SUNNY at the University of Michigan

SUNNY's mission is to make a positive impact on the lives of children in foster care by providing them with educational and emotional support. Our history is rooted in the passion for creating a nurturing environment for these children, and we continuously strive to expand our programs and reach more individuals in need.

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Sunny was founded in December of 2019 on the University of Michigan campus with one goal in mind: to shine a light on the lives of foster kids'. 

 

Our initial desire was to hold one monthly event with Christ Child House– a residential care facility– in Detroit and then later expand to other facilities. 

 

In January of 2020, after a midnight bake sale, we held our first event at a donated basketball court in the South End of Dearborn, Michigan. In February of 2020, we held our second event at the Detroit Historical Museum. In March of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred and we had to pivot.

 

Despite seeing the positive impact that our monthly events held with the kids, we were no longer able to conduct in-person contact, and frankly, there was no need for it as larger problems were looming. Due to the need to pivot to online learning and lack of resources and funds the home had, we supplied them with laptops for each child, PPE for staff and children, trauma bears, and home cooked meals when the home's cook was not able to come into work because they had caught COVID-19. 

 

Post-pandemic, we have pivoted back to in person events and expanded to 4 residential care facilities– Christ Child Society, Our House, Girlstown, and Vista Maria. We hold a monthly event with each of the children and teens from the homes aimed at fostering mentorship and positive experiences. We cater each event to what the children themselves ask for in handwritten lists/requests so we know this is directly what the children want.

 

We have seen immense improvement with the children and teens that we work with and we credit it to consistency. We strive to be consistent in our services and events offered and are excited to continue doing this work