Throughout the year, many Club members and their families confront a tragic event such as a house fire, home foreclosure, loss of family income, and violent or unexpected death of a loved one. In these cases, they get support from the Clubs.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (B&GCSM) has 13 Clubs in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties. When tragedy strikes, Club directors, professional staff, members and their families respond quickly. They may volunteer their services, donate money or goods, or do other acts of kindness to help stricken Club members and families get back on their feet.

When Delora Williams, the mother of two Wilson Club members became homeless after having to leave their apartment, they didn’t know where to go. To make matters worse, it was at the start of the school year and her children were in middle school and high school.

The family spent some time living in a relative’s basement and trying to get into a shelter, which was full. While Ms. Williams has a job and can afford the rent, she couldn’t afford the other costs associated with moving. When a board member heard of their plight, he anonymously donated money for the move to a new apartment. Both children are known beyond their own Clubs – the 16-year-old boy was a Youth of the Year runner-up and the 11-year-old girl was an ambassador at the Charity Preview. Ms. Williams and her children are grateful to those at the Club and Administrative Office who helped obtain this generous gift at a critical time.

In another instance, Malik, a member of the Romulus Club, was badly burned in a grilling accident last fall. His recovery was made easier by his “second family” at the Club, who hosted a potluck dinner just before Thanksgiving and raised money to help Malik and his family with their medical bills and the holiday season.

Last spring, a fire tore through the home of Ron Koester, a custodian at Merriman Elementary, the school that hosts the Romulus Club. When Club members and their families learned of the fire, they held a bake sale. Funds raised at the bake sale were presented to Koester at the Club’s Leadership Awards meeting to help his family cope with the aftermath of the fire. “It was very nice of them,” Koester said. “We had to move out of our house for 3-1/2 months while it was being repaired. The money helped out quite a bit.”

The Clubs’ programs and philosophy of “giving back” become ingrained in members’ lives. It’s another benefit of belonging to a second family at the Clubs.

More than 100 Club members attended Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan’s annual Youth Leadership Conference on Oct. 3, 2009 and did a community service component to help feed the hungry and sort clothing for teens living away from home.

Most of the kids who participated belong to B&GCSM’s teen clubs: the Torch Club (ages 11 to 13) and the Keystone Club (ages 14 to 18). These clubs within a Club perform community service and provide a leadership track. Members elect officers, hold meetings, follow an agenda, and work in teams to achieve goals. These clubs are a microcosm of an adult community service club. They teach kids how to identify needs in the community and work together to help those in need.

The Fauver-Martin Club in Highland Park hosted the Youth Leadership Conference, which was sponsored in part by DTE Energy Foundation. During the morning session, the group helped at these locations:

• Gleaners Community Food Bank – Kids put canned goods and other food items into pantry boxes for distribution to the hungry. They also put snacks into backpacks for lowincome kids who need supplemental food over the weekend.
• Earthworks – A community garden at Gleaners, where kids helped harvest the produce left on the vine for the Capuchin Soup Kitchen.
• Covenant House – Teens sorted donated clothes and personal hygiene products, and organized the master storage closet for these items. (The Covenant House provides for teens and young adults who are runaways or in foster care without a home base. It offers additional services to adults, such as drug counseling.)

Lekita Jones, program coordinator, said, “We are grateful to the three organizations for making this effort work. The teens who participated got a new perspective on how people in this community struggle to survive in these tough economic times.” She noted that there is a vast need for the basics: food, shelter and clothing. Kids from the Clubs were invited to come back to these organizations as volunteers and many plan to do that.

In the afternoon, the group attended breakout sessions on public speaking, conducted by Dale Carnegie staff volunteers; and team-building, led by a Boys & Girls Clubs of America presenter. All attended a leadership workshop to learn how they can impact their world at school, at work and in the community.

“What the teens learned and did that day will make a lasting impression,” said Jones.

A penchant for the arts, education and quality of life have shaped the careers, volunteer activities and philanthropic goals of Bob and Maggie Allesee. Better known as Bob Allison, he has hosted the show “Ask Your Neighbor” for nearly 48 years. Maggie is a patron and practitioner of the arts – especially dance.

This leading philanthropic couple was honored Nov. 18 at the In Celebration Dinner, an annual event hosted by the Women’s Association of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (B&GCSM) at Orchard Lake Country Club.

Together, the Allesees have supported major institutions in southeastern Michigan, Florida and elsewhere. The couple’s philosophy is to support quality of life by giving to organizations in need – chiefly in the arts, education, health care, aging, and children issues.

They are big boosters of B&GCSM. Maggie has belonged to the Women’s Association for 30 years and received its Matilda Wilson Achievement Award in 2000.

“I think the Clubs are fabulous,” said Maggie. “They provide a place for children to go after school and be active. There is a saying that ‘idleness is the devil’s workshop.’ Kids can learn so many games and crafts at the Boys & Girls Clubs and make new friends.”

Bob noted, “The Clubs help keep kids ethical and moral. They teach the difference between right and wrong. They demonstrate caring and giving back…values that make a life worthwhile.”

Widowed by businessman Howard Acheson, Jr., when her children were young, Maggie has always been a dynamo – with her children’s activities and in the community. She has two daughters and a son, while Bob has three sons from a previous marriage. Most of the children were in their teens when their parents married 33 years ago. While growing up, the Allesees signed up their children for sports (dance and figure skating for the girls; golf and hockey for some of the boys) and music lessons for all. Now, the Allesees have 12 grandchildren between them.

Bob, 77, started broadcasting as a teen in La Porte, Indiana and now shares his broadcasting role with his son, Rob (Robert Jr.), who has been a co-host for years. He is well known for his years as a host for “Bowling for Dollars” and before that as the Milkman on “Milky’s Party Time.”

In terms of their philanthropic range of giving, Maggie said, “We have enjoyed working with a large variety of nonprofit organizations, where we have made so many wonderful friends helping the community.” Bob concurred, adding, “The people in this community made me who I am in radio. I owe them for that and look for ways to give back.”

As a couple, giving has become a way of life. At one time, Bob belonged to about 20 boards and Maggie was on more than 30. Bob fondly notes, “Trying to slow Maggie down is like standing in front of a bus.”

Maggie’s name is proudly displayed at Hospice of Michigan, Oakland University’s nursing program, and Wayne State University’s Department of Dance for major gifts given to those organizations. She also has given generously to Florida State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English & Journalism with a minor in Education and was the first head cheerleader when it turned co-ed in 1947. There, she established the National Center for Choreography, which draws students and dance instructors from around the world. She also has a master’s degree in Education & post masters in Gerontology from Wayne State University. Bob has a Chair in Broadcasting from Wayne State University. He attended Indiana University before joining the army during the Korean War.

Maggie received two honorary degrees in 2002: a Doctorate of Arts from Kendall College of Art and Design (now part of Ferris State University) and a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Wayne State University.

Their love of the arts is deeply ingrained. Bob plays piano weekly for Rotary and studied philosophy. Maggie likes to dance and for 40 years has sung at area nursing homes as part of the Junior League chorus. When her oldest daughter, Shirley Acheson Shirock, joined a professional ballet company, Maggie decided to take ballet lessons herself, starting at age 42. She bowed out, however, before she had to dance on her toes.

Maggie is well known for her birthday parties, especially her 75th at the Parade Company and her 80th with the “Complexions” dance company at Music Hall. For 21 years she has walked as a clown in the Thanksgiving Day parade in Detroit while Bob did the radio broadcast.

They delight in helping others. Dozens of nonprofits, including B&GCSM, can attest to their amazing support and generosity.