Give Merit Annual Report - December 2024

GIVE MERIT
ANNUAL REPORT
DECEMBER 2024

FATE Field Day 2023 @ Legacy Center, Brighton, MI.

In September 2023, we told our
team that this was the year to
“Do It Afraid!” And so they did!
• We pushed forward another year in our
quest toward Merit Park, bringing our total
capital raise to almost $11 million.
• We kept mission first and stood firm in
our organizational values, ensuring they
were showing up from board to program.
• We recreated the safe space of our FATE
space in a temporary location due to a
major flood that forced us out of our
permanent home.
• We coached our young people through both
small and large struggles, as they navigate
high school, college, the real world, and
so much more.
• We designed and launched a custom CRM
to streamline efficiencies in our case
management.
• We introduced academic programming
to support FATE high school and alumni
students for the first time ever.
• We hired for three first time roles: VP,
Merit Park, Academic Success Specialist,
and Alumni Relations Coordinators.
• We expanded our scholarship offerings to
ensure alum who were meeting program
standards were supported financially in
their postsecondary aspirations.
• We raised the money necessary to support
all of the above endeavors.
I’m so profoundly proud of the work we
get to do. In thirteen years we’ve kept the
young people we work with at the center of
everything.
I’m forever grateful for everyone who makes
this possible. And proud too that over time
we’ve built strong relationships with everyone
who touches this work: students, families,
program partners, donors, vendors, grant
partners, nonprofit peers.
Thank you for your support. I hope you enjoy
the updates on the pages following. I hope,
too, that you are inspired to support our
mission this year. If you ever want to meet
up and chat more about our work, please do
not hesitate to reach out.
KUHU SAHA
Merit Co-Founder
& Executive Director
ksaha@meritgoodness.com
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Give Merit
CONTENTS
FATE High School Program ........................................... 3
Grade 9 Capstone & Winners ............................ 4
Grade 10 Capstone & Winners .......................... 6
Grade 11 Capstone & FIOS Event ................... 8
Grade 12 Capstone & DCFC Internship .. 10
FATE Alumni Program ...................................................... 12
Summits ................................................................................. 14
Scholarships ..................................................................... 15
High School & Alumni Data ........................................ 16
Merit Park .................................................................................... 18
Team and Board ................................................................... 22
Donors ............................................................................................ 24
Ways to Support Give Merit ..................................... 27
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Annual Report 2024
JRLA 2024 Graduation @ Huntington Place, Detroit, MI
GIVE MERIT
FATE HIGH SCHOOL
This year, in addition to graduating another amazing cohort from our high school
program, our capstone projects were in full effect.
Read ahead to learn more about the incredible work of FATE students.
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Give Merit
GRADE 9:
Each year our 9 th and 10 th
grade FATE cohorts participate in an
end-of-year capstone project where
they put their skills in business,
entrepreneurship, marketing, and
design-thinking to practice! Six 9 th
grade teams were tasked with creating a
Marketing and Advertising Campaign for
Merit (our cause-based fashion brand).
This campaign included a 60-second
commercial, a print advertisement, and
a pitch presentation.
With professional support from a variety
of industry leaders including Quikly,
Woodward Original, KM Creative, Tierra
Kelly, and Creative Circle, our students
moved through the creative concepting
process, production, pitch preparation,
and their final presentation at the
Student Showcase in June. At the
Showcase, our students presented to
a packed room and a panel of expert
judges in the PR and marketing field.
Those experts were tasked with
MARKETING & ADVERTISEMENT
CAMPAIGN FOR MERIT
declaring a final winner based on their
presentations and advertisements -
securing them a $200 cash prize and for
their campaign to be promoted by Merit!
We are so incredibly proud of all six
teams and the hard work they put into
their campaigns. Our team is constantly
inspired by our student’s dedication,
creativity, leadership, and teamwork! This
year, God’s Greatest Destiny (GGD) took
home the big win with their “Motivate
Your Meaning” campaign.
The winning team reflected on their
experience working on the project and
noted:
“We learned that working with a team
can bring out the best in you, that God
always gives you the ability to do
something even when you feel as if
you can’t, and that working with new
people can be challenging but also fun.”
