 |
1355
Oakman Boulevard Detroit, Michigan 48238 313.494.5500 |
| Mission Statement
History
Leadership Team
Get Involved Focus: HOPE - Celebrating Diversity Since 1968 Focus: HOPE, a civil and human rights organization founded in 1968 by Fr. William T. Cunningham (1930-1997) and Eleanor M. Josaitis, began as the decision of several people to face an acute social and moral crisis. The 1967 riot left metropolitan Detroit sharply divided along racial lines. By early 1968, shock had deepened into bitterness and hostility. New words described the new reality: polarization, white backlash, black militancy, flight. It was in this atmosphere that the Focus: HOPE co-founders felt compelled to make a difference. They wrote a mission statement and inspired a movement. The material resources available to them were minimal. But the human resources - extraordinary people from all walks of life with a dedication to the ideal of brotherhood, with courage and determination to endure - proved abundant. Focus: HOPE was born, and remains, a movement of minds, hearts, and wills committed to "intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice." In 1968, in response to a study by the Detroit Free Press and the Urban League, Focus: HOPE organized a search for evidence of widespread discrimination in food and prescription drug prices, enlisting a group of professionals from local universities, corporations, city departments, and major organizations. The Focus: HOPE study revealed that inner-city residents, principally black and poor, were paying much more for food and prescription drugs than their suburban neighbors. Published as HOPE '68, the study was the first to offer definitive proof of systematic discrimination in food pricing. But the impact of the study went far beyond exposing the conditions believed to be behind much of the violence of 1967. HOPE '68 laid the foundation for Focus: HOPE's entire approach to resolving the effects of discrimination. In 1971, after gathering scientific evidence of the effects of hunger and malnutrition on the critical early development of infants, Focus: HOPE designed a supplemental food program for children up to age six, and for pregnant and post-partum women. The program, later expanded to senior citizens, was the first and remains one of the largest Commodity Supplemental Food Programs in the country, with food provided through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to 43,000 women, children and senior citizens each month in the Detroit metropolitan area. Focus: HOPE's long term objective is to eliminate the need for supplemental food programs by providing opportunities for all people to enter the economic mainstream. Economic opportunity became Focus: HOPE's definition of civil rights and, together with its practical and intelligent approach to solving problems, led to the development of some of the highly respected education and training programs. In 1981, the organization opened its Machinist Training Institute (MTI), to provide skills development in precision machining and metalworking. More than 2,740 machinists have graduated from the program. In 1989, Focus: HOPE developed a FAST TRACK program, and in 1997 the First Step program, to help students improve their reading and math skills in order to qualify for the Focus: HOPE training programs. Students can improve their skills by as much as two grade levels in the intensive four- and seven-week programs. More than 5,800 individuals have graduated from these programs, moving up to the MTI, the Information Technologies Center, or into the job market. In 1993, a growing shortage of manufacturing engineers with hands-on skills - combined with a historical lack of access to engineering education among minorities - led Focus: HOPE to develop the Center for Advanced Technologies and to form a coalition of universities and corporations to design a 21st century curriculum for manufacturing engineering education. Students can earn associate's and bachelor's through three of the university partners: Lawrence Technological University, Wayne State University and University of Detroit Mercy. The program has graduated more than 100 students. In 1999, a new Information Technologies Center was created to provide industry-certified training in network administration and desktop & server administration. The center provides training and education in the information technology area in collaboration with industry partners, including Cisco, Microsoft, and the Computer Technology Industry Association. More than 570 students have graduated from the program and are earning competitive wages in rewarding, professional careers. Supporting these programs are subsidiary business operations with major industry contracts (Focus: HOPE Manufacturing); the Center for Children (offering high quality, affordable child care in an education environment); community arts programs; community development initiatives; a conference center, and Volunteer and Community Resources department handling 50,000 visitors per year.
