Lead - Nonprofit

11/27/2025

🦃🍁 This Thanksgiving, our hearts are full.

We’re celebrating the growth, purpose, and leadership shown every day by the students we serve and the incredible community that makes our work possible.

To our dedicated teachers, caseworkers, partners, donors and sponsors: thank you.

Your belief in Lead fuels our mission, strengthens our programs, and empowers youth to build confidence, resilience, and purpose.
We’re deeply grateful for each of you and the role you play in this journey.

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Lead.

11/25/2025

is almost here, and the need has never been clearer...

• Growing sadness and stress
• Families stretched thin
• Grandparents stepping in as caregivers
• Foster youth entering adulthood without stable support

Lead works alongside teachers, caseworkers, mentors, and families. Not to fix kids, but to support them with tools to handle real life. Together we help them steady themselves, build confidence, and imagine a future that feels possible.

Your support on GivingTuesday helps more youth and families across Michigan get access to these tools.

11/25/2025

It’s Asset Day, Midland County!

Today (Nov. 25), middle and high schoolers across the county are taking the Youth Developmental Assets Survey — and we want adults to join in.

All adults in Midland County are invited to take the Adult Thriving Assets Survey today to add your voice alongside our young people. The adult surveys are tailored to two groups—18 (out of high school)–59 and 60+—so your experience is reflected accurately. Can’t get to it today? No worries — the survey stays open for the next few months.

Your quick, anonymous input helps us:
• Understand strengths and challenges across adulthood
• Shape programs, policies, and workplace supports
• Build a thriving Midland County for all ages

Take a few minutes today and make your mark.

https://www.tlc4cs.org/assets-across-the-life-span-project/

11/20/2025

This "Thank You Thursday," we’re celebrating our incredible students!

Every day, they’re learning to be kinder to themselves, lift up others, and grow with purpose. We’re so proud to watch them lead with heart and courage!

11/18/2025

Imagine being 14 and not knowing what’s waiting for you when you walk through the door...

Not sure if dinner will be there.
Not sure if a parent will be sober.
Not sure if tonight is the night everything falls apart.
Or maybe the struggle is quieter, feeling invisible in a home full of people who care, but don’t know how to help.

These are the hidden battles so many young people face every day.

Over the next three weeks, we’re sharing the stories behind the statistics. The real challenges youth face, the partners who stand beside them, and the skills Lead helps them build so their future can look different from their past.

This Giving Tuesday (Dec 2), we invite you to watch, learn, and stand with us. Because when a young person feels seen, supported, and empowered, everything can change. Link to sponsor a student is in the comments, for every $50 donated a youth receives programming for a full year.

11/13/2025

We are honored to be Women in Leadership Great Lakes Bay's Gives Back 2025 Recipient. Join them on Saturday for their cookie walk to support women having access to our program next year to help them grow. Thank you WIL for all you do!

Women In Leadership - Great Lakes Bay Region, Michigan

11/13/2025

This "Thank You Thursday", we’re celebrating our amazing teachers!

We’re grateful for educators who make our programs come alive and help students thrive. Their dedication reminds us why we do this work. Together, we’re helping students lead with purpose.

11/11/2025

We were honored to have Lead’s own, Missy Reed join the panel at Friday's Mental Health Provider Summit. Thank you to the Great Lakes Bay Region Mental Health Partnership for hosting this powerful event and bringing providers together to strengthen mental wellness across our community.

11/08/2025

We had so much fun with this group today teaching confidence skills and how to support each other when someone is in a negative mindset or feels like they are messing up a lot. Thanks Equal Access to Training for having us!

11/06/2025

We’re excited to kick off "Thank You Thursdays!"

Students and teachers share notes that show the real impact of our programs. Starting this week, we’ll be highlighting their stories that celebrate the growth, connection, and meaningful change.

Stay tuned to see gratitude in action and the difference your support makes!

10/31/2025

🎃👻Limiting beliefs can hide your true potential. Don’t let fear and doubt hold you back. Everyone experiences these thoughts, learn to shift your mindset.

Happy Halloween from Lead!

10/09/2025

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Lead Annual Fundraiser, what an incredible evening of connection, impact, and hope. Because of your generosity, we were able to sponsor 200 youth through our Paddle Raise and saw record-breaking support in both our silent and live auctions!

A heartfelt thank-you to Pat Schefsky for emceeing the night with such great energy, Jennifer Pfeiffer from Dow for serving as our inspiring Honorary Chair, and Nolan Mizner for sharing the impact Lead has had on the youth in his classroom, a moment that moved so many of us to tears.

We’re also deeply grateful to our sponsors, partners, and everyone who believes in this mission. Together, we’re raising hope, building resilience, and changing what’s possible — one child, one family, one story at a time.