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Doin' It For Detroit

Applications now open for social action micro-grants.

JACKIE HEADAPOHL I MANAGING EDITOR

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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Key to the Di4D Fund criteria, each
Last summer's Pitch for Detroit
initiative must actively and meaningfully
attendees listed their dreams for
engage the general community in service
Detroit.
through its efforts. Initiatives must be
initiated in the 12 months following
the distribution of funds. Deadline for
TQ71X - Movf
applications is 5 p.m. Jan. 18.
All applications will be reviewed by
a committee comprised of community
stakeholders, including Kanter; Ryan
COMMUNITY
Landau and Aaron Scheinfield, both
N EOX
NEXTGen Detroit board members; Amy
Brody, 2013 Pitch for Detroit chair;
Detroit last August for the effort. "They
Mike Wilson of Detroit's Woodbridge
raised the money, and now they can
Community Youth Center; and Ben Falik,
help to choose who benefits," he said.
manager of Detroit
According to Falik, "This is a great
service initiatives for
model and an exciting way for us to
Repair The World.
allocate modest — yet important —
"It is very
amounts of money in a process that
accessible to apply,"
engages and empowers a lot of people."
says Falik. "If you
Di4D will continue in the coming
know someone who
months by offering funding for initiatives
is doing something
around hunger, arts, health and nutrition,
worthwhile, you
Ben Falik
and the environment. Following the
should encourage
February event, Di4D will partner with
them to fill out an
Berkley-based kosher
application, which
food bank Yad Ezra
can be done in one sitting. It's not
to begin taking
onerous at all."
applications for social
Adds Kanter: "Whether you are a
action initiatives
longtime teacher in a Detroit school,
focused on hunger.
a neighborhood group working on
"The Do it For
an education project, or anywhere in
Detroit Fund will be
between, we welcome you to apply."
yet another launch
He said he envisions
Aaron
pad to engage young
applications
Scheinfield
Jewish professionals
for after-school
in our community by
reading programs,
giving them the opportunity and support
neighborhood early
in the form of micro-grants to promote
childhood education
More than $65,000 was raised for the Do It For Detroit Fund in August.
their initiatives. Young professionals
programs, Teach for
who do not have the guidance or
America students,
financial support to engage in positive
even mitzvah
to the attendees who then vote for
to present on Feb. 9. "We're looking for
change in Detroit need to know that the
projects from young
their favorite to get funding, the three
ideas in which funding is only a slice of the
Jewish community supports them and is
people, who can apply
applicants will present their initiatives
pie that will activate the assets already on
their biggest cheerleader," says committee
through their parents,"
at the event in person. The audience will
hand," he says. "It's ideal for block clubs
member Aaron Scheinfield.
he says. Applicants must be at least 18
then, democratically, select the winner of
and community groups whose efforts will
Adds Falik: "The goal of Di4D is not
years old.
the $3,000 award. Second place will get
target a specific neighborhood or school."
only to fund worthwhile projects, but also
The committee will choose three projects
$1,000; and third place will receive $500.
Kanter said there is no admission fee for
to attract new people who can act as
to present to the community, which will get
The Do It For Detroit website will provide
community members who wish to attend
stakeholders and volunteers in all of these
a chance to vote for the winner at Di4D's
a venue for the grantees to share their
the Feb. 9 event, although the fund is
initiatives. But for now, mark your calendar
inaugural event on Saturday, Feb. 9, at
progress and recruit volunteers for their
encouraging optional donations of school
for Feb. 9 and spread the word. It's going
the Woodbridge Community Youth Center,
initiatives.
supplies and books to benefit Woodbridge.
to be a smash!" ❑
1200 W. Canfield St. in Detroit.
According to Falik, initiatives that already
He is hoping for a big turnout of young
In similar style to Detroit SOUP,
For more information or to apply,
have assets, including roots, volunteers
people from the Detroit Jewish community,
where entrepreneurs present ideas
visit
doitfordetroit.com .
and partners, are most likely to get the nod
who raised nearly $65,000 at Pitch for

DOA',

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38 January 10 • 2013

Do It For Detroit

FUND