Born in Detroit in 1930, William T. Cunningham attended St. Theresa and St. Mary's of Redford grade schools. In 1943 he began his studies for the priesthood at Sacred Heart Seminary and continued them at St. John's Provincial Seminary. Ordained in 1955, he was a parish priest for five years, and was a founding member of the Archbishop's Commission on Human Relations. He then did graduate work at Marquette University, the University of Detroit, Wayne State University, and the University of London. He joined the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary as an English teacher in 1961. For eight years, Fr. Cunningham was a columnist and book review editor of the Michigan Catholic. In 1969 he was named pastor of the Church of the Madonna in Detroit, and had served six years as a Vicar and six years as a Consultor for the Archdiocese of Detroit. In 1968, Fr. Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis founded Focus: HOPE. Focus: HOPE is a nationally recognized civil and human rights organization in Detroit. It came into being after the city's devastating 1967 riots. With an interracial band of volunteers, Fr. Cunningham and Josaitis worked to bring the black and white communities together and prevent another riot. Throughout the years, Focus: HOPE developed numerous programs in its fight to overcome racism, poverty and injustice. It offers a food program, which provides food to 43,000 seniors, mothers and children each month; career training programs in machining, engineering and information technologies; Montessori-based child care; business conference facilities; community arts projects; and other outreach initiatives. Currently, the organization employs 500 colleagues and has 51,000 supporters. Through Focus: HOPE, thousands of individuals - especially women and minorities - have become financially independent. Fr. Cunningham was named to the State of Michigan's Task Force on Vandalism and Violence in the Schools, and to both state and city Task Forces on Hunger and Malnutrition. He served on the State Holiday Commission for Martin Luther King Jr. and on the Citizens' Commission to Improve Michigan Courts. He was also a member of the Detroit Public Schools Dropout Prevention Collaborative, the Detroit Strategic Planning Project, and the Detroit Casino Gaming Commission. Fr. Cunningham served as a member of the State of Michigan 2000 Committee to achieve the six national education goals. And he was selected to be a panelist for the U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. His awards included:
Father Cunningham had honorary membership in the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (the SME's highest honor). He possessed honorary doctorates from Marygrove College, University of Detroit Mercy, Madonna University, Lawrence Technological University, and the University of Michigan. Sienna Heights College awarded him a Medal of Honor. On May 26, 1997, Fr. Cunningham died after a battle with cancer.
Eleanor M. Josaitis co-founded Focus: HOPE with Father William T. Cunningham (1930-1997) in the aftermath of the 1967 Detroit riots. The metropolitan civil and human rights organization works to eliminate racism, poverty and injustice primarily by accessing individuals to the financial mainstream. Since its establishment in 1968, Focus: HOPE has grown to nearly 350 colleagues supported by 51,000 volunteers and donors.
Mrs. Josaitis has provided leadership and advocacy since 1971 for Focus: HOPE's Commodity Supplemental Food Program for mothers, children, and senior citizens. She has made important contributions to public awareness of hunger and malnutrition, to the formulation of national policy and responsible legislation, and to effective program management. She chaired the Commodity Supplemental Food Program Steering Committee and hosted the White House Conference on Aging. Mrs. Josaitis has played a major role in the development of Focus: HOPE's internationally recognized Centers of Opportunity education and training programs. These include Fast Track, Machinist Training Institute, Center for Advanced Technologies, and Information Technologies Center. The organization's Center for Children offers early childhood education, infant and toddler care, and a before/after school program. Focus: HOPE also has extensive community and economic development activities, a community arts program that promotes understanding of different cultures, and conference facilities.
Currently, Mrs. Josaitis serves on: • Visiting Committee for the University of Michigan Business School • Walsh College 's President's Advisory Council • Advisory Board for the Arab-American and Chaldean Council • Michigan Council for Labor and Economic Growth • Community Impact Cabinet at United Way • Advisory Board for the Detroit Executive Service Corps • Road to Renaissance • Detroit Economic Club • New Detroit Inc. • HP Devco, Inc. • Karmanos Cancer Institute • Detroit Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau • Loyola High School • Covenant House • Crime Stoppers
Mrs. Josaitis has received honorary doctoral degrees from Wayne State University, University of Michigan, University of Notre Dame, Central Michigan University, Lawrence Technological University, University of Detroit Mercy, Madonna University, Sienna Heights University, Olivet College, New York City Technical College, Michigan State University, Eastern Michigan University, and Walsh College.
