility for decorating them. Businesses and organizations that made donations to the event, which …

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Kids Have Fun with Mama Duck

The Annual Duck Race season kicks off with a party at Zap Zone.

More than 60 children enjoyed a few hours of fun at Zap Zone in Farmington Wednesday evening, to help kick off the Farmington-Farmington Hills Foundation for Youth and Families annual Rubber Duck Race. The event happens on July 17, at 3 p.m. in Shiawassee Park in Farmington. But Farmington public and private school students, in grades pre-kindergarten through six, had an opportunity to get in on a little early fun at what Foundation director Barabara Yuhas said is "kind of the kick-off for the Duck Race." Event coordinator Tom Hafey said about 125 students submitted coloring sheets for the chance to participate in Wednesday's event. Ten winners were chosen from each school, and during the evening a drawing was held for 10 goodie baskets …

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