“
Teams present their campaignss to an audience and industry expert judges
at the 2024 FATE Student Showcase at The Riverside, Detroit, MI.
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Annual Report 2024
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Give Merit
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To us, Nostalgic Moments means when you’re living in the moment and
reminiscing about how far you’ve come, where you are now, and how far you’re
going. Our overall mission is to get people to think back to their childhood, the
history of Detroit, and to remember the good times.
“

GRADE 10:
PRODUCT COLLECTION
FOR MERIT
Our 10 th grade students were split into four teams
and tasked with developing a product collection for Merit. These teams dived into the creative
process by establishing a theme, creating a mood board with the support of Carhartt, and
developing design concepts with the support of professional graphic designers. In the end,
four incredible collections emerged:
Annual Report 2024
The Winners
“Winning Out of This World”
Kids Next Door
“Wear Your Confidence”
Meritverse
“Brilliant Influence”
The Talents
“Nostalgic Moments”
The groups’ final collections were put on display at the annual Student Showcase with a trade
show booth design supported by our partners Creative Solutions Group and made available
for pre-sale. The team with the most pre-sales were declared the winner and awarded a $300
cash prize. In addition, the winners’ full product collection was produced in full and sold by
Merit! This year, The Talents and their “Nostalgic Moments” collection emerged as the winners.
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Give Merit
GRADE 11:
PLAN
AND EXECUTE A
COMMUNITY-WIDE CHARITY EVENT -
FATE IN OUR STARS
The 11 th grade capstone project supports the planning and execution of the Fate
In Our Stars - an annual fundraising event to showcase the dreams of Detroit youth. Originally
named by our 2020 cohort, the Fate In Our Stars is based on the idea that dreams are endless
like space and raises crucial funds to support the FATE Scholarship program so that our students’
dreams can come true.
This year’s cohort worked incredibly hard creating and filming a promotional video, developing a
sponsor pitch, and creating a new activity idea for the Fate In Our Stars event. This year’s winning
team - Power In Our Stars - really stood out with their creative ideas and presentation skills.
Our 11 th graders worked for months to ideate, envision, and execute a spectacular Fate in our Stars event!
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All of the students’ hard work was evident at the Fate In Our Stars Annual Fundraising Dinner
held on September 19, 2024.
In total, $30,000 was raised to support the FATE Scholarship Fund!
Annual Report 2024
11

Give Merit
GRADE 12:
INTERNSHIP WITH
DETROIT CITY FOOTBALL CLUB
This year, the FATE Class of 2024 participated in a six week internship
experience with the Detroit City Football Club (DCFC). For the internship, the students
were assigned with the following project: present three ways in which DCFC will reach its
goal of deepening its connection with the Black Detroit community. The students were
divided into three teams to think strategically on how to support this organization through
their project work. Team Tetris stood out to the DCFC team and emerged as the winners
with their community centered soccer events in the city that included a mentorship
program and pop up training camps.
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Annual Report 2024
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Give Merit
GIVE MERIT
FATE ALUMNI
Give Merit’s FATE Alumni Program, established in 2020, extends our support
from four years to ten years. It is rooted in fostering positive social relationships with an
emphasis on providing tangible personalized support, cultivating positive mindsets and
identity, and providing college and career knowledge and skills with an overall focus on
obtaining postsecondary education and employment.
Mission: The FATE Alumni Program exists to help all of our graduates set and achieve
ambitious dreams as they transition from high school to adulthood, with a focus on higher
education and fulfilling employment.
Vision: We envision a world where every child is valued and has opportunities to be
successful in life. A world where a child’s FATE is determined by their character and not
judgments based on their skin color or socioeconomic background. At our most successful,
we imagine that a young person who has remained engaged in our programming:
Has completed a post-secondary degree, is employed full-time, or is in school
with a viable path toward graduation.
Has continued to reach out to us.
Is motivated to stay engaged in the program, as a mentor, donor, speaker, or
via another pathway.
Is moving toward financial stability.
Is in a stable living situation.
Has demonstrated persistence, motivation, and personal accountability, has an
optimistic outlook about their future, and is action-oriented toward challenges.
