JOY ROAD
At Beyond Basics, we stand united, unwavered in our gratitude for the thousands who share this journey with us.

We show up each day ready to invest in our children, and help them grow into vibrant young adults. By helping one child at a time, we have brought the gift of literacy to Metro Detroit.

This would have been impossible without you. Our team sees, first hand, how your goodness pours into the lives of our most vulnerable.

This Thanksgiving, I’m overjoyed by those who believe in the potential of our community. A community full of good people, willing to work through obstacles, and stand strong no matter what difficulties we might face.

As individuals coming together, through all walks of life, we've done a mighty work. Every act of kindness has made- and continues to make- a tremendous difference.

If you are reading this today, you are one of those people. You have joined us in lifting up so many children within the heart of Southeastern Michigan. We are so grateful. Thank you!
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A Special Thank You to Freudenberg!

We often mention the multiple ways a company or organization can get involved with Beyond Basics, and (as expected) many corporations choose one of the ways that is most convenient. While we are extremely grateful for every company and/or individual that lends a helping hand, we would be remiss if we didn’t spotlight our friends over at Freudenberg, who go above and beyond when it comes to providing us with resources.

Corporations have the option to be Sponsors, Partners, and/or Volunteers. Freudenberg, however, incorporates themselves through all three of these avenues- and has been doing so for over four years. Once a month they join our staff at Burton Elementary to participate in our “Art with the Masters” and/or “Publishing Center” program, which gives them the opportunity to create books and paint with the children. They’ve donated countless amounts of In-Kind items, and sponsored multiple Expanding Horizons programs within the schools we serve. In addition, Freudenberg has collected coats for our Annual Coat Drive and even helped to distribute them to the students!

As we celebrate so many selfless entities during this holiday season, we remember Freudenberg and all they do to make lives better for children in need! Thank you!
LITERACY IS FOR EVERYONE
Did You Know?! (A few things you might not know about Beyond Basics)
  • Beyond Basics keeps kids creative with our Art With the Masters Program. We educate students on famous artists and work on paintings that mimic the pros- and each month we celebrate one student who went above and beyond with their work. It’s a great way to build confidence and keep learning fun! 
  • Each year we have over 2000 volunteers! These individuals participate in our Expanding Horizons events, spend time at the schools we tutor in, and help with back office work, that keeps our flow of things consistent.
  • We don’t just help students learn how to read, we help their families as well. At the Durfee Innovation Society, we offer resources to kids and families including GED prep, SAT tutoring, and more.
  • We love to celebrate our kids. Throwing them a graduation party is just one of the ways we demonstrate how proud we are of their hard work.
A huge thank you to our very special volunteer, Carolyn!
We’d like to take the time to highlight Carolyn Lynn, one of our volunteers here at Beyond Basics. Carolyn has been a volunteer with us since March of 2018. She’s a hard and passionate worker. We are so thankful to have her on our Beyond Basics team! 

Why do you volunteer?
“I love helping people. I believe that it is better to give than it is to receive”

What does volunteering at Beyond Basics mean to you?
“It means a lot! It was on my bucket list to volunteer once I retired. I searched online and found Beyond Basics. I saw that I could work with kids and help them stay warm through the winter while also working with them on reading. I’ve found that Beyond Basics is a nonprofit that stands by their word. Kids need reading– you can’t get anywhere in life if you aren’t literate.”

What advice would you give to someone who is on the fence about volunteering at Beyond Basics?
“By volunteering at Beyond Basics, you aren’t just helping the organization, but you’re helping children. Plus, it isn’t demanding, you can offer as much of your time as you’d like. These kids are our future- and volunteering for them truly makes a difference.”

Thank you, Carolyn! 
SUPPORT BEYOND BASICS TODAY
Your donation will help change lives.
Karon
Contact Kelly Gray at (248) 250-9304x110