Yatooma’s Foundation For the Kids helping families touched by tragedy

When Norman Yatooma’s father was murdered in 1993, it threw him, his three brothers and mother into a world of unbelievable grief and hardship. Norman, the oldest, was 20 when his father was shot twice in the head while interrupting a carjacking.

“The family was unprepared to deal with enormity of that kind of loss,” said Jennifer Viano, executive director at Yatooma’s Foundation for the Kids.

Ten years after his dad passed away, Yatooma incorporated Yatooma’s Foundation
For the Kids, a nonprofit organization based in Birmingham and dedicated to helping children who have experienced the sudden loss of one or both parents.

Each family’s situation is considered, and a plan for support is developed. Services include grief counseling, tuition reimbursement for parents who return to school, and need-based financial assistance for utility bills, rent or mortgage, transportation assistance and gas cards. There’s an annual party in which families who benefit from the program spend time together.

Members also provide “familytime experiences” in which families can enjoy a Detroit Pistons game or a day at Cedar Point.

The events are designed to help families bond and build memories.

The foundation is currently assisting about 200 children and 100 parents or guardians. Viano said many of the parents pass away from illness, and there are some cases of suicide or murder.

“The stories are all tragic, some of them especially tragic,” she said.

A nine-member board of directors, Viano, two full-time staff members and “hundreds” of volunteers oversee the organization.

The foundation helps children throughout Michigan, with about 90 percent of them in the southeastern part of the state.

“We help them build the best life we can,” Viano said. “We really look to the future.” Yatooma’s Foundation for the Kids is funded three ways :individual contributions, corporate sponsorship and foundation funding.

“Our goal is to expand throughout the state of Michigan and have regional and national growth,” Viano said.

For the second year in a row, the foundation is providing backpacks for about 160 local children this fall. The bags are filled with basic school supplies for students from preschool to high school, including glue, scissors and crayons for the younger kids, and paper, folders highlighters and pens for the older students.

Foundation volunteer Kristin Maceroni spearheaded the program this year by coordinating the purchase of supplies. The families began picking up their backpacks the week of Aug. 17.

Pamala and David Kaigh of Roseville benefited from the organization three years ago when they became guardians of Pamala’s friend’s autistic son Terry after his mother passed away.

Terry received a backpack for school this fall. Through Yatooma, the Kaighs -who also have two grown daughters -received gas cards, so they could visit Pamala’s late brother when he was in the hospital. Gas cards again were given to the Kaighs during a hospital stay for David.

Yatooma representatives also helped the family with utility bills and made it possible for Terry, 17, to enjoy several sporting events, including a Detroit Red Wings game from the front row. Terry is verbal, but has challenges when speaking.

Pamala and Terry’s mother were childhood friends. About 10 years ago, she asked
Pamala to take care of her son if she wasn’t able to raise him.

“She had insight she wouldn’t always be there for him,”Pamala said.

Pamala kept her promise, and the Kaighs love Terry like a son. He loves them in return.

“Terry’s needs were so different,” Pamala said. “He works really hard on everything. He has come a long way.” Pamala said Terry has “little recollection of his mother.” She occasionally takes out photographs of his mom, and others share stories with him during school reunions. Terry has thrived under the Kaighs’care. He loves to be “out and about,” has become a car buff and makes swimming a priority.

The Kaighs are grateful for Yatooma’s Foundation for the Kids.

“They are totally amazing,” Pamala said. “These folks, they put so much effort and time into it.” For more information on Yatooma’s Foundation For the Kids, call (888) 987-KIDS or visit www.forthekidsfoundation.org.