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33rd
Annual
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day to
be held
July 15,
on Belle
Isle
Park
Youngsters
must
register
prior to
July
10th
DETROIT
- One of
the
highlights
of
summer
for more
than
34,000
youngsters
from the
Metro
Detroit
area is
the
annual
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day (MDYD).
This
year
(2015)
the
colorful
event
for
children
will
celebrate
its
historic
33rd
anniversary
on July
15. It
is the
largest
youth
event in
Michigan,
and one
of the
largest
in the
nation.
Metro
Youth
Day
began
following
altercations
between
youth
and
Detroit
merchants
in the
summer
of 1980.
Two
youngsters
and one
owner
were
killed.
The
event
was
created
to show
youngsters
that
businesses,
the
community
and
civic
organizations
do care
about
our
youth.
“Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day is a
success
story
about
people
and
organizations
working
together
to
motivate
students
to do
better
in
school,
and to
encourage
harmonious
community
relations,”
said Ed
Deeb,
co-founder
and
coordinator
of the
event.
He is
also
founder
of the
Michigan
Food and
Beverage
Association
(MFBA),
one of
the
event’s
main
sponsors.
Today,
more
than 340
community
groups
participate
in Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day.
“The
fun-filled
day
gives
kids a
chance
to enjoy
time
away
from
home in
the
middle
of
summer
while
participating
in
supervised,
constructive
setting
with
1,600
volunteers
helping
and
supervising,”
Deeb
continued.
“The day
emphasizes
education,
sportsmanship,
fair
play and
leadership.”
Youth
Day is a
catalyst
in
channeling
children’s
energy
in a
positive
and
constructive
setting.
Special
games
and
activities
are also
included
for the
growing
number
of
disabled
or
handicapped
youngsters
participating.
In
addition
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day will
feature
entertainment
from
musicians
and
singers
from
various
schools.
Also,
the 6th
annual
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day
Youth
Idol
Contest
will be
held and
performances
from
students
at
Detroit
Opera
Theater
and
Mosaic
organization.
“Today,
we are
more
than fun
and
games,”
Deeb
Said
“Originally,
the goal
was to
offer
games
and
inspire
community
goodwill
and
harmony.
”
Following
receipt
of the
Presidential
Point of
Light
Award
(No.
477), in
1991
MDYD
became
more
serious
and was
expanded
to
include
youth
guidance,
mentors,
role
models,
anti-substance
abuse
activity,
motivational
speakers,
entertainment
and
awarding
more
than 100
college
scholarships
to
graduating
high
school
seniors
each
year. To
date
more
than
1,100
scholarships
have
been
awarded
to area
graduating
high
school
seniors
from the
tri-county
area.
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day also
honors
10TH &
11TH
graders
from
area
metro
Detroit
high
schools
for
academic
achievement
and
community
service
each
year.
Activities
planed
for the
day:
• Boy
Scouts
overnight
encampment
•
College
Scholarship
and
Community
Service
Awards
on main
stage, 8
AM
•
College
Row – 8
to 10
colleges
and
universities
•
Football
Clinic
courtesy
of the
Detroit
Lions
and NFL
Alumni
•
Basketball
Clinic
courtesy
of the
Detroit
Pistons
and
Sprite
• Tennis
Clinic
courtesy
of U.S.
Tennis
Association
•
Martial
Arts
clinic
put on
by 5
time
gold
medal
winner
• Boxing
Exhibition
courtesy
of Kronk
Boxing
• Golf,
and
Lacrosse
clinics
•
Homeland
Security
and US
Customs
and
Border
Protection,
helicopter
visit
• Great
Lakes
Agricultural
Fair
Animals
•
Entertainment
on the
Pepsi
Stage
including
Youth
Choir
from
Detroit
Opera
House
and
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day Idol
Contest
winners
• Belle
Isle
Nature
Zoo
• Horse
and
Buggy
Rides
•
Education
and
Exhibit
tent
areas
• Free
lunch at
noon.
•
Mini-Workshops
throughout
the day
on
anti-bullying,
anti-crime
in
schools,
healthy
eating
and
entrepreneurship
•
Detroit
Institute
of Arts
project
•
Detroit
Public
Library
bookmobile
•
Presentation
of
Awards,
and
guest
speakers
• Mobile
Learning
Center
courtesy
of Huron
Clinton
Metroparks
• Safety
Relay
races
courtesy
of The
Parade
Company,
and the
Boys &
Girls
Clubs
•
Detroit
Fire
Department
Smoke
House
•
College
and
professional
Mascots,
and
clowns
• Pie
Eating
Contests
• and
much
more
Included
in the
33rd
annual
Metro
Detroit
Youth
Day will
be more
than 101
college
scholarships
presented
to
graduating
high
school
seniors
from
various
high
schools
in the
tri-county
area.
Also, we
will
award
memorial
scholarships
named in
honor of
the
following
individuals:
Bob
Talbert,
Detroit
Free
Press;
Jerry
White,Boy
Scouts;
Phil
Lauri,
Lauri
Bros.;
Jack
Bennett,
Grocer;
Sarah
Deeb,
AT&T;
Samuel
Logan,
Michigan
Chronicle;
Virgil
Carr,
United
Way;
Jerry
Blocker,
WWJ
Radio;
Winston
Lang,
NAACP-Detroit;
Fr.
William
Cunningham,
Eleanor
Josaitis,
Focus:Hope;
Maryann
Mahaffey,
Detroit
City
Council;
Al
Thomas,
Boy
Scouts;
Sal
Ciaramitaro,
Eastern
Market;
Raymond
Mourad,
Big Boy
;
Kay
Siblani,
Arab
American
News;
and Rev.
Ortheia
Barnes
Kennerly,
singer.
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