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Has a support network.

FATE is a family that continually supports, encourages, guides, and inspires you
to better yourself and your surroundings. Because of the unwavering love and
support, FATE has an effect on us in a variety of ways.
A’naya
Class of 2021
“
Annual Report 2024
PROGRAM ELEMENTS:
Virtual Workshops
Annual Summits
Alumni Relations Coordinators
Annual Game Plan
Postsecondary Persistence Support
Academic Support
Scholarship & Financial Support
Monthly updates via newsletter
Employment Opportunities & Support
The Fate Alumni Program has been a fantastic experience. It gives me opportunities
in my career field and life advice. I’ve experienced learning from college grads
and meeting those who have done great things in their career.
“
D’Mauri
Class of 2021
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Give Merit
SUMMITS
One of our long term goals of the FATE Alumni Program is to be able to
provide our alumni with opportunities to expand their professional network and build transferable
skills to support their career growth. Our Alumni Summit is a day of programming dedicated to
creating an experience to focus explicitly on this goal.
This past year, we hosted our third annual summit and our first multi-day event starting with
an evening of professional development and fun at The Henry Hotel. On Saturday, our Alumni
spent the day at the Pistons Performance Center interviewing, networking, and participating in
professional development activities. They had the opportunity to explore job opportunities and
career pathways throughout the day and they did so with enthusiasm. The day wouldn’t have
been as meaningful without the combined effort of our sponsors, business partners, volunteers,
the Give Merit team, and the energetic participation of the alumni.
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SCHOLARSHIPS
One aspect of our long term vision for our alumni is that they are financially
stable. We know with the increasing cost of college and postsecondary education that it is
difficult to graduate without accumulating debt. We also know that managing the cost of
college creates unnecessary stress and contributes to early drop out; it is difficult enough
to adjust to the academic rigors of college. Our scholarship process hopes to mitigate these
costs by providing options for our alumni to achieve their postsecondary goals and set them
up for long term success.
Annual Report 2024
Our scholarship program is unique, because we are constantly reflecting and looking to improve
the outcomes for our number one priority, our kids:
We educate and offer guidance - we help demystify financial aid jargon, so that
our alumni can focus on what’s important - their education. By advising alongside
our students, we can educate them on their best choices for financial options.
We are nimble - We can quickly pay an out of pocket cost that is needed with
minimal processes to prevent undue hardships or students from dropping out.
We are flexible - We ensure our scholarship dollars go as far as possible. In the
past, we have paid for housing costs, books, past due balances to support reenrollment,
and program costs.
New updates to
our scholarship
opportunities allow
alumni to earn up to
$20,000
in total over 6 years!
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Give Merit
HIGH SCHOOL DATA
Give Merit has operated since 2012 and has successfully served and graduated
100 students from its FATE Program and awarded over $300,000 in scholarships. Research
shows that quality afterschool enrichment not only improves academic performance but
also positively influences school-day attendance and social/emotional learning. Our FATE
students regularly outperform their non-FATE peers with approximately .4 points higher GPA
on average, attend approximately 8 more school days annually, and have less in school/out
of school suspensions on average.
Here is a snapshot of the latest data from the 2023-24 program year:
Graduation Rate Average GPA Days Absent Suspensions
Fate 100% 2.46 19 .22
Non-Fate Peers 96.5% 2.27 24 .32
100 %
FATE Students Graduate 2023-24
Goal: 100% of Fate
students graduate each year.
Student Engagement
Goal: 70% average yearly attendance
for FATE workshops across all four cohorts.
36 % 81 %
69 %
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Scholarship Elegibility
Goal: 50% of FATE students earn
the $5,000 scholarship each year.
Program Completion
Goal: 70% of FATE students participate
in the FATE program through graduation.

ALUMNI DATA
At its heart, our FATE Alumni Program helps alumni to keep developing the
skills, mindsets, and behaviors that are at the heart of FATE’s high school programming,
and to transfer those strengths to the new context of their postsecondary pursuits. The
fact that this support grows out of the FATE high school experience is a strong source of its
success. It helps alumni remember, “I’ve been successful before, and I can be successful
again.” It also helps alumni know, “There is a community of people who believe I am great.”
