Record Youth Crowd Overpowers Belle Isle's Athletic Field

DETROIT, July 14 /PRNewswire/ -- A record number of youth gathered on the Athletic Field of Belle Isle Wednesday (July 14) for a day of free supervised fun and lunch.  More than 37,000 children between the ages of 8 and 15 years of age participated in the 28th annual Metro Detroit Youth Day sponsored by area corporations, small businesses, civic and children's organizations and the food industry.

The youngsters came from the tri-county area, including Detroit; Wayne, Macomb and Oakland Counties; and Flint.  They arrived in big, yellow school buses or were dropped off at Belle Isle.

More than 1,500 volunteers helped the children enjoy various clinics with sports celebrities, arts and craft projects, games and entertainment.   There were boxing demonstrations and pony rides; the Fire Department Safety House and military vehicles; college information and a ham radio station; and a wide variety of other activities.  

Fifty-five high school graduating seniors received college scholarships. Metro Detroit Youth Day and the Michigan Youth Appreciation Foundation presented the awards.

On stage the youths were entertained by The Flu Fly Boys, Dre Hill, Tone Tone, clowns, and Teen Idol contest winners: Ms. Jasmine, Emily King, BOI, the Good Kids, Jamar Torrence and Click the Dance Sensation.

Adults honored with Distinguished Service Awards included: Marla Drutz, WDIV TV general manager; Paul Gielegheim, Macomb County Commissioner; John Thomas, an entrepreneur; Jim Tuman, founder of Jimmy's Kids and motivational speaker;  Bishop Edgar Vann II, from Second Ebenezer Church and presenter of the day's invocation; and Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan Surgeon General.   Motown singer Martha Reeves sang the National Anthem.

Other dignitaries present included: Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano, State Senators Hansen Clarke and Martha Scott, and Detroit Council Members Charles Pugh, Ken Cockrel and Brenda Jones.

Masters of Ceremonies were Randy Henry of WDIV-TV4 and Dr. Darius Summers of WJLB 98 Radio.

"It was a beautiful day for our youth," said Ed Deeb, coordinator of Metro Detroit Youth Day and president of  Michigan Food and Beverage Association, a major sponsor of Youth Day.  "Thanks to God, the weather was a perfect summer day with no rain.

"This is a positive day for the youngsters and it shows them that the community cares about them," Deeb said.  There were more than 320 organizations participating in the event.

"Without all these organizations, sponsors and volunteers we wouldn't be able to put on this huge affair," Deeb added.

The day culminated in a "big clean up" where children filled large garbage bags of trash from the Athletic Field and received prizes before heading to the buses to go home.

Metro Detroit Youth Day is the largest youth event in Michigan and the Midwest.  

SOURCE Michigan Food and Beverage Association