Metro Youth Day Celebration on Belle Isle

By Karen Hudson Samuels/Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - Close to 34,000 youngsters filled the athletic field of Belle Isle Park Wednesday for a fun-filled day at the 28th annual Metro Youth Day. The summer time celebration gives kids a chance to participate in activities ranging from free tennis lessons to exhibits of exotic reptiles.

The energy and potential of youngsters from 8 to 15 is what drives Metro Youth Day founder Ed Deeb to continue organizing the event which draws the highest attendance of youth festival in the state. Deeb says over the years graduates of the summer program have gone on to careers in the arts, business and community service.

This year mentors, guidance counselors and motivational speakers were on hand for a day that offered education and entertainment. Scholarships were given to graduating seniors; since 1991 more than 650scholarships have been award. Deeb has said in the past about the rewarding academic achievement “Show me a reader and I show you a leader”.

A loyal network of volunteers, corporate sponsors and community leaders turned out to lend their support. Today, a check for $25,000 was presented to Ed Deeb by Robert Jones of AT&T, one of the many sponsors of the day’s events.

Mayor Dave Bing, Wayne County Executive Robert Fricano and Pastor Edgar Vann were among the leaders who delivered messages of promise and hope to the young people. Proclamations from the City and County were presented to Ed Deeb for his commitment to organizing Metro Youth Day for twenty-eight years.

Deeb who is also President, Michigan Food & Beverage Association, is a modest man whose legacy of Metro Youth Day and the philanthropy has outlasted five city mayors and three governors.