Giving Back. Meeting Needs. Changing Lives.

Push to Give encompasses programs and initiatives conducted throughout the year to support families in need, individuals experiencing homelessness, and our senior citizen community. These programs are rooted in the belief that when communities come together, we can turn compassion into action and make sure that no one is forgotten, especially during the moments when help is needed most.

 

PROGRAM 1: PAYING IT FORWARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS

 

Ascend Foundation Paying It Forward For the Holidays/Amazon Christmas in November Community $3 million Giveaway

In 2013, the Ascend Foundation created a five-part holiday initiative called PAYING IT FORWARD FOR THE HOLIDAYS. What began as a small effort to bless families during the holiday season has grown into a nine-phase community-wide initiative, touching thousands of lives through food, gifts, clothing, essential supplies, volunteer service, and community partnerships.

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Today, the initiative represents one of Ascend Foundation's largest annual commitments to giving back.

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PHASE 1: CHRISTMAS IN NOVEMBER

$3 Million Amazon/ Ascend Community Giveaway

Christmas in November is a massive community giveaway that brings together the Ascend Foundation, Amazon, volunteers, community organizations, and residents to distribute donated goods and essential

items to individuals and families

throughout the community.

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What began as a holiday giving event has

grown into a transformational annual

effort, with Amazon's 2026 contribution

reaching a record $3 million in donated products and resources.

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PHASE 2: ADOPT 120

Thanksgiving Blessing Program

The Adopt 120 Thanksgiving Blessing Program provides high-quality Thanksgiving food packages to families experiencing significant financial hardship, ensuring that families have enough food to prepare meaningful meals during the holiday season.

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The program began in 2013 with an effort to adopt 10 families and has continued to grow. What started as Adopt 20 eventually became Adopt 120, with the Ascend Foundation providing Thanksgiving blessings to 128 families in 2025.

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Families are identified through community partners, including social service agencies, schools, churches, and other trusted organizations. Volunteers then come together to prepare and deliver generous food packages containing name-brand groceries and grocery gift cards.

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More than food, these packages represent a reminder to families that their community sees them, cares about them, and is willing to step up when times are difficult.

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PHASE 3: SENIOR FEAST

Catered Senior Appreciation Dinner

Senior Feast is an annual celebration of our senior citizen community, providing seniors with an opportunity to gather, fellowship, enjoy a high-quality catered meal, and be reminded that their contributions and presence matter.

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Sponsored by the Ascend Foundation in partnership with My Elders Keepers and Love Our Kids Community Project, the initiative brings appreciation directly to community senior centers and creates a meaningful experience centered around dignity, fellowship, and gratitude.

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PHASE 4: ADOPT A SCHOOL

Holiday Essentials for Children

The Adopt a School initiative identifies an elementary school serving children in communities where families may struggle to provide basic necessities. Ascend Foundation steps in to help fill those gaps by providing items such as coats, hats, shoes, socks, personal hygiene products, school supplies, and other essential needs.

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For some children, the holidays are not about receiving the latest toy or gadget. Sometimes, the greatest gift is simply having the things they need to feel warm, cared for, confident, and prepared.

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Through this initiative, Ascend Foundation partners with schools to identify needs and mobilize donors and volunteers to ensure that children are not overlooked.

 

PHASE 5: ADOPT A DAYCARE

Holiday Blessings for Little Ones

Ascend Foundation identifies and adopts two daycare centers that go above and beyond to support families experiencing financial hardship, including families who may struggle even with discounted childcare services.

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Through this initiative, Ascend provides holiday gifts, necessities, and special surprises for the children and families connected to these centers.

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For some children, the gift provided through this initiative may be the only holiday gift they receive. That reality drives the commitment to make every package thoughtful, joyful, and filled with the spirit of giving.

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PHASE 6: ADOPT A SHELTER

Holiday Hope for Homeless Families

Throughout the year, Ascend Foundation maintains relationships with organizations serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness. During the holiday season, those relationships help identify shelters that need additional support.

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Through Adopt a Shelter, Ascend Foundation adopts three homeless family shelters, providing clothing, personal care items, household necessities, children's items, and other needed supplies.

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The initiative is about more than providing things. It is about extending a hand of compassion to families who are navigating some of life's most difficult circumstances and reminding them that they have not been forgotten.

