The Therapy Services Program at Shining Hope Farms, and thus the children participating in the program have benefited immensely from the Eagles of Children grant funding. This is evident through physical therapy patient Shivay who has found success and hope through the program.

Shivay is a spirited young child with a love for farms and cows. Shivay was adopted by his parents from India at 18 months old. At the time of his adoption, he was unable to walk. Due to his physical delays and low muscle tone, Shivay’s parents enrolled him in traditional clinic-based therapy. Unfortunately, Shivay's parents found traditional clinical therapy to be less effective for their son's needs due to its static and artificial nature. That’s when they thought the natural environment at Shining Hope Farms might provide a better approach.

When he first started therapy at Shining Hope Farms, he was behind in meeting milestones typical for a four-year-old and struggled to do things independently in a safe manner. However, the farm's enriching outdoor environment and incorporation of equine movement, a therapy tool called hippotherapy, resonated more deeply with Shivay's developmental challenges.

Shivay has been able to work on his low muscle tone, and overall weakness, particularly in his core, all through a more natural and engaging form of therapy.

“As a parent, we like that this farm incorporates daily living into therapy. We have just seen huge progression.” says Shivay’s mom Courtney.

To learn more about Shining Hope Farms and how they provide therapeutic services in an enriching natural environment, visit their website at shininghopefarms.org.

Thank you to River Run Country Club for supporting Shining Hope Farms!

At Eagles for Children, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow, dream, and thrive – no matter their background or circumstances. That's why we’re so proud to support Bloomfield Youth Assistance (BYA), a vital community-based program dedicated to strengthening Bloomfield youth and reducing the incidence of delinquency, neglect, and abuse through active community involvement.

Throughout the 2023–2024 school year, BYA made a lasting impact by awarding 33 enrichment scholarships to students from low-income households and families experiencing significant financial hardship. Many of these students come from English Language Development (ELD/ESL) refugee families, where the challenges of adjusting to a new country, language, and culture often leave little room for enrichment opportunities.

Thanks to the incredible generosity and support from Forest Lake Country Club, Oakland Hills Country Club, and Pine Lake Country Club, these scholarships opened doors that would have otherwise remained closed. The students had the chance to participate in enriching experiences like educational field trips, tutoring, sports classes, drivers ed, college prep, art and music camps, cooking classes, and summer camps – opportunities that not only expanded their learning but also sparked new passions and lifelong skills.

One student shared this heartfelt message:

“Thank you for your support! Your generosity has made it possible for me to explore something that interests me very much – architecture and civil engineering.

Having this opportunity to learn a skill useful for my future, and be able to express some creativity, has been a valuable experience for me! It has also given me an opportunity to continue my education and prepare for future classes.

Thank you again for your generosity and support!”

Stories like this are exactly why we do what we do. Your continued support for Eagles for Children allows us to fund programs like Bloomfield Youth Assistance, creating meaningful, lasting change in the lives of children who simply need someone to believe in them.

Learn more about Bloomfield Youth Assistance.

Susie Q's Kids: Comforting Kids in Need, One Comfort Bag at a Time

At the heart of every comfort bag delivered by Susie Q’s Kids is a legacy of love, resilience, and compassion – a legacy that began with Susan McBride, affectionately known as Susie. After a lifetime spent navigating medical challenges, Susie touched countless lives with her warm heart, playful spirit, and unwavering desire to help others. Though she passed away in 2017 at the age of 31 due to an infection, her light continues to shine through every soft panda bear, cozy blanket, and activity kit that brings comfort to a child in need.

Susie knew firsthand what it meant to be scared, lonely, or overwhelmed in a hospital bed. She also knew the healing power of a teddy bear to hold, a journal to write in, or a simple pair of fuzzy socks that felt like home. Her mother, Dr. Mary Welsh, co-founded Susie Q’s Kids to carry on that spirit of giving, and today, that mission is thriving.

Thanks to generous grants from Meadowbrook Country Club, Oakland Hills Country Club, and Prestwick Village Golf Club, Susie Q’s Kids was able to deliver over 300 comfort bags to children across local hospitals, shelters, hospices, and more with grants from EFC. Among them, 50 bags were specially tailored with sensory items for children with autism, thoughtfully designed to soothe and support during moments of anxiety and overwhelm.

“We were honored to meet and partner with Dr. Mary Welsh, co-founder of Susie Q’s Kids. This amazing organization is considered an extension of her daughter Susie’s life here on earth, providing comfort bags to kids in the community who have experienced some type of trauma.”