Our alumni programming doesn’t just remove barriers for alumni; rather, it helps young
people develop the skills, habits, and know-how to navigate those barriers themselves.
Annual Report 2024
54 %
75 %
40 %
Program Participation
- Across 4 Years
Goal: 70% of FATE alumni
participate in the FATE Almuni
Program across all four years
Program Participation
- Annual
Goal: 60% of engaged
almuni attend virtual
workshops and summits
College Completion
Goal: 50% of FATE alumni obtain
a degree or certificate within 6
years of HS graduation
2020 2021 2022 2023 Average
Postsecondary Enrollment Percentages: (within 6 months of High School graduation)
Fate Enrollment 80% 74% 84% 75% 78%
Postsecondary Persistence Percentages from Y1-Y2:
Fate Persistence 53% 64% 69% 40% 57%
Introducing Tiffani Stribling-
Washington, FATE Alumni &
Graduate of Albion College
Tiffani graduated with a degree in Psychological
Science with a Human Services Concentration.
Next up for Tiff? Grad school!
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Give Merit
FOR THE FUTURE,
BY THE FUTURE.
Next up, Merit Park!
After years of refining our best practices in youth development, Merit broke ground on a
recreational facility set to go beyond just bricks, mortar, and basketball hoops. Through this
holistic life skills facility, we aim to inspire Detroit’s young people to build the confidence
and self-belief needed to Take the Shot. This state-of-the-art space will offer dynamic
programming, workshops, mentorship, and specialized workforce training opportunities
tailored for Detroit’s youth.
The vision for Merit Park started seven years ago and has been shaped in collaboration
with youth, parents, and neighbors from the 48204 neighborhood. Over the years, we’ve
conducted design charrettes with local young people to bring the concept of neighborhood
play to life. We also engaged the community through comprehensive surveys, focus
groups, and meetings, gathering input from all ages to identify key features for Merit
Park. Participants were invited to join the Merit Park Neighborhood Council (MPNC) after
these sessions. The MPNC serves as a vibrant, community-rooted advisory board, offering
valuable insights and guidance on park decisions, programming, and partnerships, ensuring
Merit Park truly reflects the needs and aspirations of the community it serves.
Merit Park Amenities:
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Open Play
Sports Leagues
Sports & Entertainment Workforce Training
Retail & Entrepreneurship Workforce Training
NBA Regulation Basketball Court
Indoor Seating for 300
Turf Field with Bleachers
Rock Climbing Wall
31.3 Yard Dash
Splash Pad
Outdoor Obstacle Course
Secured Perimeter w/ Controlled Access
Retail Space
Teaching Kitchen
Coffee Shop
Restaurant Space
Podcast Room
Enhanced AV for Event Production

Annual Report 2024
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Give Merit
BUILDING MERIT
PARK PROJECT
STATUS
Over the past year, the Merit team partnered with the Michigan Department of Environment,
Great Lakes, and Energy to remove blighted structures and remediate the site, creating a
safer and more aesthetically pleasing space for the community.
On Friday, May 17th, the Merit team welcomed government officials, neighborhood residents,
and Detroit youth to mark the coming construction of Merit Park. Coverage of the event
included Fox2, Crains, MLive, WDIV Local 4, and Bridge Detroit.
UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTI
CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UN
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DER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONSTRUCTION UNDER CONS
The Merit team has successfully raised $10.8M to build Merit Park, with an additional $2.8M
needed to close the fundraising gap and secure New Market Tax Credits. This federal program
supports real estate development in low-income communities.
Key investors in Merit Park include Wayne County, The Mullick Foundation, Ally Financial,
The Kresge Foundation, and the State of Michigan.
Annual Report 2024
Construction of the facility began in October,
with completion anticipated by Q4 2025.
We’re going to have sports programming, community events, placemaking events,
concerts and movie nights and things of that nature,” said Merritt, who founded the
group with Kuhu Saha, who is Give Merit’s executive director. “We really want to be
a one-stop-shop for the community, and there will be a number of benefits that are
going to help us physically, educationally, economically, as well as environmentally.
