2023 | June

Meet our new CEO, Megan Zambiasi!


We are thrilled to introduce our new Chief Executive Officer, Megan Zambiasi, to the fearless Vista Maria community! With the utmost confidence and support from the Board Search Committee and the Our Lady of Charity Sisters of the Good Shepherd Province Leadership Team, Megan officially joined our team on March 6, 2023. She completed her onboarding and transition on June 1.

With more than three decades of invaluable experience in clinical and mental health service leadership and administration, Megan brings a wealth of expertise to Vista Maria. She recently held the position of Senior Executive Vice President of Operations and Strategy at Hope Network in Grand Rapids. Megan has a B.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Western Michigan University, as well as an MBA in Integrated Management from Michigan State University.


Under Megan's compassionate and visionary leadership, we are confident that Vista Maria will continue to flourish and thrive as we develop our programming and advance family-driven, youth-engaged treatment and care. Megan has already been a pleasant presence on campus, attending programs, visiting with our youth, engaging with staff, sharing stories about her family, and posting photos of her beloved dog, Cece.


We extend our deepest gratitude to the Board Search Committee, the Executive Leadership Team, Sister Janice, Sr. Madeleine, and the entire Province Leadership Team for their dedicated efforts in conducting interviews and ultimately selecting Vista Maria's incredible new leader. Together, we will create an even brighter future for Vista Maria and those we serve!

Client Spotlight - Elaina M.


"I knew that Michigan's foster care system has around 10,000 children. On average, about 70% of this population graduates from high school, only 10% apply to college, and less than 3% will graduate. I knew I wanted to be part of that 3%."


Elaina is in Vista Maria's Community Independent Living Program and is currently studying recreational therapy at Grand Valley State University.

Hitting the Links for a Good Cause

Our 2023 event season is off to a phenomenal start, with our first two golf events of the year! George Blaha's 34th Annual High Hopes Golf Invitational was held at a new location this year; Tam-O-Shanter Country Club, which was beautiful and as much fun as ever! In June, our friends at Ford came out to the Dearborn Country Club for a day of golf, networking, and support for Vista Maria's programs.

George Blaha's High Hopes

Golf Invitational

May 15, 2023

Ford Purchasing Golf Outing

June 5, 2023

As a member of Vista Maria’s Advisory Board, George Blaha and his celebrity friends have built High Hopes into the exclusive event it is today. 


With a record number of hole sponsors and an exciting auction, this year's event was another big success! Because of our generous sponsors and golfers, we raised more than $150k this year!


If you missed it this year, be sure to sign up early before next year’s 35th anniversary event sells out.  


Thank you to our High Hopes sponsors!

Ford is our longest standing partner, with a legacy of over 80 years of unwavering support.


We had another record year at the 24th Ford Purchasing golf outing, raising more than $160k in support of our vulnerable youth and families.


Our fearless youth speaker, Elaina (see above) had a chance to speak to the golfers about how the Vista Maria Alumni scholarship has helped her beat the odds! 


Thank you to our Ford Golf Outing sponsors!

Platinum Sponsors

Diez/Delaco

Litchfield Cavo LLP

Plastipak


Gold Sponsor

Amerisure


Dinner Sponsors

Enlyte

Gallagher Bassett

Hollingsworth

Kopka Pinkus Dolin

Magna  


Beverage Sponsor

Accuro Solutions 


Media Sponsors

Giamarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C. 

Wealth Strategy Partners


Hole Sponsors

Avis Ford

Callahan & Fusco, LLC

Dell Moser Lane & Loughney, LLC

Detroit Pistons

Fusco Shaffer and Pappas Inc.

Harvey Kruse PC

Hunt Suedhoff Kearney LLP

Johnson C-Level Consulting,

LLC. 

Logan Settlements

Melchiode Marks King LLC

O'Brien Construction

Oswald Companies

Paradigm

PhysNet

Segal McCambridge

UPS

Walters, Balido and Crain

Wolfe & Jacobson Ltd.

Golfer Sponsors

Barton Malow

Vibracoutics


Program Sponsor

Diez Group

Executive Sponsors

BASF

C&U Americas

Dakkota Integrated Systems

Epitec

MXS

ZF


Beverage Cart Sponsors

OneMagnify

ZF


Lunch Sponsors

Doherty Search Partners

Ghafari Associates, LLC

Musashi North America

Shape Corp


Hole Sponsors

Ascent On-Demand

C&U Americas

CMAC

CN

Doherty Search Partners

Icat Logistics

James Group

Neapco

Sylvan

Valiant TMS

Wico Metal


Scholarship Sponsor

Ascent On-Demand

Upcoming Events

We hope you can join us at one of our upcoming events! Each event is a great opportunity to learn more about Vista Maria and hear from our inspiring clients, while enjoying great food, drinks, golf, and fun! Click for more information, or contact

Jessie Harper at 313-318-5703 / jharper@vistamaria.org

Thursday, July 13

One Campus Martius

Tuesday, August 8

Fox Hills Golf & Banquet Center

Thursday, October 12Detroit Shipping Company

Get Involved and Put Your Heart to Work

Volunteer

At Vista Maria, we have lots of volunteer opportunities available for individuals and groups of all sizes. Whether you would like to host a fun and meaningful activity for our youth, pitch in with campus cleanup, support our events, or help with important administrative tasks, we need your help!


Visit vistamaria.org/volunteer for more information or contact Maddie Phillips at 313-271-3050 x221 or mphillips@vistamaria.org to get started!

Mentor

Share your individual attention, insight, and compassion to help a youth heal and embrace their self-worth. A longer-term opportunity, mentors serve 1 hour a week for several months or more. You and your mentee can share activities, talk about the week, and build confidence along the way. We currently have 6 youth waiting to be matched with a mentor!


Contact Maddie Phillips at 313-271-3050 x221 or mphillips@vistamaria.org to get started!

Donate

Vista Maria has Amazon and Target wish lists filled with items our kids need every day. By shopping these lists, your donation will be delivered directly to Vista Maria!

Current needs include:


  • Large Duffle Bags 
  • Outdoor games and pool toys
  • Coloring books
  • Markers, crayons, and colored pencils
  • Stuffed Animals
  • Braiding hair
Shop Now!

Run

Are you running in this year's Detroit Free Press Marathon? By selecting Vista Maria as your charity during the marathon, you will help provide a safe haven where vulnerable youth can receive the education, therapy, and support they need to heal and thrive.


To support us, please select Vista Maria from the "Support an Organization" dropdown on the registration page. You can also donate to support a runner or start your fundraiser on GivenGain.

GivenGain

Ask Vista Maria


What is the process to become a foster parent? How is my donation helping? How many youth does Vista Maria serve? Is human trafficking really happening in Michigan? 


If you have a burning question, we would love to hear it! We'll respond to all inquiries and may post the answer to your question (anonymously) in our next newsletter! 

Ask Us!

Candid Campus


While working on another project, our friends at Constant Motion Productions captured this view of the stained glass reflecting on the wall of the chapel.


Check them out on Instagram at @constant_motion_productions to see some more photos they took of our beautiful chapel!

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