These comfort bags are more than just bundles of items—they’re bundles of love, created with purpose, packed with care, and delivered with Susie’s spirit guiding the way.

Learn more about Susie Q's Kids.

Samaritas – Keeping Kids Safe at Home

In 2024, Oakland Hills Country Club and Red Run Golf Club gave grants to Samaritas that were used for The SafeCare Initiative – Keep Kids Safe at Home. Samaritas focuses their work in four core areas of impact: housing for all, providing child and family services to Michigan families including foster care, family preservation and adoption, welcoming New Americans with the support they need, and helping people connect with mental health and addiction resources.

Through the SafeCare Initiative, Samaritas provided essential home safety items and education for 465 children and parents to reduce harmful accidents and improve their health. This generous gift from Oakland Hills Country Club and Red Run Golf Club kept 120 families together and prevented 200 children from entering foster care within three months of the Samaritas SafeCare program.

Learn more about Samaritas.

A Blanket, A Lifeline: Skyler’s Story

On December 11, life changed in an instant for 10-year-old Skyler. One moment, he was riding his scooter, full of energy and joy. The next, he was being rushed to the hospital after being struck by a car with five broken bones and a family shaken to their core.

In the chaos of emergency care, Skyler’s clothes were cut away, leaving him incredibly overwhelmed. As machines beeped and medical teams worked swiftly around him, his world had suddenly become cold, sterile, and terrifying.

That’s when a nurse placed a Fleece & Thank You blanket over him.

To an outsider, it may have looked like a simple piece of fleece. But to Skyler and his family, it was everything.

It was warmth when he felt chilled.
Security when everything felt unknown.
A small but powerful reminder that someone, somewhere, cared.

Skyler's mother said:

“The blanket you gave us was such a gift at a time of need. It brought Skyler comfort, and it was such a relief to have something different from the hospital blankets.”

Thanks to the generous support of Red Run Golf Club and The Wyndgate Country Club, in 2024 Fleece & Thank You was able to deliver over 13,000 of these blankets to hospitalized children just like Skyler.

Because in moments of fear, the smallest comforts can make the biggest difference.

Learn more about Fleece & Thank You.

Building a Foundation Through Music, Mentorship, and Meaningful Connection

In 2024, thanks to a generous grant from Traverse City Golf & Country Club, The Rock of Kingsley was able to expand its thriving youth program – an afterschool sanctuary where children from all walks of life are supported in growing physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and creatively.

Open every scheduled school day, The Rock’s afterschool program offers much more than just a safe space. It’s a hub of transformation where students receive homework help, take part in enriching activities, go on exciting field trips, and most notably, find their voice through music.

Enrollment soared from 101 to 141 students last year, and interest continues to grow. One of the most beloved spaces in the building is the music room, which hums with the energy of budding musicians and curious explorers. Here, students of all backgrounds and abilities find inspiration, joy, and confidence.

One particularly moving story involves a teenage boy diagnosed with autism, who discovered his love for the piano through the program. In a world that can often feel overwhelming, music became his outlet. Day by day, note by note, he began to open up, and what followed was remarkable. Rather than standing apart, his fellow students rallied around him. They listen. They cheer him on. They offer high-fives and encouragement. His music has become a bridge connecting him to a growing circle of friendship, understanding, and belonging.

Thanks to the support of partners like Traverse City Golf & Country Club, The Rock continues to be a place where every child is seen, celebrated, and given the tools to thrive.

Learn more about The Rock of Kingsley.

Warming Hands, Warming Hearts

Every winter, thousands of children across Detroit walk to school without the simple protection of warm mittens or gloves – something so small, yet so essential. Mittens for Detroit, a nonprofit founded in 2010, exists to change that reality. Their mission is simple but powerful: to collect, purchase, and distribute new mittens and gloves to children, teens, and adults in need across Detroit and other underserved communities.

Thanks to the generous support of Oakland Hills Country Club, Orchard Lake Country Club, and Walnut Creek Country Club, Mittens for Detroit was able to use Eagles for Children grants to provide over 10,000 pairs of warm, durable mittens and gloves last year, reaching children ages 4 to 18 who needed them most.

The impact of these mittens stretches far beyond warmth. For many children, like the first grader at a recent distribution event who beamed:

“Look! I picked out MY mittens! I don’t have to share anymore with my sister! I LOVE these mittens! And they’re new!”

Mittens matter. They help kids show up to school ready to learn, to grow, and yes – even to build snowmen during recess with their own warm hands.

Learn more about Mittens for Detroit.

