Yesterday I attended a charity function for a wonderful charity here in the Metro Detroit area benefitting children who have lost a parent. Yatooma’s Foundation for the kids provides financial assistance, groceries, counseling, coaching to family members, and just about anything else to children in need after a parent has died.

Their annual Champions for the Kids event was held at the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham and it was the first time I had ever been to an event like this. It was first class all the way and through live and silent auction items over $171,000 was raised for the kids and to families who are in crisis.  It was an absolutely life changing event for the families who will benefit from this generosity.

As my fiance and I were walking into this event we noticed a couple that was walking in. My fiance commented on that she was glad that she wore a long evening gown just like the woman ahead of us. Little did she or I know that this woman was the guest of honor!  Her story is unbelievable. She had the typical all-american family, husband, three kids, nice house. Everything was going great until her husband developed paranoid schizophrenia. The story takes a tragic turn as he harmed her and took his own life. Thank God our friend is OK, because her three kids only have a mother now. It highlighted all the wonderful things Yatooma’s Foundation for the kids has done for them.

They brought her up to speak and a surprise for her was life coaching sessions for her and mentorship coaching for her kids, karate lessons for the kids, an all expenses paid trip to Disney World for the family and many other wonderful things. Sure, this family I am sure struggles many times over but without the help of Yatooma’s Foundation for the Kids, where would they be?  I am proud to be a volunteer for this charity and it was an unbelievable event.

My Dad was the first person who peaked my interest in donating time and resources for charity.  In fact my book I Miss My Dad… has 25% of its proceeds being donated to Habitat for Humanity, my Dad’s favorite charity, with a total goal of $1 million raised.  I just want to thank my Dad for instilling that in me.  I might have not been sitting at such a wonderful event had I not listened to my Dad about giving of yourself with no expectation of return.

A wise friend told me last night that no matter what situation you are in good or bad, it will come to an end.  How very true.  So no matter how bad life is sometimes, think of the kids.

Always a friend to listen,

Eric Tomei-author I Miss My Dad

To check out Yatooma’s Foundation for the Kids please click on this link:

www.forthekidsfoundation.org.