By: Lena

Lena @ 8:37 am

Nine talented Detroit students have been selected as winners in the first Good Schools Poetry Contest presented by The Skillman Foundation and Good Schools Resource Center at Marygrove College and sponsored by Michigan First Credit Union.

The competition is part of The Skillman Foundation’s seven-year, multi-million dollar education initiative, Good Schools: Making the Grade, which identifies nine indicators of student and school success and invites all Detroit schools to apply for funding and technical assistance to maintain or attain these standards.   The poetry contest was open to K-12 students attending any of the 145 public, charter, private or parochial schools in Detroit that have been named Good Schools during the first three years of the initiative. The topic was: “Why my School is a Good School.” More than 1,000 entries were submitted. 

First, second and third place winners were chosen in each of three grade levels — elementary (K-5), middle (6-8), and high school (9-12). The winning students and their prizes are:

1)      ELEMENTARY: ·        

1st Place ($300 Gift Card) – Bryce Stallworth, 4th Grade, Bates Academy

 2nd Place($200 Gift Card) – Erica Cannon, 5th Grade, YMCA Service Learning Academy 

  3rd Place ($100 Gift Card) – Brandon Hull, 1st Grade, Charles H. Wright Academy 

2)      MIDDLE: 

1st Place ($500 Gift Card) – Najah Johnson, 7th Grade, Gesu Catholic School 

2nd Place ($300 Gift Card) – J′La Williams, 8th Grade, Golightly Educational Center 

3rd Place ($150 Gift Card) – Shabaka DaaJa-Ra, 7th Grade, Gesu Catholic School

3)      HIGH SCHOOL: 

1st Place ($750 Gift Card) – Michael Varano, 12th Grade, Renaissance High School 

2nd Place ($500 Gift Card) – Phillip Hall, 12th Grade, Communication & Media Arts 

3rd Place ($300 Gift Card) – Margaret Clements, 12th Grade, Renaissance High School

The student poetry winners received their prizes at a Good Schools Celebration of Excellence event on May 27th at Chene Park in Detroit. Marygrove College English faculty judged the students’ poems on creativity, originality, content, title appropriateness, style and mechanics, use of language, and voice authenticity. “We were extremely pleased with the response we received in the poetry contest. It demonstrates the creativity of children in Detroit schools and gives them a voice in what makes a Good School,” said Tonya Allen, vice president of program for The Skillman Foundation.  Michigan First Credit Union presented gift cards and award certificates to the poetry contest winners and plaques to the winning students’ schools. “This is our second year sponsoring a Good Schools: Making the Grade contest, and we’re very proud to be a part of this important initiative,” said Michigan First President & CEO Michael D. Poulos. “Michigan First has always been committed to the education and development of Detroit youth.”

The Skillman Foundation’s Good Schools: Making the Grade initiative identifies, recognizes and rewards Good Schools in Detroit. During the first three years of the initiative, The Skillman Foundation awarded more than $5.5 million in Good Schools grants to nearly 150 Detroit schools. The winning schools are recognized in four categories — High Performing, Improving, Emerging and Aspiring — and evaluated on nine standards: Student Academic Performance; Student Attendance; Leadership and Educational Vitality; Data-Driven Decision Making; Challenging Curriculum and Instruction; Student Focus and Support; School Culture; Professional Community; and School, Family and Community Partnerships.   

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By: Steve

Steve @ 6:08 pm

Michigan First Supports MLK High School’s Olympic Performance

On March 5, Michigan First presented a $10,000 check to the Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School Band. The Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School Band, one of only five U.S. bands invited to perform, has been selected to represent the State of Michigan during the Pre-Olympics Music Festival in China on July 1-7, 2008.

But it will cost $240,000 and they need our help.

Michigan First Credit Union is making it easy for any one to make any size donation. We have set up an account at the credit union for those wishing to donate funds.

To make any size donation, either:
(1) Visit any Michigan First Branch, or
(2) Mail your donation to:

Michigan First Credit Union
ATTN: MLK Band
27000 Evergreen Rd.
Lathrup Village, MI 48076

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By: Lena

Lena @ 10:57 am

Michigan First Credit Union proudly announces it will be donating $9,300 to The Heat And Warmth Fund (THAW) as a result of its fundraising efforts during the “December Brights: Glowing Green” event. The check will be presented to THAW during the fifth annual Winter Survival Radiothon for THAW at the Boll Family YMCA in Detroit. The donation will be broadcast live at 12:15 a.m. on Saturday, February 9.
You can hear Michigan First radio spots broadcast daily throughout the week on WWJ 950 AM.  In addition, the spots will also be played 3 times per hour between midnight – 5 a.m. on the morning of Saturday, February 9.
Michigan First is an official sponsor of the WWJ Newsradio 950 Winter Survival Radiothon for THAW. In addition to the $9,300, Michigan First donated a PlayStation 3 prize pack valued at more than $500, which will be auctioned off during the 31-hour on-air extravaganza.

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By: Lena

Lena @ 3:00 pm

Michigan First is committed to supporting our community by providing help in the form of sponsorships or donations. Every year we contribute to the local schools and organizations and sponsor selective events.

Our contributions include the following organizations:

Alternative for Girls

American Cancer Society

American Red Cross of Southeastern Michigan

Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Detroit

Black United Fund

Boy Scouts of America – Detroit Area Council

Child Care Coordinating Council of Detroit/Wayne Count

Children’s Miracle Network

City Year Detroit

Detroit Branch – NAACP

Detroit Department of Elections

Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation

Detroit Institute of Arts

Detroit Science Center

Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Detroit Urban League

Detroit Youth Foundation

Detroit Zoological Institute

Eastpointe Area Chamber of Commerce

Eastpointe Players

Fitzgerald Community Council

Focus Hope

Food Bank of Oakland County

Friends of Southfield

Girl Scouts of Metro Detroit

Gleaners Community Food Bank

Golightly Career and Technical Center

Habitat for Humanity

Hospice of Michigan

Huron Pointe Yacht Club

James Tatum Foundation for the Arts

Lathrup Village Foundation

Lawrence Tech University Scholarship Fund

Marygrove College

Metro Detroit Youth Day XXLL

Michigan Credit Union League

Michigan Credit Union Foundation

Michigan Franchise Expo

Museum of African American History

North Detroit Athletic Association

ProLiteracy Detroit

Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic

Salvation Army

Skillman Foundation

Southfield Community Foundation Women’s Fund

Southfield Goodfellows

Southfield Parks and Gardens

South Oakland NAACP

Southfield Foundation

Southfield Youth Soccer League

THAW Fund - The Heat & Warmth Fund

United Negro College Fund

United Way Community Services

United Youth Sports Organization

University of Detroit – Mercy

Wayne County Community College

Wayne State University – Wayne First Campaign

Who’s Who in Black Detroit

World Medical Relief

WSU Detroit Orientation Institute

YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit

YWCA of Metropolitan Detroit

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