On a lovely spring evening, nearly 5,000 enthusiastic soccer fans filled Atwood Stadium for the exciting home-opener exhibition match. The hometown team thrilled the crowd with plenty of action and a 1-0 win.

Folks turned out in fancy hats and bowties for the inaugural Derby Day fundraiser hosted by The Contemporaries. In addition to watching The Run for the Roses, attendees enjoyed food, music and a silent auction with items from Neiman Marcus, Sugarfina: A Luxury Candy Boutique, and more.

Greater Flint laced up their finest sneakers and gathered again for a fabulous party to support Whaley Children’s Center’s mission of providing care to Michigan’s abused, neglected and at-risk children and families. The glamorous evening included silent and live auctions, a fabulous meal, live music and dancing.

This annual brunch and champagne reception benefits the shelter animals of The Humane Society of Genesee County. In its 21st year, the event featured a live auction and silent auction offering nearly 50 goods and services. This year’s donations will help the shelter build new kennels.

Participants of this annual family-fun event donned their favorite superhero costumes and gathered at Flint Farmers’ Market for a timed 5K Run and 5K Walk with age-group awards, and a non-competitive 1K Family Fun Run. The course included the beautiful Applewood Estate and every finisher received a custom superhero finisher’s medal. All proceeds benefit the Voices for Children Advocacy Center.

This event was a launch party for Making Memories from Scratch, a collection of recipes and memories from Mott students, faculty and staff compiled by Debra Gibes (at left), with proceeds to benefit the Mott Eats Food Pantry. Attendees enjoyed food prepared by the MCC Culinary Arts program, giveaways, music by the MCC Jazz Band, food-themed artwork including pottery bowls for purchase made by MCC Art students, family-friendly activities and food demonstrations.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Paint Our Town Blue, an initiative of Whaley Children’s Center, is a public awareness campaign promoting the prevention of child abuse and neglect in Genesee County through education and increased attention to this epidemic. According to a Whaley press statement, the aim is to raise attention to its prevalence and the long-term impacts it has on child development, as well as social and economic conditions in the entire community.

On Bake Fresh Friday, which took place on March 29 of this year, Mott Community College Culinary Arts students and faculty from the Baking and Pastry Arts program, took the time to teach residents of Carriage Town Ministries basic baking skills. The students, under the direction of Chef David Miller, worked one-on-one with residents from 9:30am to 1:30pm as part of the project. The project is funded by a matching grant from Rotary District 6330 and the Genesee Valley Rotary Club.

This event celebrates and encourages creative play. Kids in grades K-12 submitted original LEGO sculptures for display and judging in Isabel Hall, culminating with awards for Most Creative, Most Technically Challenging and Best in Show with prizes including Art School scholarships, gift cards, LEGO kits, and FIA Memberships. Selected works were exhibited in the Art School for the following week.

Co-hosted by FIA and the Junior League of Flint, this year’s event was themed Viva España. Attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and desserts, sampled a variety of international and domestic wines with a focus on Spain, and received a complimentary glass to take home. Funds raised help provide transportation and art supplies for elementary and secondary students participating in FIA education.

The 2019 inductees included: Darryl Johnson, Todd Lyght, Morris Peterson, Andre Weathers, MaliVai Washington, Deanna Nolan, 1978-81 Flint Northern Girls Basketball Teams and the 1974 Flint Northern Boy’s Cross-Country Team. The organization’s goal: to preserve and exhibit the history of former Flint African American professional, college, city, high school and sandlot players and teams.