Bridge Detroit
“
Want to experience Merit Park firsthand?
Take a virtual reality tour by scanning the QR code!
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Give Merit
TEAM + BOARD
The 2023-2024 Merit Team!
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Merit Board Members
Laura Grannemann
Jessie Hayes
Mekale Jackson
Annual Report 2024
Niraj Kapadia
David Merritt
Jonathan Merritt
Chevelle Roman
Kuhu Saha
Ekpe Udoh
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Give Merit
SUPPORTED BY
nbafoundation.nba.com
mullickfoundation.org
meijer.com
jg16.store
1954project.org
ballmergroup.org
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Annual Report 2024
wkkf.org
skillman.org
jdjfamilyfoundation.org
target.com
waltersffmi.org
tawfoundation.org
27

Thank You!
Give Merit
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$1,000+
Aesthetic Dental Clinic
All Pro Color Co.
Angela Davis
Ashley Ballard
Aston Carter
Banza
Beckie Thompson
Black Leaders Detroit
Bloomscape
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Brandon Grier
Brian Demkowicz
Bridgewater Interiors
Brighton Assembly of God
Capital Impact Partners
Caroline Serrano
Casey Ingle
Charity Motors
Comcast
Community Foundation of Louisville
Dan Singer
Dana Copeland-Hayes
Corktown Community Development Fund
David Alade
David Walker
Dawn Pier
Dennis Archer, Jr.
Edelman USA
Erline Everett
Forum for Youth Investment
Fountain of Truth Baptist Church
Gilmore Foundation
Gwendolyn Dansby
Haleh Tayebi
Heartland/HCR Manor Care
Jack Krasula
Janae Mason
Janis & Rocky Mazzaro
Jared & Sarah Schmatz
Jessica & Matthew Craig
John Martin & Molly Resnik Fund
Jones Day
Justin & Jessica Washington
Kelly Crawford
Keylonnie Miller
Kyle Valade
Laura Grannemann
Lauren & Jake Ireland
Linda Gill
Linda Taliaferro
Lonnie & Annette Joe
Michael D. Gordon & Candace K. White
Million Dollar Roundtable Foundation
Monique Turner
Neel & Puja Chokshi
Niraj & Amity Kapadia
Organic, Inc.
Paula Saha & Luke Waltzer
Professional Insurance Associates
Rajput-Dasgupta Family Charitable
Foundation
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling
Sam Hamburger
Sarah Brennan
Shelbie Rose
Spikeball
Steve & Sheila Hamp
Surinder Tayebi
Tayna Johnson
Terry Whitfield
Tiffani McElrath
Todd Corley
Tony & Sandra Embree
Veronica Johnson
William Blair Company Charitable
World Evangelism Ministries
YearUp
XQ Institute
$2,500+
Airmaster
Angela Rogensues
Buhr Foundation
Cheryl & Jamie Buhr Family Fund
Cheryl Elliott Tribute Fund
Chris Kaufman
Detroit Lions
Don & Carol Hart
Finn Partners
Gretchen Valade & Kevin Steen
Haron Family Gift Fund
Independent Bank
Jeff & Kathy Benowitz
Kamille Brown & Phil DeVries
Kate Coscarelli & Jeff Whelan
Kevin & Tanya Gregory
Kori Valentine
Kuhu Saha
Kyona McGhee
Lambert
Leo Burnett
Martin-Small Giving Fund
Patrick Thompson Design
Puja Parekh & Ashok Gowda
Quikly
Scott & Paula Nagelvoort
Sean & Jasmine White
Snehamay & Meena Khasnabis
Solomon Hicks
Steve Worthy
Straight Gate International Church
Truscott Rossman
Tonya Allen
Vinay & Sneha Shah
$5,000+
Anthony Oneal
Antonio Gates
Arun & Isheeta Laxmanan
Bank of America
Beauty Fushion Aesthetics
Comerica
Corey Fuller
David & Nancy Sarne
David & Paige Merritt
Detroit City Football Club
Detroit Economic Growth Corporation
Emphani Aldridge
Eric & Ines Storhok
Floyd
Foot Locker
Harman
IPS Technology Services
Jennifer Skiba
Jereshia Hawk
John Henderson
Kelly Kozlowski
Levinthal Family Fund
Manju Saha
Marcus & LaDonna Murray/AVA Care &
Case Management
Mark Tapper
Milk Means More
Patricia Head
Rick & Sue Snyder
Rocket Giving Fund
Seva Law Firm
Strategic Staffing Solutions
Tapper’s
Tidal
Tom & Tricia Valentine
Xenith
$10,000+
Alice Thompson
Atlassian
Buhr Foundation
Chemical Bank
Derrick & Chevelle Roman
Domino’s
Huron Capital Partners
John & Jean Dinan Foundation
Jonathan & Tatianna Merritt
JP Morgan Chase
Lawrence King & Jennifer Guarino
Leon Speakers
Pathways Foundation
$20,000+
Andrew & Viveca Merritt
Carhartt
Co.Act
Detroit Pistons Foundation
DTE Energy Foundation
Ekpe Udoh
General Motors
Gerald & Lynn Johnson
Matthew & Karen Cullen Family
Foundation
Merit Goodness, Inc.
