UAW President Rory L. Gamble helps launch “Day of Giving” offers opportunity to learn more about Detroit’s original and only Goodfellows Organization and support its mission – Friday, October 16

The WJR Cares event, sponsored by the DTE Energy Foundation, will feature Detroit Goodfellows with a roundtable discussion on “The Paul W. Smith Show” and other interviews throughout the day

DETROIT, October 15, 2020 – The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit will be featured for a special Day of Giving during the all-day, on-air WJR Cares event, sponsored by the DTE Energy Foundation, this Friday, Oct. 16. WJR News Talk 760 will host a roundtable and interviews throughout the day with people related to the Detroit Goodfellows organization, including former Goodfellow package recipients and long-term supporters.

“We are honored to be featured for WJR Cares and appreciate the support of WJR and DTE Energy Foundation for this opportunity to help us continue to deliver our mission of ‘No Kiddie without a Christmas’ to the children of Detroit and other communities we serve,” said Daran Carey, president, Detroit Goodfellows. “Through the featured interviews, we hope more people learn about our organization, the work we do, and ways they can help.”

The day will start with “The Paul W. Smith Show” interviewing president of Detroit Goodfellows, Daran Carey early in the show in the 6 a.m. hour, followed by a virtual roundtable discussion at 8 a.m. including previous Tribute Breakfast honorees: City of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan; Christopher Ilitch, president and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. and chairman of Ilitch Charities; and Gerry Anderson, former chairman and CEO of DTE Energy; along with Rory Gamble, UAW president. Paul W. Smith was last year’s honoree and recipient of the Edward H. McNamara Goodfellow of the Year Award and will retain the role
this year as the Breakfast will not take place. The roundtable will also air live on WJR’s Facebook @wjrradio.

Later in the morning during “The Frank Beckmann Show,” Detroit School of Arts freshman student King Bethel (the star of the video on Detroit Goodfellows’ web site) will be interviewed. In the afternoon, “The Guy Gordon Show” will talk to the President of the DTE Energy Foundation, Lynette Dowler. Culminating the day, former Detroit Mayor and past Tribute Breakfast honoree, Dennis Archer, will share his thoughts and experiences with the organization on “The Mitch Albom Show.”

WJR is a longtime supporter of Detroit Goodfellows and its annual Tribute Breakfast, typically held each fall in downtown Detroit as its major fundraising event with leaders of Detroit’s political and business community attending. WJR News Talks 760 broadcasts “The Paul W. Smith Show” live from the
event. Last year’s event was the 30th anniversary.

The Edward H. McNamara Award is a prestigious honor presented to distinguished and noteworthy individuals who have significantly contributed to the community.

The Detroit Goodfellows is looking forward to a return of its in-person Tribute Breakfast XXXI in 2021.

The Detroit Goodfellows’ 2020 fundraising goal of $1 million, will help provide 30,000 holiday gift packages containing sweatpants, sweatshirts, socks, underwear, winter hats and gloves, a dental kit, toys, books, games, school supplies and more for needy children in Detroit, Highland Park, Harper Woods, River Rouge, Hamtramck and Ecorse.

Additionally, girls ages four through nine receive a hand-dressed doll created by a community volunteer of the doll dresser program which was created in 1924.

Families that wish to sign up for the Detroit Goodfellows Christmas gift package program for this year can do so at www.detroitgoodfellows.org through Oct. 30.

Founded in 1914, the Detroit Goodfellows is the original and oldest Goodfellows organization and is not affiliated with any other Goodfellow group. It also sponsors a dental program for children through University of Detroit Mercy Dental School, awards scholarships through Wayne State University, provides
free shoes to children in need and helps send hundreds of needy children to camp each summer.

The Detroit Goodfellows holds a four–star rating from Charity Navigator. As America’s premiere charity evaluator, Charity Navigator provides donors with information to give them confidence in their charitable choices. The four–star rating is the highest rating given by Charity Navigator. To view the Detroit Goodfellows Charity Navigator listing, please visit www.charitynavigator.org and search under Old Newsboys Goodfellow Fund of Detroit.

Tax-deductible donations may be sent to: The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit, P.O. Box
44444, Detroit, MI 48244-0444. Donations may also be made using the organization’s secure website:
www.detroitgoodfellows.org.

For more information about the Detroit Goodfellows organization, please contact executive director Sari Klok-Schneider at (586) 775-6139 or sarigoodfellows@gmail.com, visit www.detroitgoodfellows.org or follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/DetroitGoodfellows, Twitter at @DetGoodfellows, Instagram at DetroitGoodfellows and LinkedIn at Old Newsboys Goodfellow Fund of Detroit.