News Archive

  Jamie’s Smiles Shares Over $19,900 to Help Children with Special Needs

This past holiday season, Jamie’s Smiles raised over $9,200, facilitated adopting two families through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP), and gave assistance to over 80 additional families in our local community. Their corporate sponsors’ contributions and discounts as well as donated items raised the retail value of their assistance to local families to over $19,900.

Gretchen Bates expressed gratitude to those who made this effort possible when she said, “After several difficult years for many in our community, we deeply appreciate the generosity of our many supporters and sponsors. We are grateful to the students who gave up a day off school and many evening hours to help us purchase and wrap gifts for our families. We would like to thank our business sponsors including our Gold Level Corporate Sponsors: St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and the Knights of Columbus, Comcast, and the Four County Community Foundation’s Women’s Fund. We would also like to thank our Silver Level Corporate Sponsor: Thrivent Financial/Thrivent Action Teams, and to thank all of the organizations and businesses for helping to make it possible to reach out a helping hand to over 82 families in our community this past holiday season.”

“We estimate that we have touched the lives of over 380 people this year alone! Since we began, we have given away donations valued at over $232,600 in grants and assistance to programs and as a result helped many families and an estimated 22,800 people in Macomb County, said Bates. “Many organizations work with us to help our adopted families including the corporate sponsors I mentioned as well as: Kohl’s (Shelby Township), Mitchell Family Dental and Value Center Market (Clinton Township). Additionally, many individuals donated items and gift cards to help needy families with children in MIPP.”

Jamie’s Smiles Grants Over $4,000 to Help Children with Special Needs
 

On October 15, 2024 the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP), Kensington Community Church, and Glen H. Peters School, serving a combined total of over 1,680 students with special needs in Macomb County, received grants totaling $4,003.71 from Jamie’s Smiles for current projects and equipment. 

The money from these grants is for the purchase of therapy items and toys that will promote expressive communication skills, enhanced speech therapy, physical therapy aids, therapeutic positioning seat positioners, sensory toys, and noise canceling headphones to name a few. Some items will be used on site at their locations and others will be utilized as short-term loan equipment for families to use for child development and in-home teaching.

Jamie's Smiles Helps Families of Children with Special Needs through More than $15,200 Holiday Adoption

When asked about the adoption, Gretchen Bates, Fund Founder said, “We worked hard and estimate that we have touched the lives of over 323 people this year alone via our adoptions valued at over $15,200.  We raised money to adopt families and supply gift cards for food and other items to families in need in our community! As of March 2024, we have given away donations valued at over $208,600 in grants and assistance to programs and as a result helped many families and an estimated 20,800 people in Macomb County. As of March we had over $165,00 in our accounts to help us to continue to make an impact on the lives of children in our local community.” 

Bates thanked Jamie’s Smiles’ business sponsors this year when she said, “A HUGE THANK YOU to our Corporate Sponsors, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and the Knights of Columbus, John Wood Group PLC, Thrivent Financial, and Kohl’s of Shelby Township for helping to make it possible to reach out a helping hand to so many families in our community during the 2023 holiday season.”

Jamie’s Smiles Grants Over $4,000 to Help Children with Special Needs
 

On October 31, 2023 the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP), Romeo Community Schools Early Childhood Special Education services, and Glen H. Peters School, serving a combined total of over 1,000 students with special needs in Macomb County, received grants totaling over $4,000 from Jamie’s Smiles for current projects and equipment. 

When asked about their projects Bates said, “There were such amazing grant applications that we had trouble choosing. We are extremely passionate about helping children, especially children with special needs. These programs are amazing and have adapted their teaching and therapy methods to continue to improve the lives of children with special needs like our son. We are so thankful to have such amazing early intervention programs in our own backyard to continue to help so many children progress and excel.”

The money from these grants is for the purchase of items and toys that will promote expressive communication skills, enhance speech therapy, enhance feeding methods for struggling children, therapeutic positioning balls and a ball pit that will promote skill acquisition, as well as seating options. Some items will be used on site at their locations and others will be utilized as short-term loan equipment for families to use for child development and in-home teaching.  

When asked about the adoption, Gretchen Bates, Fund Founder said, “We estimate that we have touched the lives of over 328 people this year alone via our adoptions valued at over $10,900.  We raised money to adopt families and supply gift cards for food and other items to families in need in our community! Since we began, we have given away donations valued at over $189,400 in grants and assistance to programs and as a result helped many families and an estimated 19,600 people in Macomb County. We currently have over $144,500 in our accounts to help us to continue to make an impact on the lives of children in our local community.” 

