Supporting local families, charities and communities throughout Southeast Michigan
Testimonials
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of The Rainbow Connection I want to thank you for your generous donation as a result of the great success of your 2011 Golf Outing. Thanks to you, we were able to grant a wish for special Angelina. The granting of a wish is ‘more than just a wish’ it nurtures the spirit, brings smiles and laughter and reinforces the possibility of miracles. These wonderful childhood dreams would go unanswered if not for kindhearted people like you. Your foundation’s generosity to the Rainbow Connection and to Angelina and her family has had a tremendous impact, for us and for them. Please accept our heartfelt appreciation for sponsoring this very special wish. Thank you again for your compassion and continued support in memory of your son Robby.
Mary Grace McCarter
Executive Director Rainbow Connection
…I also wanted to thank you for asking me to speak about Robby as a friend, teacher and coach at this year’s golf outing. It was one of the greatest honors in my life. The memories that I have and the effect he had on me and so many others is amazing. The true meaning of the character of a person is not how much money you have, the size of your house or their fame, but how they affected and helped other people in a positive way. Robby was that true person and friend to so many. Above all he was an inspiration and a great son and brother to your family. The Robby Atherton Foundation is living proof of Robby’s spirit…”I know you’re out there somewhere and somehow we will meet again”.
Can’t express enough how much your kindness and generosity means to us at Vision Hope, nor to the kids, who will enjoy the benefits of it at the Champions for Life Kids Camp. So glad that your group from Robby’s foundation will be there first- hand to experience the joy yourselves.
Beth Molloy
Director Vision Hope’s Champions for Life Kids Camp
There is no way for me to put into words just how much it meant to all of us to be there and to be honored by so many generous and loving people. It was all so overwhelming. My kids were a mess, as was I. It opened all of the hurt and sadness again and at the same time, it let the love and support fill out hearts. It’s very hard to put into words but I’m sure you know what we are feeling. We just can’t thank you enough for everything. It will help us out so much and take a lot of worries off of me. It was so very kind of the Foundation to pick our family to help. I am just speechless. We will never be able to thank you enough for everything you did for us but please know it is greatly appreciated and it will never be forgotten. Thank you from the bottom of our broken hearts!! Love you all.
The Spezia Family
2010 Foundation Recipient
On behalf of Max and his family I wanted to pass these photos and card onto you. They have just safely returned home from Max’s wish trip to Disney World, and mom could not express enough what an incredible, magical and awesome time that Max and their entire family had.
From the bottom of our hearts everyone here wants to thank you for making Max’s wish come true! It was an honor being a part of your golf outing this year.
Ingrid Todt
Wish Director
The A-Rob’s won their second championship in 2 years in the Royal Oak Basketball league in 2010. It was a tough year because our good friend and starting center, Matt McCaffrey, had to move out of state for work. We promptly replaced him with Eisenhower’s very own Phil DeVries which worked out great early in the year. But during our only loss of the season, Phil broke his ankle and was unable to play and could barely walk for months. We had to win some close games with strong defense and some timely scoring but in the end we came out victorious. It feels good to still be able to win games against some stiff competition while at the same time enjoying ourselves. It is no different then when we played up at Eisenhower with Robby. We could joke around and enjoy ourselves but once it got to crunch time, we would buckle-down, play hard, and get a victory anyway possible. We plan on playing in many leagues together and we will always be named the A-Rob’s in honor of our friend and point guard. If he were here today our championships would be won a lot easier and we wouldn’t embarrass ourselves trying to bring the ball up the court. We all think about him on a daily basis and only hope that we are making him proud on and off the court. Cuffs forever.
Close friends of Robby’s recreation basketball team
It is with deepest appreciation that I reflect upon the heartfelt gesture of the Atherton Family. When Bryan gave us the news that my boys and I would be recipients of the Robby Atherton Fundraising Event at Sycamore Hills I was overwhelmed with emotion. At first, I remember feeling in awe that a family who is enduring such loss is simulatneously caring for another family going through similar tragedy. Then, I remember feeling inspired to make sure that my boys understand the importance of community and the value a kind gesture has in shaping young lives. I am proud that my husband Eric served his community as a Shelby Township Fire Fighter. And I know now that he is proud watching the community he looked after look after “his own.”
Mandy Carpenter
2009 Foundation Recipient
My daughter Skylar has numerous medical conditions and the financial pressures are overwhelming. We were asked to attend the dinner after the golf outing and were blown away at the turnout. Everyone looked like they had a fantastic time and dinner was great. Awards were given out and we were given a donation from the Robby Atherton Foundation to help with our financial difficulties. It was extremely generous and we are forever grateful that we were chosen to be a part of that special day. The best part though was the tribute paid to Robby by his friends and family. Although we didn’t know Robby he will forever remain in our hearts. The Robby Atherton Foundation touched our lives greatly and I only hope that someday I can give back to the community the way this foundation has. Thank you!
Melanie Sokolowski
2009 Foundation Recipient
Thank-you so much for your thoughtful contribution to our Stevenson student, David Brown. It will certainly make an impact on his education. We appreciate the scholarship and the wonderful presentation carried out at our Honors Night program.
Debbie Juday
Counseling Department Chair
Stevenson High School
Thank you for this wonderful news and beautiful legacy for Robby. What one does with what one is dealt defines the greatness in a person. The Robby Atherton Foundation Scholarship exemplifies how you and your foundational group have turned a tremendous loss for your family and our community into an outstanding college opportunity for students in Robby’s name. You are great for what you are doing and for that I am forever thankful.
In addition, I wanted to thank you for the tree planting and clean up of the Eisenhower Memorial Garden last month. I have heard that a group will be here this weekend to do additional cleaning and planting of flowers. Again my greatest appreciation goes to you all.
Sincerely with gratitude for everything you are doing for our community on behalf of Robby,
Gloria Bawol
Principal
Eisenhower High School
Dear Robby Atherton Foundation,
Thank you with blessing us with your gift of a bread slicer. My Jaw dropped to the floor when I learned of your donation. I have been looking, networking, searching, and praying for a used bread slicer for over 2 years. This is quite a blessing for us.
What would we do with a bread slicer? From October through April we receive an average of 60 loaves of unsliced bread from Great harvest each week. We have purchased good slicing knives, but the time and soreness of hands have slowed us from slicing the bread for our own use (feeding 100 people each Sunday as well as making 200 sandwiches for lunches given away each Sunday). What bread we cannot use, we share with other ministries. This bread slicer will save us time and money for sandwich bread as well as make it easier for others receiving Great Harvest bread through us to make sandwiches. We look for other bread sources such as Panera during the summer when there is no unsold break from Great Harvest.
From the bottom of my heart, from the grateful stomachs of the poor, from the formerly tired hands of several bread-slicing volunteers, many , many thanks. You made our day. You made our year.
Peace,
Dan Karlin
Social Ministries
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Our Work
Supporting local families, charities and communities throughout Southeast Michigan
Testimonials
On behalf of the Board of Directors and staff of The Rainbow Connection I want to thank you for your generous donation as a result of the great success of your 2011 Golf Outing. Thanks to you, we were able to grant a wish for special Angelina. The granting of a wish is ‘more than just a wish’ it nurtures the spirit, brings smiles and laughter and reinforces the possibility of miracles. These wonderful childhood dreams would go unanswered if not for kindhearted people like you. Your foundation’s generosity to the Rainbow Connection and to Angelina and her family has had a tremendous impact, for us and for them. Please accept our heartfelt appreciation for sponsoring this very special wish. Thank you again for your compassion and continued support in memory of your son Robby.
Mary Grace McCarter
Executive Director Rainbow Connection
…I also wanted to thank you for asking me to speak about Robby as a friend, teacher and coach at this year’s golf outing. It was one of the greatest honors in my life. The memories that I have and the effect he had on me and so many others is amazing. The true meaning of the character of a person is not how much money you have, the size of your house or their fame, but how they affected and helped other people in a positive way. Robby was that true person and friend to so many. Above all he was an inspiration and a great son and brother to your family. The Robby Atherton Foundation is living proof of Robby’s spirit…”I know you’re out there somewhere and somehow we will meet again”.
Rick Greenup
Robby’s 9th Grade Basketball Coach, Teacher & Friend
Can’t express enough how much your kindness and generosity means to us at Vision Hope, nor to the kids, who will enjoy the benefits of it at the Champions for Life Kids Camp. So glad that your group from Robby’s foundation will be there first- hand to experience the joy yourselves.
Beth Molloy
Director Vision Hope’s Champions for Life Kids Camp
There is no way for me to put into words just how much it meant to all of us to be there and to be honored by so many generous and loving people. It was all so overwhelming. My kids were a mess, as was I. It opened all of the hurt and sadness again and at the same time, it let the love and support fill out hearts. It’s very hard to put into words but I’m sure you know what we are feeling. We just can’t thank you enough for everything. It will help us out so much and take a lot of worries off of me. It was so very kind of the Foundation to pick our family to help. I am just speechless. We will never be able to thank you enough for everything you did for us but please know it is greatly appreciated and it will never be forgotten. Thank you from the bottom of our broken hearts!! Love you all.
