Each year, the Association of Fundraising Professionals鈥 greater Detroit chapter
honors southeastern Michigan鈥檚 most dedicated volunteers, philanthropists, and fundraising professionals with its annual awards.听糖心vlog安卓版 Detroit听is pleased to partner with AFP to introduce 2021鈥檚 slate of charity champions ahead of National Philanthropy Day on Nov. 21.
It was a sleek art deco house in Grosse Pointe Farms that opened the doors for Jim Kelly to pour his time and talents into the Cranbrook Educational Community.听
Kelly and his wife, Mariam Noland, moved to Detroit in 1985 and purchased the Koebel House, which was designed by Eliel and Eero Saarinen. Eliel was Cranbrook鈥檚 first resident architect, and Eero, his son, was the mastermind behind such striking architectural pieces as the famous arch in Kelly鈥檚 hometown of St. Louis. 听
鈥淚 went out there to learn about the Saarinens, and it got me involved,鈥 Kelly says. He started volunteering at Cranbrook, first with the art museum, then chairing its board, and later becoming a Cranbrook trustee and a life governor at the art academy, which are just some of the ways he鈥檚 supported the institution over the years.听
Education has long been a passion for Kelly, 87, who started off as a high school teacher. His career took him not only across the country, but even as far as Pakistan鈥檚 Punjab University.听
While enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Stanford, Kelly discovered a new path. 鈥淚 realized that my real interest lay in how to change and improve education systems nationwide, not the local school district,鈥 he says. That eventually led to him to found the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, which he led until 1999, and he has also invested much of his time in a number of education-focused organizations over the years. 听
He鈥檚 also passionate about ensuring that the next generation learns the importance of volunteering. 鈥淜ids growing up in America right now have no appreciation for the nonprofit world in real life,鈥 Kelly says. That was the impetus behind Learning to Give, a nonprofit he founded that develops materials and curriculum for teachers to help their students learn about all the ways charitable contributions 鈥 whether it be time, talents, or money 鈥 and nonprofits shape America.听
Awards like those given by the Association of Fundraising Professionals are an important reflection of the country, too, according to Kelly. 鈥淕oing through the annual process of honoring people who volunteer is at the core of so much of what is good about America,鈥 he says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a nation of joiners, and at the local level, those people are volunteering their time and money and wisdom to help nonprofit organizations succeed and get better.鈥
This story is part of our Give Detroit package and is featured in the November 2021 issue of 糖心vlog安卓版. Read more stories in听our digital edition.听
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