2024 | August

Summer Fun with STEM

Our Lego Robotics Adventure

School is out, but that doesn't mean the learning stops! This summer, our residential youth dove into the exciting world of STEM through a hands-on Lego Robotics program. Their mission? To design and build the best legs for their Lego "hopper"! With creativity and teamwork, they experienced the process of creating prototypes, testing different designs, and learning from each attempt.

Vista Maria's Journey to Success team knows that STEM education nurtures creativity, promotes problem-solving, and aids in the development of critical thinking skills. By engaging in fun activities like Lego Robotics, our youth get practical experience that ignites their curiosity.

Plus, the kids had an absolute blast! By building, testing, and improving their designs, they also learned that failure is simply a step toward finding the best solution. We're proud of their hard work and excited to see how these young scientists will continue to grow and innovate!

Welcome, Kim Tyle

Chief Development Officer

We’re thrilled to welcome Kim Tyle to Vista Maria as our new Chief Development Officer. We know her dedication to philanthropy and commitment to serving others will be invaluable as we continue to make a meaningful impact in our community.

Kim’s journey began in the hotel business and event management, and she has since excelled in various healthcare fundraising roles, including Chief Development Officer, Senior Development Officer, Program Director, and Senior Associate Director. Most recently, she served as Chief Development Officer for Ascension Michigan’s Metro West Region’s Foundations, where she connected the donor community to the hospital's many needs, thus improving patient care.

Her expertise is further enhanced by her CFRE certification in 2023 and her presentation at the National University’s Fundraising Academy in early 2024.

Join us in giving Kim a warm and friendly welcome to our team!

Dolly Drive 2024

Get Your Tickets Now!

Thursday, October 17, 2024

The Whiskey Factory

Join us for a fun evening at our NEW LOCATION, with plenty of free, secure parking! Guests will enjoy drinks, a photo booth, a wine pull, a short program, and heavy hors d’oeuvres.

Our emcee for the evening is Shannon Murphy, Co-Host of "The Mojo in the Morning Show" on Detroit’s #1 radio station, channel 95.5! Shannon has been a fierce advocate for Vista Maria and her passion really shines through when she hosts this event!

Sponsorships are still available. Contact Sarah Lesch at: slesch@vistamaria.org

Pack their Packs!

Help us Fill 130 Backpacks for Youth in Foster Care

Every child deserves a quality education and a fresh start. With your help, our goal is to raise enough funds to support 130 backpacks filled with the items our students need. We invite you to consider sponsoring a full backpack for $100, or a portion of a backpack with details outlined below.

At Vista Maria, we serve youth ages 11-18 in our residential mental health treatment programs who attend Clara B. Ford Academy, our on-campus school. We also serve school-aged youth in our foster care program, all of whom need essential school supplies.

For our youth, these supplies are more than material items. A fresh notebook lights the spark for creative writing, a calculator provides confidence in math, and a new backpack empowers them to walk into the classroom with their head held high.

Sponsor a Backpack Today!

High Hopes, Big Smiles

Golfers Support Vista Maria at High Hopes 2024

Thank you to everyone who joined us at George Blaha's High Hopes Golf Invitational this year! Once again, this event was a resounding success, raising over $130,000 in support of Vista Maria's programs!

It was a perfect summer day at the beautiful Tam-O-Shanter Country Club. We had an exciting live auction, with Lions tickets being the hot item this year, and a silent auction featuring some fantastic sports memorabilia. George Blaha's celebrity athlete friends also added an extra sparkle (and lots of selfies) to the event.

We would especially like to thank Amerisure for being our presenting sponsor. Your partnership not only makes this event possible but also makes a difference in the lives of those we serve. We are so grateful to everyone who participated, and we hope to see you next year!

Click here to see more great photos from this year's event!

Volunteer Opportunity

Arts, Beats & Eats Beverage Sales

Fri Aug 30, 2024 – Mon Sep 2, 2024

Raise money and awareness for Vista Maria by volunteering to sell pop and water to festival attendees at Arts, Beats, and Eats in Royal Oak. We need to fill 48 volunteer spots throughout the weekend!

10:00am – 2:00pm
1:45pm – 6:00pm
5:45pm – 12:30am

Contact Maddie Phillips at mphillips@vistamaria.org or 313-203-4991 for more information.

Candid Campus

Residential youth from the DREAM (Dreams Realized through Education and Mentoring) program had an unforgettable day thanks to Friends of the Rouge. They dove deep into learning all about the beautiful Rouge River and even got to try their hand at canoeing – talk about adventure!