8 Leaders Honored at Event 

Focus: HOPE recognized eight community leaders at its Rubies of HOPE 40th Anniversary Ball. More than 500 guests gathered at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center to celebrate the organization's impact on the city.

Honorees included co-founders, Father William T. Cunningham,
who passed away in 1997, and Eleanor M. Josaitis, who were

guided by a mission of using “intelligent and practical action to overcome racism, poverty and injustice.”

In addition to the co-founders, honorees include:

• The Honorable Damon J. Keith, chief judge for the United States Court of Appeals and a nationally-recognized jurist,
• for his outstanding leadership on civil rights issues.

• United States Senator Carl Levin, an ardent supporter of Focus: HOPE throughout his career, for his leadership in government and for facilitating government partnerships with Focus: HOPE.

• Lloyd E. Reuss, who upon retiring as president of General Motors came to Focus: HOPE as a volunteer to lead its innovative engineering program in the Center for Advanced Technologies. He also chairs the Focus: HOPE Advisory Board.

• Neal Shine (1930–2007), a journalist and eventual publisher
  of the Detroit Free Press, for his leadership and commitment
  to the City of Detroit and the Focus: HOPE mission.

• Noel M. Tichy, Ph.D., professor and author, at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, for his leadership in education and for engaging business leaders and business students in the work of Focus: HOPE. He has profiled
  Focus: HOPE in several books.

• William S. White, president and CEO of the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, for his longstanding support of Focus: HOPE's education and training programs.

“We are grateful to our many partners who supported our mission and helped us help others,” said Josaitis.

Senator Carl Levin

Lloyd E. Reuss

The family of Neal Shine

From left to right: William F. Jones, William S. White, Eleanor Josaitis