Bates thanked Jamie’s Smiles’ business sponsors this year when she said, “A HUGE THANK YOU to our Corporate Sponsors, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and the Knights of Columbus, John Wood Group PLC, Thrivent Financial, and Kohl’s of Shelby Township for helping to make it possible to reach out a helping hand to so many families in our community during the 2022 holiday season.”

Jamie’s Smiles Grants $3,000 to Help Children with Special Needs

Jamie’s Smiles is a fund held and administered by Four County Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3), in memory of Jameson Bates. Their mission is to supply supplemental funding to outstanding programs that benefit special needs children, through grants and other financial means. 

Gretchen Bates said, “We are pleased to share that Jamie’s Smiles has released our annual grants in the amount of $3,000 to help programs assisting children with special needs in our local communities.” On October 21, 2022 the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP), Glen H. Peters School, and Romeo Community Schools Early Childhood Special Education services, serving a combined total of over 1240 students with special needs in Macomb County, each received a $1,000 grant for a total of $3,000 from Jamie’s Smiles for current projects and equipment."

The money from these grants is for the purchase of items and toys that will promote expressive communication skills, enhance speech therapy, enhance feeding methods for struggling children, therapeutic positioning balls and rolls that will promote skill acquisition and milestone development, as well as flexible and adjustable height seating. Some items will be used on site at their locations and other will be utilized as short-term loan equipment for families to use for child development and in-home teaching. 

When asked about their projects Bates said, “I am passionate about helping children, especially children with special needs. These programs are amazing and have adapted their teaching and therapy methods to continue to improve the lives of children with special needs like our son even over these past several unusual years. We support them in their efforts, and we are thankful to have such amazing early intervention programs in our own backyard to continue to help so many children progress and excel.” 

 Gretchen Bates expressed gratitude to local students who, “….Gave up a day off school in November and evening hours in December to help us purchase and wrap gifts for our families. Their commitment to the community was obvious and their help was invaluable in getting items wrapped and to our families on time even amid a pandemic.”

Bates also thanked Jamie’s Smiles’ business sponsors this year when she said, “A HUGE THANK YOU to our Corporate Sponsors, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and the Knights of Columbus as well as Kohl’s of Shelby Township for helping to make it possible to reach out a helping hand to over 60 families in our community this past holiday season.”

Bates went on to say, “Our friends at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and the Knights of Columbus helped by contributing baby necessities like highchairs, car seats, toys, clothing, sheets, and much more. Additionally, Kohl’s partnership with Jamie’s Smiles to help the community through the holiday adoptions reaches back to over a decade. We are pleased to partner with such awesome organizations and companies to help us to change the lives of children with special needs in our area!”

“We estimate that we have touched the lives of over 251 people this year alone! Since we began, we have given away donations valued at over $158,300 in grants and assistance to programs and as a result helped many families and an estimated 16,900 people in Macomb County. We also have over $133,800 in our accounts and believe that we are making a HUGE impact on the lives of children in our local community” said Bates. 

“Many organizations work with us to help our adopted families including Value Center Market (Clinton Township) and corporate sponsors like St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, the Knights of Columbus, and Kohl’s (Shelby Township). Additionally, many individuals donated items and gift cards to help out our adopted family and a myriad of other needy families with children in the Macomb Infant Preschool Program.”

Jamie’s Smiles Adds Third Grant and Gives Out $3,000 in Grants to Help Children with Special Needs

Jamie’s Smiles is a fund held and administered by Four County Community Foundation, a 501(c)(3), in memory of Jameson Bates. Their mission is to supply supplemental funding to outstanding programs that benefit special needs children, through grants and other financial means. 

Gretchen Bates said, “We are super excited to announce that even amidst the unusual circumstances of the past couple of years, Jamie’s Smiles has been able to add a THIRD grant this year and to release $3,000 in grants to help programs assisting children with special needs in our local community.”

On October 21, 2021 the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP), serving approximately 1,000 students with special needs ages birth to 3 years in Macomb County, received three $1,000 grants for a total of $3,000 from Jamie’s Smiles for current projects and equipment. 

The money from these grants is for the purchase of aids to enhance seating options for babies and toddlers, support garments, splints, and developmental toys that will promote skill acquisition and milestone development including fine and gross motor skills, cognitive development, and social emotional development. Some items will be used on site at their locations and other will be utilized as short-term loan equipment for families to use for child development and in-home teaching.

When asked about their projects Bates said, “Helping others is my passion…especially those in the special needs community! That is why we love working with the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP). MIPP has been working double time even in this atypical environment. They are working hard to keep everyone safe, while adapting their teaching and therapy methods to continue to improve the lives of children with special needs like our son. We want to support their important efforts during this difficult era.  We are thankful to have such high-quality programs in our own back yard to continue to help so many children progress and prosper.”

