Making a difference in 2020

Making a difference in 2020

by | Jan 14, 2021 | About our Foundation, Fundraiser, Programs

In 2020, Knuth Family Foundation raised $9,000

PROJECTS

• We provided 1,000 PPE units to frontline workers in April during the PPE shortage.

• We replenished $2,300 in supplies to Henry Ford Elementary School after their devastating fire in July.

• We provided 380 kids in Ypsilanti with winter hats and gloves.

Like most things in 2020, our fundraising and projects were impacted by COVID 19. While adding up donations and recapping our projects, I had to take a step back to pause.

This year didn’t look like we thought it would – we has plans to do so much more. But…

this mantra continues to ring true:

“it’s the little things that can make the biggest impact.” 

Without your support, we wouldn’t have a foundation. Your donations make BIG difference. From our hearts full of gratitude and thanks, thank YOU for the things you did to make a difference.

Photo by Helena Lopes from Pexels

Ford ELC Fire Fundraiser

Ford ELC Fire Fundraiser

by | Oct 30, 2020 | Fundraiser

Ford Early Learning Center was maliciously set on fire back in July. This school is particularly important to us, as we’ve done our Christmas Wishes project for this school for the past two years. Given the current COVID times, our Christmas Wishes project has been put on pause, like so many things this year.

Our efforts have transitioned to help put the classrooms of Ford ELC back together. 

To date, our GoFundMe Charity campaign has raised about $3,000. Sounds like a good amount, right? Let’s put it in perspective. We’ve taken the money raised so far and purchased supplies for each class for virtual and/or in-person supplies. So far, each class received $105 worth of supplies. 

We have a BIG goal of $25,000 because we feel it’s important to do MORE in this community.

This school needs our help. Give now!

Learn more/Make a Donation
Get Back On Your Mat!

Get Back On Your Mat!

by | Jan 9, 2020 | Events, Fundraiser, Programs

Join Knuth Family Foundation as they lead us into the New Year with Bend & Brew (yoga + beer), held Tuesdays on the 2nd floor of Brewery Becker in Brighton, MI.

What’s your excuse?

I don’t do resolutions.

Why?

Because by February I’ve fallen off the wagon and beating myself up about not sticking to the resolution. I’ve learned that goals tend to to work much better for me. Whether it’s a goal or resolution that you choose to embark on, don’t let excuses of why you can’t get in the way.

Here’s a list of excuses that I hear from people about why people “can’t” come to yoga.

  • “I’m not flexible” … That’s why you go to yoga! We aren’t trying out for the Cirque Du Soleil. We’re doing yoga in a Brewery.
  • “I’ve never done it before” … You can’t expect to be perfect at something you’ve never done before! Check your ego at the door and give it a try. Channel your inner 6 year old. Did I mention, there are zero expectations?

Moral of the story: If you’ve been thinking about coming to yoga, just give it a try! 

JANUARY 2020 BEND & BREW CLASS SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, January 7th @ 6pm

Tuesday, January 14th @ 6pm

Tuesday, January 21st @ 6pm

Tuesday, January 28th @ 6pm

Bring $10 and a yoga mat. Beer is encouraged, not required.

New Kicks for Kids

New Kicks for Kids

by | May 30, 2019 | Fundraiser, Programs

New Kicks for Kids

DONATING 100 PAIRS OF ATHLETIC SHOES

 

Professional athlete Sarah Boyle has partnered with Knuth Family Foundation to give athletic shoes to local kids who cannot afford a new pair. Join us by June 22nd to contribute to providing kids with new kicks. 

HOW IT WORKS

A $75 DONATION = 1 NEW PAIR OF SHOES

 

Kids for the shoes will be nominated by teachers/coaches at their schools. From the nominations a committee will select the recipients of the shoes by July 31st and finally all shoes will be given out to kids by mid-August 2019 or as kids return to school in the fall. 

FUNDS TO BE RAISED BY JUNE 22ND, 2019

 

Every little bit helps move this vision and project forward to help families and kids in our community. As an athlete or a parent, we know that something simple like having new athletic shoes is something we all get excited about wearing and can truly make difference in these kids’ lives. This encourages more play for kids, whether in gym class, a sport, or just out the front door.

