This Club Wants to Lead the Nation in Helping Homeless Veterans
What started as a challenge from an Ohio CEO has turned into thousands of dollars for homeless veterans in Michigan.
Maureen Tobin, district director for the Lincoln Park Exchange Club, said the club partnered with Veterans Matter, a Toledo-based organization that helps homeless veterans get housing, after a fortuitous meeting at Lincoln Park Days a few years ago.
“Their CEO, Ken Leslie, came to us during Lincoln Park Days and asked if we would get involved,” she said. “We accepted the challenge and raised $10,000 the first year and have continued doing the fundraiser ever since.”
Entering its fourth year, the Lincoln Park Exchange Club’s Rally Against Veteran Homelessness has helped house more than 500 Michigan veterans and their families. This year’s edition includes entertainment from local rockers Fifty Amp Fuse and Andrews Sisters tribute band In The Mood. Both groups are donating their time and talent to the event, a trend extending to the host venue — Crystal Gardens Banquet Center in Southgate — according to Tobin.
“This whole program is run by donations,” she said. “We do ticket sales, but the bands donated their time, the hall donated their time, all the raffle items are donated by businesses and friends. The Downriver community coming together to help us do this is nothing short of amazing.”
In addition to the two bands and raffle items ranging from $1,000 cash and 100 gift baskets to flat screen TVs and a George Thorogood-signed guitar, Anne Carlini from 101 WRIF will emcee the event. The Vietnam Veterans of America will be presenting the colors along with the Junior ROTC from Lincoln Park High School.
Tobin also said state Rep. Cara Clemente (D-Lincoln Park), U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-12th District) and Wayne County Commissioner Ilona Varga (D-Lincoln Park) are all supporters of the event and plan on attending.
Veterans Matter has a partnership with the National Exchange Club, a service organization founded in Detroit in 1911. Each year, the two organizations hold rallies nationwide to raise money for homeless veterans. Over the past three years, the Lincoln Park Exchange Club has raised more funds than any other club.
“In my experience, Maureen and the folks in Lincoln Park are one of the most veteran-compassionate clubs in the country,” Leslie said. “They’ve helped us house 505 veterans in the state of Michigan over the past three years.”
Leslie said the Michigan chapter of Veterans Matter started with a donation from journalist and author Mitch Albom in 2014. Since then, the organization has been trying to make good on its mission to “house as many homeless veterans as we can, as fast as we can, to provide a fresh start.”
Billed as the “11-11@7 Rally to End Veteran Homelessness,” the event will take place on Veterans Day at 7 p.m. For more information, call 313-980-6711.