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PHASE 7: BLESSING THE VILLAGE

Catered Christmas Dinner for the Homeless Community

Blessing the Village brings the spirit of Christmas directly to individuals experiencing homelessness by providing catered holiday meals at Hope Warming Centers and homeless shelters across multiple locations.

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In 2025, Ascend Foundation provided 125 catered holiday meals to members of the homeless community.

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The initiative creates an opportunity to share more than a meal. It provides warmth, dignity, fellowship, and a moment of celebration during a season when many individuals may otherwise experience isolation.

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PHASE 8: ADOPT 150

Holiday Blessings for Families in Dire Need

Adopt 150 provides comprehensive holiday support to families experiencing severe financial hardship.

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Families are identified through the Department of Human Services, school districts, churches, and other community partners. Ascend Foundation provides approximately a week and a half of groceries while also collecting holiday wish lists from family members and working to fulfill as many requests as possible.

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What began in 2013 as a smaller family adoption effort has grown tremendously. In 2025, Ascend Foundation adopted 158 families.

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The goal is simple: give families the opportunity to experience the holidays with dignity, joy, food on the table, and gifts to open.

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PHASE 9: MISSION TO FEED 3,000

Holiday Outreach to Our Homeless Community

Mission to Feed 3,000 is the culminating effort of the Ascend Foundation's holiday giving season, bringing together organizations, donors, businesses, churches, community partners, and volunteers to provide meals and care packages to individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Oakland, Wayne, Genesee, and Macomb Counties.

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The initiative began with a mission to serve 1,200 people and has grown to a goal of 3,000 meals and care packages.

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With this initiative, more than 400 volunteers came together to assemble approximately 3,000 care packages, representing nearly $80,000 in food, personal care items, and essential supplies for members of our homeless community.

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Mission to Feed 3,000 is the exclamation point on the Ascend Foundation's year-end giving efforts: a massive demonstration of what happens when a community decides that 3,000 people are worth showing up for.

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The Mission to Feed 3,000 initiative was temporarily interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic: the Ascend Foundation pivoted to reinforce the commitment to servicing our homeless population. This program is on its way back.

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PROGRAM 2: THE POWER OF GIVING

 

Year-Round Homeless Outreach Initiative

 

The Power of Giving grew directly from the success of Mission to Feed 3,000.

After years of serving individuals experiencing homelessness during the holiday season, Ascend Foundation recognized an important reality: the need does not disappear when the holidays are over.

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The Power of Giving expands Ascend's outreach beyond December and creates opportunities to serve our homeless community throughout the entire year.

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PHASE 1: 1,000 ACTS OF CARE

Quarterly Homeless Care Package Initiative

1,000 Acts of Care is a quarterly initiative designed to provide approximately 1,000 care packages every three months to individuals experiencing homelessness throughout Oakland and Wayne Counties.

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Each care package is designed to provide immediate support, including a nutritious meal and essential personal hygiene items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, and other basic necessities.

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Volunteers gather every quarter to assemble the packages, while dedicated teams coordinate their distribution to locations where individuals experiencing homelessness can be reached.

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The initiative also creates an important

youth service-learning opportunity,

allowing children and young people

participating in Ascend Foundation

programs to take an active role in

giving back to their community.

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Through hands-on service, young people learn that philanthropy is not simply something adults do. They can be part of the solution right now.

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PHASE 2: THE GIFT OF DIGNITY: THE CLARENCE PHILLIPS WISH

Random Acts of Kindness for Our Homeless Community

The Gift of Dignity is a year-round outreach effort that started 25 years ago by then, State Representative Clarence Phillips. It was designed to provide direct financial assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness through unexpected acts of kindness.

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Throughout the year, Ascend Foundation identifies opportunities to provide individuals with anywhere from $20-$100 in assistance to help address an immediate personal need.

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This initiative is rooted in a simple idea: sometimes the most meaningful gift is the freedom to decide what you need most.

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Whether used toward food, transportation, personal necessities, or another immediate need, these unexpected acts of generosity provide not only practical assistance but also a powerful message: You matter. You are seen. And your community has not forgotten you.

 

THE PUSH TO GIVE PHILOSOPHY

At Ascend Foundation, giving is more than an event. It is an experience, a responsibility, and a lesson we teach the next generation.

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Through Push to Give, young people have the opportunity to witness firsthand what happens when compassion becomes action. They learn to recognize needs, serve others, work alongside community partners, and understand that everyone has something to give.

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We don't just give to the community. We teach the community to give.