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| | In This Month's Newsletter | | |
Dear Friends,
We’ve been busy this summer, and I mean busy in the very best way.
Families connected, laughed, and goofed around with one very popular inflatable shark at our Family Engagement Pool Party. Volunteers packed care bags for neighbors experiencing homelessness. We launched RespectED with support from Vista Maria’s first-ever federal grant, moved into our new Detroit building, and helped more than 30 young people build job skills through Grow Detroit’s Young Talent.
We also took our advocacy to Washington, D.C., connected with families at the Detroit Zoo, cooked fajitas in Shepherd Hall, welcomed therapy dogs to campus, golfed for a great cause, and celebrated the people who make this work possible, especially the youth and families we serve.
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Susan's Story
Myriam Hall sneak peek
Read the 2025 Annual Report
Volunteers needed for the foster care Back to School Jam
Dolly Drive
Holiday Wish List - Make a wish come true!
Make your generosity go farther with a company match gift
2026 Events (so far!)
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And there’s even more, but the marketing team tells me I’m out of room.
After all of that, you’d think we’d be exhausted. But we’re more energized than ever about what’s ahead.
In this newsletter, you’ll meet Susan, a Vista Maria alumna whose incredible grit and courage helped her rebuild her life and reunite with her children. You’ll see how our new Housing Continuum is taking shape to support women and families experiencing homelessness, and you’ll learn how you can jump into the fun as a volunteer at our Foster Care Back to School Jam.
We’re also looking ahead to the holiday season, when we’ll need this community to show up in a big way. The young people and families we serve need all of us to keep believing in them, investing in their futures, and reminding them that their community is behind them.
For 143 years, Vista Maria has kept moving forward because courageous people haven’t given up, and generous people have chosen to stand beside them.
We’re so grateful you’re one of those people. We’ve got so much to be excited about, and you’re coming with us. Let’s go!
With gratitude,
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Kathy Regan
President & CEO
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As one of our honorees at this year’s Fearless Heart Gala, Susan chose to share her story and why she believes programs like Vista Maria's are so needed in our community.
When Susan first came to Vista Maria in 2009, she had spent much of her young life in survival mode. She entered the child welfare system at 13 after experiencing abuse, addiction, and instability at home.
Susan came to Vista Maria twice-- ultimately staying through 2011. At 18, she graduated as valedictorian, had been sober for 11 months, and planned to attend Wayne State University.
She believed she had done everything right and that life would finally become easier.
It didn’t happen that way.
The years that followed brought homelessness, addiction, abusive relationships, the loss of her mother, and serious mental health struggles. Susan continued fighting for the life and family she wanted.
She entered intensive therapy, stopped using drugs and alcohol, and returned to tools she had learned at Vista Maria. She worked on setting boundaries, regulating her emotions, and asking for help. Becky, a longtime Vista Maria staff member, continued supporting her through some of the hardest parts of that process.
Susan also fought to reunite her family. In January, after years of separation and advocacy, she regained full custody of her children.
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Today, Susan is sober, continues mental health treatment, and works as a caregiver and supporter for veterans.
She is a fierce advocate, a loving mother and sister, and a woman using what she has learned at Vista Maria to help the next generation thrive.
Her two sons and 18-year-old sister live with her as the family builds a future together.
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“For the first time in my life, I’m not just surviving,” Susan shared. “I’m building something.”
Susan’s story belongs to her. We are grateful that she has chosen to share it and to show what can happen when a young person receives tools, relationships, and support that continue beyond a single season of life.
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Susan worked incredibly hard to build the life she has today. Her story also reminds us how much it matters to have steady support while you’re finding your footing. That’s why we’re so fired up about what’s next at Myriam Hall.
The renovations are complete, and Vista Maria’s new Housing Continuum is getting closer to launch. This next chapter will expand the ways we support women experiencing homelessness as they work toward greater stability and permanent housing.
For more than a century, Vista Maria has responded to the changing needs of our community. Now, Myriam Hall is ready to do it again.
We’re putting the final pieces in place and can’t wait to share more, including a closer look inside the newly renovated space.
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2025 was a year of big steps and meaningful change. See where we’ve been and where we’re headed next.
615 unique clients were served across Vista Maria and InSight Youth and Family Connections.
18 children joined permanent families through adoption.
100% of independent living youth receiving aftercare remained living independently in the community.
64% of youth participating in Check & Connect improved their grades and GPA averages.
522 volunteers contributed their time to Vista Maria in 2025, supporting young people, families, events, campus projects, and practical needs throughout the year.
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Help Foster Families Start the School Year Strong
We Need 5 More Event-Day Volunteers!
| | Our volunteers will be right in the middle of all the fun, helping families find their way around campus, handing out backpacks and supplies, and keeping the good vibes going all afternoon. | | |
A new school year comes with plenty of excitement, plus backpacks, supplies, schedules, transportation, and a whole lot for families to juggle.
That's why Vista Maria’s Back to School Jam is bringing foster youth and their families together for an afternoon filled with school supplies, poolside fun, face painting, yard games, and a little more time to connect before the first bell rings.
We need 5 event-day volunteers
August 27 | 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Vista Maria
20651 W. Warren Avenue
Dearborn Heights, MI 48127
Learn more and sign up by emailing Maddie at: volunteer@vistamaria.org.
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This year, Dolly Drive is getting a brand-new home at 100 Proof, Detroit City Distillery’s new event space, and we’re ready to make it our biggest celebration yet.
