Annual Christmas Party

Teens and Homeless Families Build Bonds through Sharing during Holiday Season

 Led by RWF founder and president Rhonda Walker of WDIV-TV 4, teens and volunteers host an annual Christmas party for families at the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries’ Genesis House II homeless shelter. The Foundation adopted the shelter, which provides transitional housing for about 60 women and their children, five years ago as part of its annual community outreach project. The purpose of the event is to emphasize the importance of service.

 “This event encourages our teens to consider what they can share with others to illustrate and illuminate the real meaning of the season: giving,” said Walker. “All activities are designed to provide teens and volunteers with hands-on opportunities to experience the joy of giving and reinforce the responsibility we all have to help others.”

Teens and volunteers serve residents a hearty holiday feast with all the trimmings, courtesy of Patrick Coleman and Beans & Cornbread of Southfield. The group also distributes toys to children and gift bags filled with toiletries and other items to the women. The RWF teens play games and participate in arts and crafts activities with the children.

The women and children of Genesis House II are not the only ones who benefit from participating in the holiday party. While the emphasis is placed on highlighting the benefits of benevolence, the activity is also designed to help teens build skills in critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making.

“Shelter residents give personal, emotional testimonies about their experiences. These stories of struggle, sacrifice, and strength teach important life lessons about making choices, managing challenges, and maintaining commitment,” said Walker. “This activity not only gives us all wonderful memories that we cherish for a lifetime, but it also shows teens that everyone has something valuable to give to others, whether it be time, talent, money, or experience. Sometimes, the best present we can give is our presence.”

Making a List and Checking It Twice

The Rhonda Walker Foundation accepts donations of toys for the children and items to prepare gift bags for shelter residents. Contributions of new, unwrapped toys and toiletries, gloves, hats, scarves, journals, calendars, note pads, perfume, or other articles that women need are appreciated. To find out how your organization can help RWF spread holiday cheer and goodwill through sponsorship or donation of in-kind goods and services, click here.

Rhonda Walker Foundation and Comerica Help Teens Build Futures They Can Bank On During “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” Event

The Rhonda Walker Foundation (RWF) and Comerica Bank recently teamed up to give teenage girls an opportunity to learn about careers in banking and finance during the foundation’s annual “Take Our Daughters to Work” day event. As the sole sponsor of this year’s activities, Comerica provided 18 young women from the foundation with breakfast, lunch, and the opportunity to witness firsthand a day in the life of a female professional.

“Educating our teens about the variety of careers available to them and empowering them to make choices about their futures is one of the foundation’s priorities. By giving them the chance to interact with strong, smart, and successful women, we hope they begin to consider the possibilities, set goals, and work hard to make their dreams a reality,” said Rhonda Walker, RWF founder and president and anchor at WDIV-TV 4. “I am grateful to Comerica for sharing and supporting our vision.”

  Comerica matched the teens with corporate executives from a variety of departments, including community affairs, human resources, and accounting. The teens shadowed staff at the company’s downtown headquarters, attended meetings, checked voice mail and e-mail messages, and performed general office duties.

“Take Our Daughters to Work Day” is a national campaign observed each year on the fourth Thursday in April. Designed to be more than a career day, the event gives youth a chance to explore how what they are learning in school is applied in the real world, expand their thinking about the world of work, and express their ideas about what it takes to achieve a successful work-life balance.

This marked the second year that the Rhonda Walker Foundation has hosted a “Take Our Daughters to Work Day” activities. Last year, the foundation partnered with General Motors and other organizations to provide teen girls with a hands-on introduction to the business world and information about careers.

RWF hopes to provide the teens with more professional learning experiences, including job shadowing, internships, and summer jobs.

“The Foundation is committed to helping young girls realize their promise and reach their potential,” said Walker. “Our goal is to help them develop an ability to think critically, solve problems, and communicate with all types of people in a variety of situations. Regular career development activities that allow them to observe and practice these skills are crucial to their personal and professional growth. Combined with our other activities, these types of opportunities help them build a solid foundation for success.”

If your organization is interested in providing or supporting career building opportunities for RWF teens, click here.

24-Hour Girl Talk: Program and Pajama Party Teach Teens about Purpose, Poise, and Preparation

“24-Hour Girl Talk” is an annual program and pajama party designed to provide teens with information and resources needed to chart a course for success. Girls participate in a variety of workshops and activities that reinforce the importance of life skills, learning, and leadership. Presenters focus on issues such as health, education, and communication and share personal stories and success strategies that encourage teens to set goals, make positive choices, and honor themselves. The teens also practice expressing themselves through fun activities such as art, dance, and group discussion during the pajama party.

  Past speakers are as follows:

• Dr. Miller who discussed women’s health issues;

• Pete Thomas, a former contestant and the $100,000 winner from season two of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser,” who stressed the importance of fitness and nutrition as part of a healthy lifestyle; and

• Erica Sanders, Interim Director of Recruitment and Operations at the University of Michigan, and Michael Guy, Associate Director of Admissions at Central Michigan University, who shared tips to assist the teens with college preparation and planning.