At Divine Mercy Academy (DMA), every child is seen, known, and nurtured. As a K–8 Catholic school dedicated to serving students with learning differences, their goal is to help each child reach their highest potential by providing them with tools to successfully enter the high school of their choice. The programs at DMA are funded by tuition; but since its goal is not to turn away any student in need, it relies on the generosity of private donors, grants, sponsorships and fundraisers.

Thanks to the generous support of Meadowbrook Country Club, Red Run Golf Club, and Western Golf & Country Club, nearly 100 students benefitted in 2024.

In particular, funding from Western Golf & Country Club made it possible for 30 DMA students in grades 1 through 5 to attend the beloved Planting the Seeds of Leadership Camp, a summer day camp designed to build confidence, foster friendships, and help children thrive both in and outside the classroom. At camp, students practiced public speaking, reading comprehension, and goal setting, while also learning valuable social skills like kindness, collaboration, and communication. They played, created, and encouraged each other, all while quietly planting seeds of self-esteem and leadership that will blossom for years to come.

Learn more about Divine Mercy Academy.

At Variety the Children’s Charity of Detroit, the mission is simple but powerful: help every child, no matter the need. Whether through medical support, therapeutic programs, or opportunities for play, learning, and growth, Variety is there, stepping in to make life brighter for children with unique and special needs.

Thanks to the generous support of Oakland Hills Country Club, Orchard Lake Country Club, and Western Golf & Country Club, Variety made a life-changing impact for thousands of children across Southeast Michigan in 2024.

Through a grant from Oakland Hills Country Club, the Variety K.I.D.S. (Kids in Distressed Situations) Programdistributed essential items like new clothing, coats, bedding, and more to over 20,000 children in need. With the help of dedicated volunteers and partner agencies, nearly $1 million in vital products were safely and swiftly delivered into the hands of families, offering comfort, dignity, and relief during times of crisis.

With support from Orchard Lake Country Club, Variety's Bike & Mobility Program continued its life-affirming work providing adaptive bicycles to children living with disabilities. These bikes, custom-built and rarely covered by insurance, offer freedom, joy, and therapeutic benefit. In addition, Variety hosted its beloved Bike Night at Jimmy John’s Field, where 180 standard bikes were gifted to children, turning an ordinary June evening into an unforgettable moment of happiness.

Finally, with help from Western Golf & Country Club, Variety’s Prosthetic Limb Program gave children with limb differences the chance to thrive. Through a partnership with Corewell Health Beaumont Children’s Hospital, children received custom-fitted prosthetic hands and ongoing therapy, helping them build strength, confidence, and independence. As demand for this program continues to grow, and the cost of advanced technology rises, this critical funding made it possible to reach more children than ever before.

Because of Eagles for Children’s club partners, thousands of local children were reminded that they are seen, supported, and most of all – not alone. Together, we are building a stronger, more inclusive community where every child has the chance to succeed.

Learn more about Variety the Children's Charity.

For many high school students, the path to college can feel uncertain, but for first-generation students facing financial and academic barriers, it can feel nearly impossible. That’s where Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars (DRDFS) steps in.

Thanks to the support of Great Oaks Country Club, Oakland Hills Country Club, and Pine Lake Country Club, DRDFS has continued to transform lives through its Next Level Scholars Program, a multi-year initiative designed to inspire and prepare students for life after high school. By equipping students with the tools, confidence, and support they need, the program empowers a new generation of leaders to achieve their goals and uplift their communities.

In 2024, Eagles for Children funding helped support two of the program’s most impactful events: the Empowerment Workshop and Project Runway.

At the Empowerment Workshop, members of the Class of 2024 began the day with professional headshots and ended it with a new sense of confidence. The workshop focused on leadership, networking, and stepping outside of one’s comfort zone. Though many students arrived feeling nervous and unsure, by the end of the afternoon, the room was filled with conversations, connections, and a renewed belief in their potential. The experience stuck with them, and students consistently say this workshop is a highlight of their time in the program and that the skills they gain stay with them well into college and beyond.

160 new sophomores from 16 partner high schools were welcomed into the program at Project Runway, an all-day workshop held at Eastern Michigan University. This high-energy, hope-filled event gave students their first glimpse into the possibilities of post-secondary education. From campus tours and financial literacy lessons to alumni panels and leadership training, the day sparked a sense of belonging and belief.

As one student shared:

“After today’s workshop, I feel empowered to be a leader and be more confident with myself.”

For these students, many of whom are trailblazing a new path for their families, the support of Eagles for Children and its partner clubs isn’t just an investment in education. It’s an investment in dreams realized, futures changed, and communities strengthened.

Learn more about Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars.