On August 12th, the fundraising and development director for the War Memorial, spoke to the Rotary club about the history and support the War memorial has contributed to Grosse Pointe.
On August 12th, the fundraising and development director for the War Memorial, spoke to the Rotary club about the history and support the War memorial has contributed to Grosse Pointe.
We were honored to hear from Meredith Hanoian about the important work of the War Memorial and the remarkable role it continues to play in the Grosse Pointe community.
Meredith shared how the War Memorial was born out of a desire to honor those who served during World War II and to create a place where their service would never be forgotten. Since its opening in 1949, it has grown into so much more. A vibrant community gathering place dedicated to offering education, patriotism, culture, history, and service.
Today, the War Memorial welcomes nearly 100,000 visitors each year and hosts more than 2,000 events and classes. Its work extends far beyond the building itself, with programs supporting veterans and their families, as well as educational initiatives, cultural events, workshops, community celebrations, and opportunities for learning and connection.
Meredith spoke about the importance of preserving the War Memorials historic character while continuing to focus on the legacy and future it holds. Including things such as renovations, innovative programs, grants, foundations, and philanthropy. With nearly 100 nonprofit partners, the War Memorial has become a place where organizations and community members are able to come together to inform, involve, and engage.
At the heart of it all, is a powerful mission which is to honor the past while creating meaningful opportunities for the community today and for generations to come. The goal is to allow people to think about the legacy they would like to leave behind, and how you can preserve it.
We are grateful to Meredith for sharing the War Memorial's story and for highlighting the many ways the community can support and be a part of its future. To get involved, the War Memorial is currently looking for volunteers to help out at events, and also seeking donations to help continue funding the large community events that occur. If you are interested visit https://www.warmemorial.org/ to get involved!
We also welcomed visitors including Assistant Governor Rene, who introduced two women, Annalise and Kaylee, who have worked and served in Iraq and Lebanon. Their experiences and commitment to service added another meaningful perspective to our conversation about community, leadership, and making a difference.
Around the world, many mothers and babies do not have access to the basic medical care they need during childbirth. Annalise and Kaylee, are helping change this by providing maternity care, training healthcare workers, and bringing important resources to communities. Their work focuses on basic training, helping mothers and babies survive, and teaching staff how to respond when babies are in critical condition. Through programs such as their leadership development and community health initiatives, they are working to reduce infant mortality rates and improve access to basic care.
The Rotary Club gives a special thanks to both women for speaking and informing the club about the help needed, to make a big impact. To help out visit https://thehamsayenetwork.org/.