Bring a new toy for a child in foster care, grab a signature cocktail, enjoy heavy hors d’oeuvres from Two Unique Catering, and get ready for an evening filled with music, raffles, a photo booth, and plenty of reasons to hit the dance floor.
Registration opens at 4 p.m., with a short program at 6 p.m. Then, at 7 p.m., the music turns up, the raffle winners are announced, and the fun really gets going.
Tickets start at $85 per person.
You’ll also hear from a Vista Maria foster parent about the realities of foster care and what it means when a community chooses to show up.
And those toys you bring? They help create Santa Land, where foster youth and families can celebrate together, visit Santa, and choose a special gift of their own.
We’re building something joyful and unforgettable, and we need our people there with us. Let’s fill the room, fill Santa Land, and make this holiday season one to remember.
For sponsorship or event questions, contact Becky Hermann at RHermann@VistaMaria.org or 313-203-2027.
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"I was amazed by the amount of thought and effort the donor put into [the youth's] gift. They even wrapped the snow shovel so perfectly... he was absolutely thrilled! Thank you all so much!"
-- A Juvenile Justice Case Worker
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Last year, our community helped fulfill 142 personalized holiday wish lists for young people at Vista Maria. We’re grateful for every person who stepped forward, but fewer supporters participated than in previous years. Our staff and closest friends worked hard to fill the gaps, and we made sure every list was covered.
We pulled it off, but it was closer than we’d like.
This year, we expect to serve about the same number of young people. Without more supporters, there’s a real risk that some wish lists could go unfilled. So, we’re calling in more elves and asking our community (That's you!) to show up early and show up big.
This year, our wish lists will include more teenage boys, and teenagers can be notoriously specific. They know which headphones they want, which sneakers everyone is wearing, and exactly what color they should be.
Think about a young person in your own life. There’s something special about opening a gift that was chosen just for you, with your name right there on the package.
While a Christmas gift can’t change everything a young person has experienced, it can help them feel included in the joy, bring a little Christmas magic, and send a simple message: Someone took the time to learn what you like and wanted you to feel special.
There are several ways to join the fun, and we need you with us. Grab your elf hat, choose your role, and help us make sure every list is filled. Let’s go!
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Shopper Elf
Adopt a personalized four-item wish list for one young person. Shoppers generally spend between $200 and $300 per list. Splitting the cost with a group is welcomed and encouraged. Holiday magic is a team sport.
Wish lists will be available in early November, but you can sign up now to help make sure each young person receives something chosen just for them.
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Stocking Elf
Choose items from Vista Maria’s stocking-stuffer list. Many can be purchased at local stores or ordered through our Amazon and Target wish lists. This is an easy, flexible way to help without committing to a full personalized list.
Angel Elf
Donate gift cards to Amazon, Target, Kroger, Meijer, or other commonly used stores.
Gift cards help us cover last-minute wishes and respond when a young person needs clothing, personal care products, or another essential item. They may not look especially exciting inside an envelope, but they are some of the most useful gifts we receive.
Workshop Elf
Help sort, inventory, organize, and prepare gifts in Vista Maria’s holiday boutique and Santa’s Workshop. Volunteer shifts are available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, during the holiday season. No previous elf experience is required. 🎅
Ready to make a little holiday magic?
Email WishList@vistamaria.org for more information or to volunteer with us!
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Company Match Gifts
Double Your Impact At No Extra Cost
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Your generosity may be able to do even more than you think.
Many employers will match donations to Vista Maria, and some will even make a financial contribution when their employees volunteer. That means a gift you’ve already made, or time you’ve already spent helping, could have twice the impact.
It only takes a few minutes to check your company’s employee giving portal or ask your Human Resources team whether a matching program is available.
You’ve already shown up for the youth and families we serve. Let’s make that generosity go even further!
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A Season of Support
This spring and summer, supporters helped raise about $346,000 through Vista Maria events. Those funds help youth, women, and families build greater safety, stability, and opportunity.
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Fearless Heart Gala
May 14 | One Campus Martius
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At the 27th annual Fearless Heart Gala, guests celebrated Vista Maria’s history, mission, and path forward while raising $171,000 for youth, women, and families.
The evening honored Susan and Pura, who generously shared their stories and allowed us to celebrate their strength, advocacy, and success.
Guests also received an early look at the Vista Maria Housing Continuum and the next chapter taking shape on our campus.
Thank you to every guest, sponsor, volunteer, and partner who made the evening possible!
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Coursepower Golf Outing
June 1 | Dearborn Country Club
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The Coursepower Golf Outing marked its 27th year of supporting Vista Maria and raised more than $80,000 for youth and families in our community.
A message from Ermal Faulkner shared during the program captured the purpose behind the day:
“Talent is universal. Opportunities and circumstances are not.”
Because of our golfers, sponsors, volunteers, and longtime partners, Vista Maria can help create opportunities for young people whose circumstances have too often limited their choices.
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George Blaha's High Hopes Golf Invitational
June 8 | Tam-O-Shanter Country Club
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George Blaha’s High Hopes Golf Invitational, presented by Amerisure, raised nearly $95,000 for the children and families Vista Maria serves.
Vista Maria’s work has changed over time because the needs of our community have changed. The heart of the mission remains the same: helping people build safety, stability, and a stronger future.
We are grateful to George Blaha, Amerisure, the event committee, participating golfers, volunteers, and sponsors for supporting this next chapter.
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