March 30, 2006

LANSING – The recently established Mentor Michigan Leadership Council has partnered with Detroit’s College for Creative Studies to develop a series of public service announcements (PSAs) to be shown throughout the state.  The PSAs, which supplement the mentor recruitment efforts of Mentor Michigan, will begin airing in May 2006.

The service announcements were taped during the council’s first meeting, hosted earlier this month by First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern.  Mulhern spoke about the importance of the council’s advisory role to Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and its work to provide information to the citizens of Michigan about the impact a caring adult can make in the life of a child.

“The most successful people in the world will tell you that they’ve had a great mentor who taught them how to be the person they are today,” Mulhern said. “This meeting is the first step in the ultimate goal of making sure every child in Michigan has at least one adult who cares about their well-being and encourages that child to go on to college and dream big dreams.”

The council has already started working to recruit more adults to mentor; raise awareness about the importance of mentoring; promote quality standards for mentoring programs; and speak on behalf of mentors, mentoring organizations, and the expansion of mentoring in Michigan.

The Mentor Michigan Leadership Council was created by Granholm to support and promote mentoring efforts in the state and to educate citizens on the benefits gained for everyone involved in mentoring.  Council members are:

Kip S. Bohne of Holt, marketing and promotion manager for WSYM TV FOX 47.

Joseph P. Crawford of Grand Rapids, editorial page editor for the Grand Rapids Press.

James J. Dreyer of Byron Center, president of Event Marketing Enterprises, Inc.

Michael D. Fezzey of Farmington, president and general manager of WJR Radio.

Randolph K. Flechsig of Ada, president of Davenport University.

Linda Gillum of Bloomfield Hills, adjunct faculty member at the University of Michigan Medical School.

Joyce V. Hayes-Giles of Detroit, senior vice president of customer service for DTE Energy.

Smallwood Holoman of Midland, manager of Dow Promise with Dow Chemical Company.

Denise Ilitch of Bingham Farms, president of Illitch Enterprises, Inc.

Harry J. Knopke of Grand Rapids, president of Aquinas College.

John S. Lore of Bay City, senior vice president of Detroit Medical Center

Daniel J. Piepszowski of Detroit, vice president of programs for New Detroit, Inc.

Patricia A. Ryan O’Day of Marquette, president and owner of Marquette Monthly.

Geneva J. Williams of Detroit, president and CEO of City Connect Detroit.