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From the Executive Director
Greetings friends,
I hope you are having an excellent summer, making plenty of happy memories to help keep you warm when things start to get chilly again later in the year. I would say that it’s been a busy few months for Children Trust Michigan (CTM) … but that would be an understatement. April through June is always a rush for us. These months include two of our highest-profile events, Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Pam Posthumus Signature Auction.
Making these events a reality requires hundreds of hours of behind-the-scenes work from CTM staff, partners and volunteers. Sometimes it feels like a wild sprint to keep up with every deadline, but our incredible team always pulls through. Their dedication is inspiring. They’re willing to move mountains for Michigan kids!
As CTM heads into the back half of the year, we remain committed to building strong, resilient families who can provide all Michigan children with the bright futures they deserve. We have been fortunate to make tremendous progress in our mission in recent years and are exploring every available avenue to sustain this progress.
Thank you so much for being a part of our CTM family. You are what makes prevention possible.
Best wishes,
Suzanne Greenberg
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 Tipping Our CAPs
As it does every year, this year’s Child Abuse Prevention month featured an amazing array of awareness activities. We kicked things off (along with our partners) Saturday, April 5 with Wear Blue Day and continued strong through the rest of the month.
The highlight was, as usual, our Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Rally on the steps of the Capitol Tuesday, April 15. Even with whipping winds and a chilly drizzle, the occasion maintained its warm, vibrant spirit. No degree of unfriendly weather dissuaded rally attendees — who traveled from every corner of the state — from showing heartfelt support for the mission of prevention. Speakers included CTM Executive Director Suzanne Greenberg, CTM Board Chair Amy Tattrie Loepp, MDHHS Children’s Services Administration Senior Deputy Director Demetrius Starling, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, Danielle Hagaman-Clark, Criminal Bureau Chief at the state attorney general’s office, and several passionate partners and parent advocates.
Overall, the rally left us energized and ready to tackle the big tasks yet to come. This included a gathering of 150 dedicated Prevention Partners, who came together for an afternoon networking lunch full of connection, inspiration and recognition.
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Mark McDaniel, President & CEO of Cinnaire, delivered a compelling keynote centered on his personal prevention "why." His heartfelt reflection resonated throughout the room and reinforced the importance of purpose-driven work.
Another major highlight included presenting Sue Kearney, Executive Director of We Care for Kids, with the 2025 Inspire Award. Her tireless commitment to the children and families of Montcalm County was celebrated by peers who deeply admire her leadership in primary prevention.
Finally, more than a dozen statewide programs took center stage for a Prevention Pitch Showcase. This interactive format sparked curiosity and engagement, while providing actionable resources to take back to local communities.
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A Signature Success
Every year, we set expectations sky high for the Pam Posthumus Signature Auction — and every year we’re astounded anew by the generosity of Michigan’s prevention community. This year was no exception.
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On Tuesday, May 13, the Breslin Center pulsed with purpose for the 23rd annual Auction. As always, this year’s event included an exciting array of live and silent auction items for bid, including once-in-a-lifetime trips to premier destinations around the world.
We raised more than $675,000 for child abuse prevention efforts statewide. The powerful generosity and compassion on display inspires us to do all we can to ensure the very best outcomes for children in our state. With more than 400 attendees, the energy was electric. Some moments surely shook the rafters, such as the sustained
applause following a speech by former U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow. As a state legislator, she was instrumental in establishing CTM (then called the Children’s Trust Fund of Michigan) in 1982.
We are already preparing for next year’s auction, and you won’t want to miss it. Let’s keep building a safer Michigan together.
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Changing Lives Every Day
Every CTM story is a deeply human story. From a bird’s eye view, it can be easy to reduce the work of prevention to a numbers game. For example, in 2024, our 100-plus CTM Prevention Partners facilitated 2,400 trainings that reached more than 29,000 participants statewide. But each of those numbers has a name. Every dollar we distribute, every parent café we hold, every training session we conduct impacts — and transforms — the lives of real Michigan residents in profound ways.
Take a moment to read the story of one West Michigan mother:
“After having my third child and dealing with postpartum depression, I found myself in a very tough spot. Luckily, I found a Family Resource Center.
They connected me to a home visiting program called Healthy Families of America. I can honestly say with no doubt that this home visitor helped protect my children and myself from food insecurities, home loss and the threat of me hurting [my children]. Admitting this is difficult to do and heartbreaking to look back on.
Sometimes it was hard to get out of bed let alone care for three children. If it was not for the reassurance and the continuous support from that home visitor, I don't think — no, I KNOW — I would not have been able to care for my children, and they would have easily been neglected.
My home visitor helped me apply for benefits that I received and NEEDED to make financial stress a lot [less severe]. Having access to SNAP, WIC, rental assistance and childcare assistance made it so that I was able to see how anger was leading in all my emotions and that I needed some additional support before I lost control.
Stories like these are proof positive of why the work we do at CTM is so important. This inspires us to strive for the best possible futures for all Michigan families.
Partner Testimonial
Have a Sweet (and Safe) Summer
Summer in Michigan is a time of sun-drenched adventures like laughter-filled pool parties and starry nights chasing fireflies. But it’s important to keep safety in mind in between joyful splashes and breezy bike rides.
Our latest CTM blog explores how summer fun can fuel lasting well-being through the HOPE framework (Healthy Outcomes from Positive Experiences). You also will learn about crucial safety tips to protect kids from seasonal hazards. Read all about it HERE.
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License Plates for Prevention |
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Did you know you can (literally) drive change everywhere you go?
It’s easy to showcase support for Michigan kids by purchasing a specialty CTM license plate. Featuring the colorful pinwheel logo, this unique plate catches plenty of eyes, raising awareness as well as funds.
Each plate purchase contributes directly to safer communities for Michigan children. Request a plate at any Michigan Secretary of State office, directly through the SOS online services portal, by mailing a fundraising plate order form or when buying a new vehicle at a Michigan dealership. Plates cost $35, with $25 going directly to CTM. Each renewal cycle donates an additional $10 to CTM.
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