Neil & Nirali Shah
Plante Moran
Pricewaterhouse Coopers
Rodney & Rissa Prater
TJX Foundation
University of Michigan
Veeral & Riya Shah
W. Second Growth Foundation
Zingerman’s
$50,000+
1954 Foundation
Children’s Foundation
Dresner Foundation
Jalen Rose
McGregor Fund
Richard & Susan Rogel
Target
Toni A. Wisne Foundation
Walters Family Foundation
$100,000+
Community Foundation for Southeast
Michigan
Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
Michael Levey
NBA Foundation
Quicken Loans
$250,000+
Ballmer Group
Jared Goff
Kellogg Foundation
$500,000+
Jamie & Denise Jacob Family Foundation
Meijer
Skillman Foundation
$1,000,000+
Ally Financial
Mullick Foundation
State of Michigan
Wayne County

WAYS TO SUPPORT
We are proud of all we achieved last year, and guess what? There’s more
to do! The youth we serve need your support so that they can continue participating in the
FATE program, safely traveling to workshops, eating meals and snacks regularly, and being
exposed to new and exciting experiences to help them find their aspirations. The youth we
will serve at Merit Park need your support too, so that they can have a state-of-the-art safe
place to play and learn in their neighborhood, as they deserve.
Your dollars could do this:
Transport Youth for One FATE Workshop .............................................................................................. $400
A gift of $400 allows us to transport one cohort of students to one of their workshops over
the course of the year.
Annual Report 2024
Provide Food for FATE for an Entire Month ........................................................................................ $3,000
With four cohorts, we serve meals and snacks approximately 16 times in one month. Whether
it be granola bars and fruit to pizza, sandwiches, and macaroni and cheese, it’s important
that our students be able to focus on the experiences before them and not be thinking about
a growling stomach.
Support the We Saved You A Seat Campaign at Merit Park ......................................................... $5,000
There’s a piece of Merit Park that can be all yours! Similar to a brick campaign, each seat in
the Merit Park gym will be “saved” for a donor who donates $5,000. Each seat will have a
plaque named for you or in honor/memory of someone you love.
Sponsor a College Scholarship for a FATE Student .......................................................................... $5,000
Each FATE student who maintains program standards (GPA, Conduct, Attendance, Community
Service) during high school is guaranteed a $5,000 scholarship toward their postsecondary
program.
Help youth find their way at Merit Park ........................................................................................... $10,000
A unique opportunity for you to be a special part of Merit Park history and have your wonderful
contribution to the youth of Detroit recognized on the wayfinding signage throughout the park.
Transport FATE students for an Entire Year .................................................................................... $16,000
Over the course of one academic year, one FATE cohort will ride the bus approximately 40
times. These bus rides take them to workshops with partners like Rocket Mortgage, Ally
Financial, and Zingerman’s.
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Give Merit, Inc.
10100 Grand River
givemerit.org
@meritgoodness
Detroit MI 48204 @fatedetroit