The Spezia Family
2010 Foundation Recipient
On behalf of Max and his family I wanted to pass these photos and card onto you. They have just safely returned home from Max’s wish trip to Disney World, and mom could not express enough what an incredible, magical and awesome time that Max and their entire family had.
From the bottom of our hearts everyone here wants to thank you for making Max’s wish come true! It was an honor being a part of your golf outing this year.
Ingrid Todt
Wish Director
The A-Rob’s won their second championship in 2 years in the Royal Oak Basketball league in 2010. It was a tough year because our good friend and starting center, Matt McCaffrey, had to move out of state for work. We promptly replaced him with Eisenhower’s very own Phil DeVries which worked out great early in the year. But during our only loss of the season, Phil broke his ankle and was unable to play and could barely walk for months. We had to win some close games with strong defense and some timely scoring but in the end we came out victorious. It feels good to still be able to win games against some stiff competition while at the same time enjoying ourselves. It is no different then when we played up at Eisenhower with Robby. We could joke around and enjoy ourselves but once it got to crunch time, we would buckle-down, play hard, and get a victory anyway possible. We plan on playing in many leagues together and we will always be named the A-Rob’s in honor of our friend and point guard. If he were here today our championships would be won a lot easier and we wouldn’t embarrass ourselves trying to bring the ball up the court. We all think about him on a daily basis and only hope that we are making him proud on and off the court. Cuffs forever.
A-Rob’s win Royal Oak league
A-Rob’s
Close friends of Robby’s recreation basketball team
It is with deepest appreciation that I reflect upon the heartfelt gesture of the Atherton Family. When Bryan gave us the news that my boys and I would be recipients of the Robby Atherton Fundraising Event at Sycamore Hills I was overwhelmed with emotion. At first, I remember feeling in awe that a family who is enduring such loss is simulatneously caring for another family going through similar tragedy. Then, I remember feeling inspired to make sure that my boys understand the importance of community and the value a kind gesture has in shaping young lives. I am proud that my husband Eric served his community as a Shelby Township Fire Fighter. And I know now that he is proud watching the community he looked after look after “his own.”
Mandy Carpenter
2009 Foundation Recipient
My daughter Skylar has numerous medical conditions and the financial pressures are overwhelming. We were asked to attend the dinner after the golf outing and were blown away at the turnout. Everyone looked like they had a fantastic time and dinner was great. Awards were given out and we were given a donation from the Robby Atherton Foundation to help with our financial difficulties. It was extremely generous and we are forever grateful that we were chosen to be a part of that special day. The best part though was the tribute paid to Robby by his friends and family. Although we didn’t know Robby he will forever remain in our hearts. The Robby Atherton Foundation touched our lives greatly and I only hope that someday I can give back to the community the way this foundation has. Thank you!
Melanie Sokolowski
2009 Foundation Recipient
Thank-you so much for your thoughtful contribution to our Stevenson student, David Brown. It will certainly make an impact on his education. We appreciate the scholarship and the wonderful presentation carried out at our Honors Night program.
Debbie Juday
Counseling Department Chair
Stevenson High School
Thank you for this wonderful news and beautiful legacy for Robby. What one does with what one is dealt defines the greatness in a person. The Robby Atherton Foundation Scholarship exemplifies how you and your foundational group have turned a tremendous loss for your family and our community into an outstanding college opportunity for students in Robby’s name. You are great for what you are doing and for that I am forever thankful.
In addition, I wanted to thank you for the tree planting and clean up of the Eisenhower Memorial Garden last month. I have heard that a group will be here this weekend to do additional cleaning and planting of flowers. Again my greatest appreciation goes to you all.
Sincerely with gratitude for everything you are doing for our community on behalf of Robby,
Gloria Bawol
Principal
Eisenhower High School
Dear Robby Atherton Foundation,
Thank you with blessing us with your gift of a bread slicer. My Jaw dropped to the floor when I learned of your donation. I have been looking, networking, searching, and praying for a used bread slicer for over 2 years. This is quite a blessing for us.
What would we do with a bread slicer? From October through April we receive an average of 60 loaves of unsliced bread from Great harvest each week. We have purchased good slicing knives, but the time and soreness of hands have slowed us from slicing the bread for our own use (feeding 100 people each Sunday as well as making 200 sandwiches for lunches given away each Sunday). What bread we cannot use, we share with other ministries. This bread slicer will save us time and money for sandwich bread as well as make it easier for others receiving Great Harvest bread through us to make sandwiches. We look for other bread sources such as Panera during the summer when there is no unsold break from Great Harvest.
From the bottom of my heart, from the grateful stomachs of the poor, from the formerly tired hands of several bread-slicing volunteers, many , many thanks. You made our day. You made our year.
Peace,
Dan Karlin
Social Ministries