Events - James H. Cole Foundation

Posted on December 16, 2024 by jhcfadm

James H. Cole Legacy Foundation 2025 Heroes & Hope Unveiling Event

At the Silver Garden’s Event Center on November 2, 2024, the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation revealed its 2025 Heroes & Hope Calendar, a significant moment in the annual celebration of dedication and community outreach. This eagerly awaited reveal highlighted the enduring spirit and compassion that our local heroes exemplify. Here’s a look back at this inspiring evening.

The Journey to the Heroes and Hope Calendar

The Heroes and Hope Calendar is a cherished project, designed to shine a light on those individuals and organizations that go above and beyond to support and uplift our community. It captures the essence of heroism through the stories and portraits of people who dedicate themselves to making a difference—reminding us all of the impact of selflessness and hard work.

For each month, the Calendar features a remarkable individual or organization, chosen for their steadfast dedication and positive impact on the community. Their narratives stand as powerful examples of how courage, in its many forms, can foster a stronger, more connected society.

Tribute to Heroes

This year, the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation took the opportunity to honor thirteen remarkable individuals. These honorees were selected for their unwavering commitment, hard work, and dedication not only to their families and careers but also for the significant impact they have had on the community:

CHARLES THOMAS JR.- Founder and CEO, RESULTS Mentoring
KAMILIA K. LANDRUM – Executive Director, NAACP Detroit Branch
SHANNON HOLMES – Executive Presiding Judge, Specialty Courts, 36th District Court
DENISE BROOKS-WILLIAMS– Executive Vice President and CEO, Care Delivery Operations, Henry Ford Health Systems
DR. PORTIA LOCKETT– Founder and CEO, Azel Bennett Foundation
WILBUR BRANDON HUGHES III– President & CEO, Detroit Memorial Park Cemetery
JERRY BOYKIN– Founder, We Are One Community Unity
ELDER ALGERNON BARTELL– Founder, Times Square Mens Clothing, Fashion Entrepreneur & Pastor
ALEXA AND JOHNNIE TURNAGE– Co-Founders, Black Tech Saturdays
SOLOMON KINLOCH, – Pastor, Triumph Church
LISA PHILLIPS– Principal, Cass Tech High School
JASON HEADEN– Co-Founder, Auxano Capital

The Grand Unveiling

Those in attendance were treated to an early viewing of the 2025 Calendar, which beautifully presented both the visuals and narratives of each hero’s profound impact. This gathering also provided a unique chance for members of the community to personally connect with the celebrated individuals, deepening bonds of understanding and respect. In alignment with the spirit of giving and community support, James H. Cole announced that proceeds generated from calendar sales would be contributed to local programs and initiatives aimed at elevating those facing adversity.

Mr. Antonio Green, Mrs. Angel Green, Mrs. Karla M. Cole, Mr. Bryce Green, Ms. Nicole Black and Mr. Will Crawley.

Claim Your Free Calendar & Follow Us on Social Media

For individuals interested in exploring our annual calendar initiative, which celebrates notable community heroes, we invite you to follow the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation on our social media platforms. This initiative provides timely updates on our significant work and serves as a source of inspiration within the community.

For those desiring a copy of this year’s calendar, we offer digital PDF versions for download. Additionally, a limited number of physical copies are available, contact us to inquire.

Posted on April 14, 2022 by jhcfadm

Changing the Lives of Kids in Detroit – James H. Cole Legacy Foundation Partners with Pure Heart Foundation

The James H. Cole Legacy Foundation was excited to share in the official grand opening of the Pure Heart Foundation Scholars Center on Saturday, March 26^th, 2022. The Center provides a safe space for kids and teens (ages 4 to 18) with incarcerated parents to access critical resources and engage in intellectual exploration.

As a proud partner of the Pure Heart Foundation, the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation sponsored a room in the new center called the Cole Legacy Foundation Innovation Lab. The lab offers scholars the space to create, design, and develop their own ideas, while exposing them to new learning techniques and opportunities. The space will also provide workforce development and assistance with their entrepreneurial endeavors. Pure Heart currently has 101 scholars from 9-18 years of age with seven current alumni between the ages of 19 and 21 who will be served in this space.

Other rooms within the Center include the Pure Heart Library, Co-Working Space, the Pure Heart Store, and a Gaming Lounge among others. The Center is designed to provide a well-rounded and purposeful space for young people to safely work through trauma and have access to resources they may not have at home.