 Gretchen Bates expressed gratitude to local students who, “….Gave up a day off school in November and evening hours in December to help us purchase and wrap gifts for our families. Their commitment to the community was obvious and their help was invaluable in getting items wrapped and to our families on time even amid a pandemic.”

Bates also thanked Jamie’s Smiles’ business sponsors this year when she said, “A HUGE THANK YOU to our Corporate Sponsors, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and the Knights of Columbus as well as Kohl’s of Shelby Township for helping to make it possible to reach out a helping hand to over 60 families in our community this past holiday season.”

Bates went on to say, “Our friends at St. Therese of Lisieux Parish and the Knights of Columbus helped by contributing baby necessities like highchairs, car seats, toys, clothing, sheets, and much more. 

Additionally, Kohl’s partnership with Jamie’s Smiles to help the community through the holiday adoptions reaches back to over a decade. We are pleased to partner with such awesome organizations and companies to help us to change the lives of children with special needs in our area!”

“We estimate that we have touched the lives of over 251 people this year alone! Since we began, we have given away donations valued at over $158,300 in grants and assistance to programs and as a result helped many families and an estimated 16,900 people in Macomb County. We also have over $133,800 in our accounts and believe that we are making a HUGE impact on the lives of children in our local community” said Bates.

“Many organizations work with us to help our adopted families including Value Center Market (Clinton Township) and corporate sponsors like St. Therese of Lisieux Parish, the Knights of Columbus, and Kohl’s (Shelby Township). Additionally, many individuals donated items and gift cards to help out our adopted family and a myriad of other needy families with children in the Macomb Infant Preschool Program!”

Merger News! Jamie’s Smiles Now Held & Administered by "Four County Community Foundation" 

After significant research, long negotiations and caring consideration, the Shelby Community Foundation (SCF) has decided to merge with the Four County Community Foundation (https://www.4ccf.org/). 

Jamie’s Smiles Founding Member, Gretchen Bates, met with Executive Director and other members of the Four County Community Foundation in the fall of 2020. Although there are likely to be growing pains, all concerned agree that this is in the best interest of the Jamie’s Smiles funds as well as the Shelby Community Foundation on the whole. 

As a donor, you can be assured that Jamie’s Smiles’ Funds will remain intact and able to assist the same programs we have always supported.

How Does this Affect Jamie’s Smiles, My Donations to Jamie’s Smiles, and Me?

The Bates family has always worked hard to keep costs low for the Jamie’s Smiles funds so that all money can be used to direct and positively impact the lives of local children with special needs. Within Jamie’s Smiles, we are an all-volunteer community. However, with the exception of the Christmas Fund, all monies raised are invested by investment professionals on behalf of our fund (through SCF and now Four County Community Foundation). 

There have always been low costs associated with this management and these investments through SCF, but the gains our funds have enjoyed have outpaced these costs.  We are pleased to announce that the management fees charged to Jamie’s Smiles funds will be reduced slightly under the new arrangement universally across all of our funds to 1½%.

Four County Community Foundation is a well-established, well known, and very active foundation. They have full-time employees dedicated to assisting their funds in growing and being successful. They have assured us that our goals for Jamie’s Smiles are in line with their mission. I am sure that there will be modest changes, but we look forward to a positive new year and many beyond 2021 in partnership with the Four County Community Foundation.

In the 2016 holiday season, Jamie’s Smiles raised over $5,200 and adopted two families with a total of seven people through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP). Their corporate sponsor’s contributions and discounts as well as donated items raised the retail value of their assistance to local families to over $9,600. 

On October 31, 2016, the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP) and Glen H. Peters School, serving a combined total of over 1,000 students with special needs ages 3-26 in Macomb County, each received a $1000 grant from Jamie’s Smiles. These grants are to purchase core strength and stability enhancement devices, communication development products, fine and gross motor skills and sensory input ability enhancement items, seating devices and alternatives for posture development as well as learning toys, to be used on site at their locations and as short-term loan equipment for families to use for child development and in-home teaching.

When asked about their projects Gretchen Bates said, “These grants make a real, life changing difference in the lives of children like our son."

In the 2015 holiday season, Jamie’s Smiles raised over $4,800 and adopted two families with a total of 10 people through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP).  Gretchen Bates expressed gratitude to their two Corporate Sponsors this year when she said, “A HUGE THANK YOU to our two Corporate Sponsors, Kohl’s “A Team”, which is a part of the “Kohl’s Cares for Kids” program and the Meijer's store located on Hall Road in Utica.  Both companies donated at least $500 to Jamie’s Smiles holiday adoptions and changed the lives of children with special needs in our community!”