Donate Now!
THE STORY

Sarah Boyle, professional athlete partnered with Knuth Family Foundation to form “Kicks for Kids.”

As a professional athlete and former collegiate athlete, Sarah Boyle considered herself blessed to always have the new running shoes she needed for training. She didn’t have to wonder when she would get another pair or how she would afford them.

Sarah spent a number of years coaching at the collegiate level and it was there that her eyes were re-opened to the number of kids who come from families that were unable to afford a new quality pair of shoes for their son/daughter when they needed them. She personally witnessed a high school coach purchase a pair of shoes for an athlete because their family could not afford them.

The desire to give back to families in the community, along with her life experience, sparked the effort to make Kicks for Kids come to life. 

Partnering with Knuth Family Foundation, together we hope to provide local kids without means to purchase new shoes, receive new kicks!  

WHAT DRIVES YOU?

Our goal is to bring joy to local kids and show them that they are loved by their community.

Contribute

Who are we and what do we do?

by | Dec 20, 2018 | About our Foundation, Fundraiser, Programs, Scholarship

The Knuth Family Foundation is a charity based in Michigan. We award
college scholarships to kids who have participated in a sport for all 4
years of high school, AND are strong leaders in their community. 

I know that many organizations offer scholarships – this is not what
makes us unique. It has always been a passion of ours to make an impact in the communities in which we live and work. This is why the criteria is what it is: we don’t simply want athletes, though we recognize that being a student athlete is a laborious undertaking. We want those student
athletes who also find time to give to others.

It really does take a village, and I want to be the kind of organization that helps those that see the future and benefits of helping others. We often hear people say that others should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps,” and yet many of those who need help don’t even have boots. For 2018 we created a Christmas Wishes program to help financially-strapped school districts to be able to share with their students-in-need during an
extra-difficult time of year. This is a perfect example of what we do.
We spend all year fund-raising for scholarships for the students who are so willing to give of themselves, while simultaneously finding other ways to make sure we’re doing our part locally to help the future, too.

Scholarships are the grassroots of our organization, we will never quit
them, nor do we want to. But we also want to be able to help many
people, and to do it year-round with focused quarterly projects. What
does that mean? We are still figuring that out. We know that our second
quarter project is college scholarship and our fourth quarter project is
Christmas Wishes. Beyond that, we are doing some soul searching to find projects in the first and third quarter that we feel passionate about. 

We are so grateful for your constant support of all things
giving, and hope that if you every have an idea or group who you think could benefit from our help, that you’ll reach out to us!
Operation: Christmas Wishes

Operation: Christmas Wishes

by | Nov 29, 2018 | Fundraiser, Programs

The Program 

The Knuth Family Foundation collaborated with Mrs. Grills’ Advanced Algebra class at Brighton High School to create Operation: Christmas Wishes, an opportunity to give to children from lower income families and giving you an opportunity to give in the Season of Giving!

  

Mrs. Grills’ Room, B13, is home to 28 Advanced Algebra students who will be granting the Christmas wishes of 349 preschool, kindergarten, and first graders! Together we selected a Title I school in Washtenaw County.  A Title I designation is given to schools with a student base where at least 40% of students come from low-income families.

A Christmas they won’t forget

$30 is budgeted for each child to “grant a wish” from their Christmas list. Anyone can partner with us in gifting hope and a Christmas wish by donating to this cause, bringing Christmas to 349 children in Washtenaw county, Michigan.

Donations will be accepted until 12/14.

“Santa’s elves” will deliver gifts to the kids on 12/17.

Donate

Donations were collected via a Gofundme page or donations made here through our website.  If you’re making a donation through our website, please note: “Operation: Christmas Wishes” in the message section.

THE IMPACT:

Together, we raised $10,860 in 15 days. Purchased, wrapped and delivered 349 gifts to young students.

You should know, of these 349 kids, 100% of the families are low income and 10% are homeless. 

Video 

In the Press:

Read the article about Operation Christmas Wishes posted on Livingston Daily