About the Pure Heart Foundation

James H. Cole has been a long-time supporter of the Pure Heart Foundation and its community-first initiatives. Founder and CEO Sherelle Hogan established the Foundation in 2015 after recognizing a need for children with incarcerated parents to be able to process their circumstances and engage in education and creativity in a safe space.

The Scholars Center project was a great opportunity for the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation to assist the children of Detroit in a meaningful way, so there was no doubt we wanted to participate—and the results speak for themselves!

“The vision has come to fruition and the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation will always be here to support it. We would like to thank the Pure Heart Foundation and Sherelle Hogan for everything you are doing for the kids of [Detroit]. Keep up the great work!” – The Cole Family

Take a Look at the New Scholars Center!

Get a closer look at the Pure Heart Foundation’s Scholars Center and discover what an amazing space the community has come together to build. With film clips from the grand opening ceremony, meet some of the partners (including the Cole family!) who made the Center possible.

Posted on January 12, 2022 by jhcfadm

Holiday Food Giveaway

The James H. Cole Legacy Foundation in partnership with the Youth Are Bigger Than Life organization hosted a relief effort for Detroit residents on December 18 where they welcomed nearby residents and community members at their James H. Cole Home For Funerals West Grand Blvd. location.
Attendees braved the snow and rain to stop by to pick up food packages that were delivered right to their vehicles by one of the many volunteers adorned in scarves in the James H. Cole signature gold color. Beyond the event attendees, food donation packages were also distributed to several organizations and neighbors such as Detroit Rescue Mission, Canine Companions Rescue Center, and residents of Young Manor. In all 500 boxes were distributed.

The event partner, Youth Are Bigger Than Life, is a non-profit organization founded by former Eastern Michigan University and Pershing High School basketball player Marvin Skipper six years ago. Skipper and the organization are dedicated to assisting youth identify with their personal strengths to develop a successful future and offer a range of different services such as educational and recreational field trips, tutoring, academic and financial workshops, healthy meal planning, and mentorship. A loyal Pershing “Doughboy,” Skipper regularly hosts food giveaways to help citizens living near his east side high school, and this collaboration with The James H. Cole Legacy Foundation is his first west side endeavor. “This relief effort is all about giving back to the community,” said Marvin Skipper. “Many people are struggling out there and we want to do all we can to make it easier for them. So don’t be afraid to come out. All are welcome!”

“My family and I established the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation in 2019 as a way to commemorate our 100-year anniversary, and to thank the community for its continued support” states Antonio Green, Foundation president. “The Holiday Food Giveaway is an initiative of the Foundation’s “Love Thy Neighbor” program, which identifies community “neighbors” that may need a helping hand,” Green continues. The program has more in store for 2022 to assist our neighbors and show our appreciation.

To keep abreast of the Foundation programming be sure to visit our site often, and to learn more about Youth Are Bigger Than Life visit www.youtharebiggerthanlife.com.

Posted on January 12, 2022 by jhcfadm

12 Days of Giving

During the 2022 holiday season the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation once again honored some of our community’s finest “Everyday Heroes” with our “12 Days Of Giving” initiative, which is a part of the Foundation’s “Love Thy Neighbor” program.

Twelve local heroes from educators to nurses were nominated by their fellow community members for their dedication to making a difference and going above and beyond to do so.

The Foundation partnered with local Beasley Media Group radio stations to put out a call for nominations and 12 “heroes” were selected to be awarded the honor and receive a $100 gift card as a thank you for their local efforts. During the 12 days prior to Christmas the honorees were also announced each day on the radio stations. Among the honorees were founders of organizations that assist underserved youth, educators that make extra efforts to care for their students and their families, and healthcare workers that care for others even as they battle their own health struggles.

These cherished community members truly embody the mission of the “Love Thy Neighbor” program, which strives to lend our neighbors in need of a helping hand.

2022 12 Days of Giving Honorees:

Orlando Bogins – Principal, Golightly Elementary/Middle School
Dolletta Cash – Engineer/Pershing High School Youth Support Leader
Shaketa Chapman – Registered Nurse, Henry Ford Health System
Michelle Davis – Dean of Students, Davis Aerospace High School
Layna Gardner-Lott – Workforce Development Professional/Chapter President, Twelve Days of Christmas, Inc.
Chetrice Gillon – CEO, Making It Happen Foundation
Kimberly Johnson – Founder, Developing K.I.D.S.
Ericka Page – Director of Youth Services, Detroit Employment Solutions/Detroit at Work
Rhonda Reynolds-Williams – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Pi Tau Omega Chapter Youth Committee Leader
Althea Norfolk – Registered Nurse, Sinai Grace Hospital
Mary Topp – Registered Nurse, University of Michigan Hospital
Shecara Vardiman – Founder and CEO, Esteem We, Inc./Detroit Possible, Inc.

