Carmen Szurpicki is the Senior Manager for Individual Philanthropy for the Children’s Center.
 
The Center, located in Midtown Detroit, is celebrating its 90th anniversary.  Its mission is to help children and families shape their own futures with a purpose to improve the lives of children and families which, in turn, will strengthen communities.  It offers annual support to 7,500 children, many who have behavioral or educational issues in addition to having suffered severe trauma.
 
It offers 20 programs/services which are broken down into four categories: (1) Healthy Start – addresses autism, parent-child interactions, and pregnant moms; (2) Healing the Hurt – offers clinical, medical, and crisis care; (3) A Safe Home – provides foster care and adoption services and a young adult (16-21) self-sufficiency program; (4) Bridging the Gap – offers a boutique with clothing and household items, homework help, a center for family literacy, and an activity room for all sorts of gatherings.
 
The Center’s $26.5 million budget is raised through Medicaid, State money, and private donations.  To learn more, please go to www.thechildrenscenter.com