In 2002, Mrs. Josaitis was named one of the 100 Most Influential Women by Crain's Detroit Business. She also has been inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame and into the Heritage Hall of Fame at Cobo Hall. Her other awards include: Marygrove College 's Theresa Maxis Award Assumption University 's Christian Culture Series Gold Medal Award University of Michigan School of Business Administration Leadership Award Arab American Institute Foundation's Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Award Detroit NAACP Presidential Award The Detroit News Michiganian of the Year National Council of Negro Women's Achiever Award Anti-Defamation League's Women of Achievement Award Ford Employees African-Ancestry Network's 2002 Heritage Award 1998 Goodfellow of the Year 1999 Distinguished Warrior by the Detroit Urban League The National Council of Women of the United States Inc.'s Woman of Conscience Award Boy Scouts of America 's Good Scout Award, the first woman to receive this award Jeffery W. Barry Award for Educational Excellence and Service from Walsh College Wonder Woman Award by the Women's Survival Center of Oakland County Wade McCree Award from the Federal Bar Association World Citizen Award from EDS Education award from Society of Automotive Engineers Peacemaker award from Wayne State University 's Center for Peace and Conflict Studies City Year Detroit Lifetime of Idealism Award Woman of the Year by YWCA of Western Wayne County Michigan Chamber of Commerce's 2005 Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership Grant Thornton Leader and Innovator of the Year, 2006 Dr. Charles H. Wright Award for Excellence in Community Activism, 2006 2006 National Caring Award, Caring Institute, Washington D.C. Robert B. Johnson Diversity Award, Detroit Medical Center , 2006 Others award, Salvation Army, 2006 Lifetime Service Award, Gleaners Food Bank, 2007 Clara Barton Ambassador Award, American Red Cross, 2007 Belle Image Award, Bennett College Alumnae Association, 2007 Distinguished Women's Award, Northwood University, 2007 Shining Light Unsung Hero Award, Detroit Free Press and Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, 2007 W.E.B. DuBois Community Activist Award, Highland Park and Southwest Detroit NAACP Branches Freedom and Justice Award, Detroit Branch NAACP, 2008 Diversity Award, Detroit Community Health Connection, 2008 Crime Stoppers of Michigan Non-Profit Honoree, 2008 Phoenix Award, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, 2008 Champion for Children, 2009, Michigan Association of School Administrators Lifetime Achievement Award, Engineering Society of Detroit, 2009
She and her husband, Donald, live in Detroit. They have five children and seven grandchildren.
Chief Executive Officer
William
F. Jones, Jr. became Chief Executive Officer of Focus: HOPE in
Jones
has been involved with Focus: HOPE since 1999 when he was elected
Jones
brings to Focus: HOPE a range of experience from a 26-year career
In
2000, Jones was named Vice President Corporate Financial Controlling,
and remained with the manufacturer until 2004 at which time he was
transferred to Chrysler Financial to serve in a dual role as its
Vice President for DaimlerChrysler Financial Services and the President
and Chief Executive
A
native of Hampton, Virginia, Jones earned a B.A. in Psychology in
1973 and an MBA in 1981
Timothy M. Duperron Chief Operating Officer
Tim
Duperron has been a key member of the Focus: HOPE leadership team
since 1998. He recently returned to the Chief Operating Officer
position after serving two years as interim CEO of Focus: HOPE.
Duperron manages the After
a 34-year career with Ford Motor Company, Duperron took an early
retirement in 1998 to work with Co-founder Eleanor Josaitis during
the difficult time after Father William Cunningham's death. He won
the respect and confidence of Focus: HOPE colleagues during that
challenging period. He became the organization's first Chief Operating
Officer, a position he held off Duperron began his career as a skilled trades apprentice and progressed through many assignments at Ford Motor Company. He was on assignment as plant manager of Ford's Cleveland Casting Plant when Duperron accepted an early retirement to join Focus: HOPE. Duperron served in the U.S. Navy and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayne State University and an MBA from Central Michigan University .