Posted on July 21, 2021 by jhcfadm

Love Thy Neighbor Campaign Food Donations

The James H. Cole Legacy Foundation once again activated our Stevie Award winning “Love Thy Neighbor” campaign across Metro Detroit with food donations to local firehouses.

Our “Love Thy Neighbor” program was initiated in 2020 with the mission of showing support for local students and appreciation for their neighbors’ hard work serving the most vulnerable among us. 2020 efforts included donating 500 backpacks to students, providing more than 300 meals to front-line workers, and celebrating everyday heroes in the 2021 James H. Cole Heroes and Hope Calendar.

This June the Foundation continued campaign efforts by celebrating front-line workers once again by donating dinner for each shift at two firehouses near the two James H. Cole Home for Funerals locations – Engine 34 and Squad 5. Local food businesses Smokey G’s Smokehouse and Buddy’s Pizza were supported, being contracted as caterers for the four straight days of meals.

The firehouse staff was thrilled to be relieved of their cooking duties for the night, were extremely gracious, and said “the food was great”. Next up for the campaign is the annual James H. Cole Legacy Foundation Heroes and Hope calendar featuring local everyday heroes, which will be out later in the year.

Posted on May 7, 2021 by jhcfadm

Our COVID-19 Efforts: Giving Back to the Community We Love

At the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation, we’ve been working hard over the past year to give back to the frontline workers and essential healthcare employees who have been sacrificing so much to keep the rest of the community safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the generous donations of local Southeast Michigan restaurants and catering companies, we were able to donate more than 500 meals to police departments, fire houses, and hospitals throughout the Detroit community. We dubbed these efforts the “Love Thy Neighbor” campaign, and it launched with a massive bang!

Love Thy Neighbor: What Did We Do?

From the beginning, we knew we wanted to be able to deliver hot meals to essential and frontline workers during their shifts, so we reached out to local Michigan companies for participation and were thrilled with the amount of positive feedback we received. Among those who joined the cause, Buddy’s Pizza provided individual pizza slices and salad (all packaged separately), Bucharest Grill provided sandwich wraps and French fries, Lonestar Catering provided breakfast sandwiches and fruit, and Smokey G’s Smokehouse provided BBQ.

To stay safe and abide by COVID food safety regulations, no volunteers took part in creating or distributing the meals. Rather, the food was prepared and packaged individually by the restaurants and food vendors themselves. Already familiar with the process and regulations, the vendors were able to significantly cut down on the time needed to prep these meals. The vendors then delivered the meals to pre-determined locations.

We were proud to partner with Detroit and Michigan-based companies, giving back to essential workers in an impactful way.

Love Thy Neighbor: How Did We Do It?

“Love Thy Neighbor” has been an ongoing effort since it began in April 2020. Arising based on the immediate need of essential workers struggling in our community, it immediately became a James H. Cole Legacy Foundation staple.

Each initiative is planned a month in advance of the event taking place. For example, meal outreach efforts were planned in April in order to be delivered in May.

Additional Outreach Efforts in Metro Detroit

Love Thy Neighbor was not only limited to meal delivery. We also completed our Back-to-School backpack giveaway in which we donated 500 backpacks to the students of Detroit Collegiate Preparatory High School at Northwestern. In each backpack were disposable masks, various school supplies (such as notebooks), hand sanitizer, and a $10 GrubHub gift card.

For National Teddy Bear Day, we also donated more than 50 bears to the Pure Heart Foundation.

According to Antonio Green, President of the Legacy Foundation, “There are many ways to service the community. Making sure our students have the necessary tools for success and our children have opportunities to experience joy, even in these most trying times, is a priority for us.”

How YOU Can Get Involved

Interested in volunteering with the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation? You can sign up via the contact form on our website. We’re happy to answer any questions you may have about our initiatives, fundraisers, and other efforts. We also accept direct donations; 100% of which go directly toward benefiting the community.

We appreciate all of the incredible support we have received from the members of our community, and we’re so excited to be giving back to the Detroit community that has supported our partner organization, James H. Cole Home for Funerals, for more than 100 years. To learn more about our efforts, check out other James H. Cole Legacy Foundation blog articles.

James H. Cole Legacy Foundation Blog

Since 2019, the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation has been making strides to provide opportunities and resources to the members of the Detroit community. Learn more about our continuing efforts.