From left to right - Fatima N. Plater, Vice President of Metro Riverfront Optimist Club; Denise Lowe, Karmanos Annual Giving Officer; Laura Zubeck, Director of Patient/Community Education & Volunteer Services; and Mary Feazell, Secretary-Treasurer of Healthy Kids Optimist.
For many years, Karmanos Cancer Institute was the recipient of toys, gift wrap and holiday cheer for its patients collected by the Michigan District Optimists, allowing hospitalized patients to select toys, games and books for their loved ones, right from their hospital beds.
The Optimists were “optimistic” they would be able to return to distributing gifts for the 2021 holiday season after making the pivot to a cash contribution last year. With the COVID-19 pandemic still very much a presence, the Optimists knew gift distribution to those with compromised immune systems wasn’t going to be possible.
Donned in festive attire, Fatima N. Plater, Fatima Plater, Vice President of Metro Riverfront Optimist Club and Mary Feazell, Secretary-Treasurer of Healthy Kids Optimist, represented the men and women of Healthy Kids Optimist Club, Loving Community Optimist Club and Metro Riverfront Optimist Club and Emery's Creative Jewelers of Farmington Hills, Mich. who is their long-time toy drive partner to once again present a check of $1,200 raised through member contributions to a Karmanos’ patient assistance fund.
“It is always a joy to visit with Fatima and Mary,” said Denise Lowe, Annual Giving Officer at Karmanos. “The Optimists’ good cheer and kind-heartedness are contagious and truly represent Optimist International’s mission. We are so fortunate to have them as good friends who think of our patients like they are family members.”
The optimist clubs are affiliates of Optimist International, the fourth largest service organization, whose mission statement reads, "By providing hope and a positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in youth, our communities and ourselves."