Martha Schultz was promoted to Chief Financial Officer after serving as director of finance and treasurer for two years. She came to Focus: HOPE in August 2000 as controller. Previously, she served 10 years as controller for University of Detroit Mercy where her responsibilities included all fiscal operations and auxiliary services for the largest Catholic educational institution in Michigan, serving a population of more than 7,000 students. From 1983, she served as controller for Mercy College, leading the combined finance team through the merger of Mercy College with the University of Detroit in 1990. Schultz began her career in 1981 working with The Senior Alliance and the Area Agency on Aging. In 2007, Schultz was selected Nonprofit CFO of the Year by Crain's Detroit Business. She has been a leading advocate with the Coalition of Higher Education Assistance Organization, serving on the committee to draft key legislation for Human Health and Services loan programs. She is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Sisters of Mercy, where she served as chair of the Finance Committee. Schultz currently serves as treasurer for the Boards of Community Choice Credit Union, and St. Genevieve Catholic Church in Livonia. Schultz holds a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science from Madonna University.
Lloyd Reuss, former president of General Motors Corporation, serves as Executive Dean of the Center for Advanced Technologies. Reuss donates his time to Focus: HOPE because of his strong commitment to the organization's mission. Reuss retired from General Motors in 1992 after 36 years of service. In 1993, he became a member of the GM Corporate Advisory Council and later that year joined Focus: HOPE. In his capacity of Executive Dean, he serves as the head of the engineering education program which was created in collaboration with industry and university partners. A native of Belleville, Illinois, Reuss received a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Missouri in 1957 and subsequently served as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He also is a graduate of the Senior Executive Course at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Reuss is a member of Pi Tau Sigma and Tau Beta Pi honor fraternities and the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). In 1992, he received the Engineering Society of Detroit Foundation's prestigious Leadership Award and was honored for his significant contributions to the engineering profession and for his outstanding leadership in the fields of science and engineering. In 1995, Reuss received the SAE's Medal of Honor for his leadership in technical and educational activities. Patrick O. Lindsey Director
of Government Affairs & External Communication As Director of Government Affairs & External Communication, Patrick Lindsey serves as the key liaison between the organization and federal, state, and local government officials, both elected and appointed. Lindsey is responsible for the overall operation of the Government Affairs and the Communications departments which support Focus: HOPE's public policy programs and funding goals.
A resident of Detroit, Lindsey joined Focus: HOPE in 2009 after a 20-year career with Chrysler where he served most recently as senior manager of state relations at Chrysler, LLC. In that role, Lindsey managed state and local government relations, including legislative lobbying, negotiation of economic incentives on corporate investments, and establishing and maintaining relationships with key elected and public officials. He managed a government relations portfolio consisting of 10 states and the City of Detroit.
Before working in government relations, Lindsey was manager of community relations for seven years at Chrysler and prior to that worked in corporate and plant security. He also serves as pastor of Greater Bibleway Baptist Church.
A graduate of the University of Michigan where he earned a B.A. in political science, Lindsey also attended the Senior Executives Program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, the Institute on Corporate Community Relations at Boston College and the Public Disputes Program at Harvard / Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
His affiliations include the City of Detroit Workforce Development Board; Eight Mile Boulevard Association; Warren Conner Development Coalition; Detroit Entrepreneurship Institute, Inc.; Family Development, Inc.; Leadership Detroit, and Leadership Oakland.
Julian E. Pate III, a former Ford Motor Company executive, re-joined Focus: HOPE's leadership team in 2002 as Director of Education. He had worked for Focus: HOPE previously as professional development manager where he developed the student/mentor program and implemented a formal recruiting process to place graduating students into jobs. Pate had worked at Ford for 30 years, ending his career there as a director responsible for global logistical management for all prototype vehicle programs for Ford Automotive Operations. His experience also includes working as director of engineering at Gilreath Manufacturing, Inc. in Southfield where he established a product design engineering and project management department.
Arnold Pirtle serves as Director of Facilities and Community Affairs. Pirtle joined Focus: HOPE in 1998 as the assistant to the Chief Financial Officer and after demonstrating a knack for resolving issues was promoted to manager of facilities in Fall 1999. In that position, he created and developed the operation of the Facilities team which has reduced reliance on outside contractors, improved technical capabilities and increased departmental support efficiency across campus. Pirtle has led and been successful in the completion of numerous Capital Projects totaling more than $16 million: the Machinist Training Institute (MTI) renovation, the Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) build-out, the Logisitics Warehouse expansion, the CAT Steam line to "B" Building and MTI, and a host of other similar type projects that have changed the face of Focus: HOPE. He also championed the successful ISO 14001 certification bringing Focus: HOPE its first environmental management system, and is currently overseeing the full integration of all Focus: HOPE quality systems, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and TS16949. He holds a Juris Doctorate Degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.
