MARCH 2020

FOUNDATION update
CCF receives grant through Consumers Energy Foundation
to expand its community center
The Chaldean Community
Foundation has received a grant
from Consumers Energy Foundation
to expand its community
center, supporting workforce development
programs, mental and
physical health services, and recreational
activities for families.
“The Consumers Energy
Foundation is committed to the
communities we serve and ensuring
that residents are thriving
economically,” said Carolyn
Bloodworth, secretary/treasurer
of the Consumers Energy Foundation.
“We are excited to help
the Chaldean Community
Foundation provide even more
important services for community
members in Southeast
Michigan.”
Wireless Vision and Chaldean
Community Foundation
partner for the Vision
Empowerment Academy
The Chaldean Community Foundation has partnered
with Wireless Vision and Stevenson High
School in Sterling Heights for the Vision Empowerment
Academy for a second year in a row. The
mission of the program is to be an academy that
inspires and prepares young high school students
that are part of the Schools EL (English Learners)
program to be successful through education, technology
and life skills. Twelve students from Stevenson
High School have been chosen to participate
in the 7-week program, which will focus on
finding student’s strengths, SAT/ACT prep, how
to apply for financial aid, grants and scholarships,
leadership skills, and the college application process.
Speakers will be brought in each week to tell
a story about the barriers they struggled with and
how they overcame them. Mentors will also be assigned
to each student and will assist them one-onone
with a strength finders’ assessment, writing an
essay, guiding through the program, and answering
questions. $10,000 worth of Scholarships for the
top three presentations will be provided.
Cocoa with CORE
CCF’s Outreach Team is always out in the
community. The Team enjoyed hot chocolate
and ice skating with the Sterling Heights Police
Department and Sterling Heights Mayor,
Michael Taylor for Cocoa with C.O.R.E.
(Community Outreach & Resident Engagement
Officers).
Left: CCF staff, Sterling Be Counted mascot and
Sterling Heights CORE Officers
2019 VEA Program students Stevenson HS
Breaking Barriers for individuals with developmental and/or intellectual disabilities
More than 200 individuals attended the CCF’s Breaking
Barriers Valentine’s Day Event on February 15.
Breaking Barriers provides assistance and advocacy
to individuals with developmental and/or intellectual
disabilities. CCF’s Breaking Barriers clients and their
loved ones enjoyed an afternoon of activities, food
and dancing. Representatives from the City of Sterling
Heights were also in attendance and provided information
to guests about the upcoming Census. The
event was sponsored by Carlo and Lina Tato and also
made possible thanks to the CCF’s Breaking Barriers
Team and wonderful volunteers.
As the program continues, the CCF has been
able to expand their offerings to include programs
like BEAM and HEAL, which offer services to
help blind and deaf clients live independent lives.
Through Breaking Barriers, the CCF has advocated
for clients with special needs at state agencies,
while offering recreational events, referrals
for service providers and respite for their caregivers.
There are so many great success stories from
this program! If you are interested in learning
more about how you can support the Foundation’s
Breaking Barriers Program, please call Mirna Aljony
at (586) 722-7253.
MARCH 2020 CHALDEAN NEWS 11