THE CHARITY WITHOUT OVERHEAD THE OLD NEWSBOYS’ GOODFELLOW FUN OF DETROIT
Help Us To Help Them.
The Charity Without Overhead
How it all began James J. Brady remembered his own poverty as a child when he saw this cartoon in The Detroit News in 1914. He remembered his days as a newsboy and all the unfortunate children without parents, including those whose parents were simply too poor to make their children’s dreams come true. Jim Brady took it upon himself to find a solution. And he did. With the help of friends, all former newsboys now prominent in business and the professions, he founded the Old Newsboys organization. These men decided to sell newspapers on their old corners and use the money to provide Christmas packages for needy children who otherwise would have no Christmas. They took as their pledge, “No Kiddie without a Christmas.” The idea of helping needy children quickly grew and the ranks of the Old Newsboys swelled with eager, big-hearted helpers from many walks of life—with all proceeds going directly to this worthy cause. Now, a century later, the seed Jim Brady planted in Detroit has grown to a concept that can be found all over the world.
“No Kiddie without a Christmas” The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit: Dedicated to remembering forgotten children at Christmas and throughout the year.
The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit is unique among charitable organizations. Every dollar contributed buys a full dollar’s worth of help for a child in need.
What makes the Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit stand apart The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit is indeed unique among charitable organizations: every cent collected from the public goes to the children. All administrative expenses of the Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit are covered by interest income as well as dues from the members themselves—a group of over 200 determined men and women who each year accomplish the difficult task of fulfilling their promise of “No Kiddie without a Christmas.” The Goodfellows membership is made up of successful business and professional people, some of whom received packages themselves as children. On Goodfellow Sales Day, members appear on the streets of Detroit to sell a special edition of The Detroit News and Free Press to raise funds to pay for the carefully selected merchandise that will be included in the holiday packages. The packages are then distributed to thousands of underprivileged children in Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, River Rouge and Harper Woods. Funds are also raised through members’ solicitations, special benefits, bequests, and corporate and foundation support. There isn’t a once a year charity. The Goodfellows work year round. They provide free shoes and emergency dental care to those children in need, support various agencies that conduct summer camping programs and give Wayne State University’s School of Journalism scholarship funding.
THE OLD NEWSBOYS’ GOODFELLOW FUN OF DETROIT
The Charity Without Overhead
Where our funding comes from The Goodfellows raise more than $1.2 million annually. Funding comes from a variety of sources including: • Goodfellows Annual Sales Day where we sell special edition newspapers Members’ solicitations • Corporate and foundation gifts • Legacies and bequests • Special benefits like the Annual Tribute Breakfast • Wayne County, City of Detroit, Detroit Public Schools, 36th District Court and other entities that participate in payroll deduction programs
Programs we provide Our primary mission is to purchase merchandise and distribute more than 35,000 holiday gift packages to needy children in Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, River Rouge and Harper Woods. We also fund other valuable programs including: • Our emergency dental care program in partnership with the University of Detroit Mercy Dental School • Footing the bill for shoes for more than 1,000 youngsters annually in partnership with Mr. Alan’s Shoes • Camperships for thousands of kids to attend camps throughout the state of Michigan • Scholarships to Wayne State University’s School of Journalism
We reflect our community Our executive board is made up strictly of volunteers who generously give their time, efforts, commitment and fundraising expertise. There are nearly 300 members of the Detroit Goodfellows. Each year we honor an individual at our Annual Tribute Breakfast with the “Edward H. McNamara” Goodfellow of the Year Award. Past Goodfellow honorees include:
2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001
Alfred A. Taubman Kid Rock Alan Mulally Dick and Gail Purtan Ron Gettelfinger Honorable Damon J. Keith Robert Ficano Honorable Dave Bing Jennifer Granholm & Daniel Mulhern Hoot McInerney Lisa and William Clay Ford Jr. Debbie and John Dingell
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
George “Sparky” Anderson Cynthia and Edsel B. Ford II Eleanor Josiatis Connie and Robert Eaton Ernest Lofton Lucille and Edward McNamara Trudy DunCombe and Dennis W. Archer Mary Ann and Art Van Elslander Marian and Michael Ilitch Ernie Harwell Bo Schembechler
Making children’s dreams come true The Goodfellows are based on a strong belief: “That there is nothing so despairing or forlorn as a youngster who is deprived of the tradition of the holiday season ... that to deny helpless children the pleasure of participating in this joyful occasion is just not right. ... Such impressions can be highly hurtful ... especially so in the formative years of children’s lives.” The Goodfellows enjoy generous public goodwill in Detroit. The schools, police and fire departments, courts, newspapers, many civic and governmental agencies and businesses—large and small— have assisted the Goodfellows in their program to warm the hearts of children both during the holidays and throughout the year. Over the years, the Goodfellows have raised millions of dollars, and spent those millions to help needy children. Every cent goes to the children. It’s a scene worth repeating. If you would like additional information, our representative will gladly contact you. Please write, call 586-775-6139, visit our web site at www.detroitgoodfellows.org or email our director, Sari Klok-Schneider, at sarigoodfellows@gmail.com
Income tax note All contributions made to the Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit are tax deductible to donors as provided by Section 170 of The Code. The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit is classified as a non-profit foundation by the Internal Revenue Service, as defined by Section 501(c)3, and is therefore eligible to receive exempt gifts from private foundations. State of Michigan Solicitation License # MICS-149
Over 35,000 needy children in Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, River Rouge and Harper Woods say, “Thanks for your contribution.”
THE OLD NEWSBOYS’ GOODFELLOW FUN OF DETROIT
The Charity Without Overhead
THE OLD NEWSBOY’S GOODFELLOW FUND OF DETROIT P.O. Box 44444 • Detroit, MI 48244 • www.oldnewsboysgoodfellows.org