Tim Sullivan became Director of Manufacturing in 1999 after a long career in manufacturing. His career in the automotive supply field began in 1976 when he was hired as a manufacturer's representative with the Detroit firm Pietrosante and Banich. He spent more than 10 years there, primarily learning the business of selling to General Motors, Ford and DaimlerChrysler. In 1987, Sullivan moved to Gerard Thomas Company which represents firms from Europe, Korea and Japan that sell products to the Big Three automakers. Sullivan oversaw the GM account. In 1989, he accepted an executive position for GRM Industries. The Michigan company supplies stamped metal automotive parts. Sullivan managed the $40 million GM account. Sullivan left GRM for Focus: HOPE in February, 1992. Originally planning to stay for one year as he created a sales department, he continued to manage that area until December, 1995. At that time, he became manufacturing and sales manager for the organization's companies, F&H and High Quality. In December 1997, he became assistant manufacturing manager for all Focus: HOPE for-profit entities. A year later he was named manager. In September, 1999 he was promoted to director. Detroit born and raised, Sullivan attended Catholic schools and Central Michigan University School of Business in 1973. He is married and has five children. Focus: HOPE Board of Directors
Focus: HOPE Advisory Board
Volunteer Opportunities Focus: HOPE enlists the support of volunteers for all sorts of projects -- from boarding up abandoned homes to delivering food to senior citizens. It's a mutually beneficial relationship. Our community benefits from the work of our volunteers -- and the volunteers gain a new perspective on racism, poverty and the issues facing our society.
Packing and Delivering Food for Senior Citizens
We have an ongoing need for volunteers to deliver boxes of nutritionally-balanced food to the nearly 10,000 low-income senior citizens who have no transportation or are otherwise unable to pick up food from our food centers. The monthly food deliveries are a massive undertaking requiring numerous volunteers to pack food boxes and deliver them to seniors throughout Wayne , Oakland , Macomb and Washtenaw counties.
We make the volunteer process as flexible as possible. You can sign up as a group to pack food boxes at our Central Warehouse, 6500 East Davison . Or you can adopt a senior citizen to deliver food to each month. Or you can show up on a Saturday morning and get a few boxes of food to deliver. Once you do it, you'll see why the need is so great and why our seniors are so grateful for your generous donation of time. To volunteer, call our Food Program at 313-494-4440. Tutoring Students Our education and training programs are at the heart of our efforts to overcome racism and poverty. We always are looking for volunteers who can spend a little one-on-one time with a student who needs assistance with math, reading, and other academic areas. Consider sharing your expertise ith a student who needs just a little focused attention to move forward in his / her studies.
Community Development Projects
Volunteers are essential to our neighborhood revitalization efforts! We enlist their help in a wide array of activities, from cleaning up parks and streets, to boarding up houses and cutting down weeds. It's all part of our efforts to strengthen the community around our neighborhood. Volunteers inevitably leave with a strong feeling of satisfaction after working on these projects.
Support our WALK
Each fall, Focus: HOPE coordinates a WALK that brings people from all over southeast Michigan to our campus. It is exciting to see people of all ages, races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds walking together in support of the fight against racism and poverty. The event typically attracts several thousand supporters and requires assistance from dozens of supporters.
Watch the web site for specific volunteer opportunities and contact information.
Focus: HOPE Environmental Management System Policy Focus: HOPE is committed to assess the environmental impacts of its activities and products in order to develop its environmental management programs, and to reduce whenever practicable these impacts through the establishment of appropriate objectives and targets. In particular, we have established the following objectives, which will be achieved through continued execution of our Environmental Management System:
In accordance with our Environmental Management System requirements, the Focus: HOPE environmental performance, objectives and targets will be reviewed periodically to assess progress toward continual improvement. This policy statement will be made available to all colleagues, candidates and the public. Eleanor Josaitis, Co-founder |
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Father
William T. Cunningham (1930-1997)
Eleanor
M. Josaitis
William
F. Jones, Jr. 
Martha
Schultz
Lloyd
Reuss
Julian
E. Pate III
Arnold
Pirtle
Tim
W. Sullivan