“We are also deeply grateful to many other organizations involved in helping our adopted families including: Kroger, St. Therese of Lisieux Parish (Shelby Township), Target (Sterling Heights), and Value Center Market (Clinton Township).  Additionally, many individuals donated items to help out our two adopted families and over 25 gift cards and a myriad of other items were given to many other needy families with children in MIPP,” said Bates.

Since its inception in 2006, Jamie’s Smiles has given away over $93,900 in grants and donations to assist programs for children with special needs.

Jamie’s Smiles is pleased to announce that it has released $2,000 in grants to help programs assisting children with special needs.  On October 27, 2015, the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP) and Glen H. Peters School, serving a combined total of over 1,000 students with special needs ages 3-26 in Macomb County, each received a $1000 grant from Jamie’s Smiles.  These grants are to purchase core strength, body support and control, balance development equipment, fine motor skills and sensory input ability enhancement items, seating devices and alternatives for posture development as well as learning toys, to be used on site at their locations and as short-term loan equipment for families to use for child development and in-home teaching. 

 For the 2014 holiday season, Jamie’s Smiles raised over $8,200 and adopted two families with a total of 11 people through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP).  The late Christopher Reeve said, "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”  The families that we adopt are those kind of heroes. Our families needed and received clothing, hats, gloves, shoes, boots, diapers and wipes as well as books and learning toys for every child and food gift cards totaling over $4,600 for our two adopted families as well as a many additional families in need.

We were also pleased to welcome the support of Thrivent Financial - Macomb Pointes Chapter for our Christmas adoptions.  They have made donations to help Jamie’s Smiles in past years, but this year they joined us by sponsoring our adopted families with a grant.  Our adoptions were also co-sponsored by our long-term partner in holiday adoptions, Kohl’s (26 Mile Road/Shelby Township).  Kohl’s gave us a discount, donated money to help our families and wrapped our gifts!  MANY THANKS Thrivent Financial - Macomb Pointes Chapter and Kohl’s (26 Mile in Shelby Township)!

"We are also deeply grateful to many other organizations involved in helping our adopted families including: Kroger, Meijer (Utica), St. Therese of Lisieux Parish (Shelby Township), Target (Clinton Township, Macomb & Sterling Heights), and Value Center Market (Clinton Township).  Additionally, many individuals donated items to help out our two adopted families and many other needy families with children in MIPP,” said Bates.  Since its inception in 2006, Jamie’s Smiles has given away over $87,300 in grants and donations to assist programs for children with special needs.

 Jamie’s Smiles’ hosted a successful online auction for items signed by sports figures (like Red Wings players) and other celebrities (like author Johnathan Rand).  We conducted it on our Facebook page.  Thank you to all those who donated and purchased items! 

On October 14, 2014, the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP) and Glen H. Peters School, serving a combined total of over 1,000 students with special needs ages 3-26 in Macomb County, each received a $1000 grant from Jamie’s Smiles.  These grants are to purchase communication equipment, sensory processing and balance equipment, as well as fine and gross motor skills development tools and learning toys, to be used on site at their locations and as short-term loan equipment for families to use for child development and in-home teaching. 

In the 2013 holiday season, Jamie’s Smiles raised over $6,700 and adopted three families with a total of 15 people through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP).   “Our adopted families this past holiday season needed food, clothing, hats, gloves, shoes, boots, diapers and wipes.  This year we provided for these needs as well as books and learning toys for every child and food gift cards totaling over $3,070 for our three adopted families as well as many additional families in need,” says Gretchen Bates.  Since its inception in 2006, Jamie’s Smiles has given away over $78,000 in grants and donations to assist programs for children with special needs. 

Every year we adopt families with children with special needs beginning in September through local programs for children with special needs.  In December 2010,we adopted three families through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP) who really needed a hand up.  We also helped an additional 25 families by giving them food, diapers, learning toys for their children and/or gift cards for food.  In total for 2010, we raised and spent over $8,200 with the estimated retail value of the gifts being over $13,000.  Check out our other past successes and family updates under “Christmas Giving” to see what all the fuss is about!

Every year, Jamie’s Smiles releases two $1,000 grants to help children with special needs.  On November 1, 2010, the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP), serving over 800 children in Macomb County, and Glen H. Peters School, which serves 300 special needs students ages 3-26 in Macomb County, each received a $1,000 grant.  The programs intend to purchase a digital wheelchair, communications device and accessories, a net swing, loaner toys, feeder items, specialized motor skill development chairs and books.

 Even though the weather was overcast and the economy was tough, our June 13, 2010 memorial birthday party was a success! More than $6,000 in donations were received. If you missed the raffles, silent auction (including signed Red Wing’s items), “Red” the Robin, great food, “Decorate a Duck”, fellowship, etc. get involved!  We have projects going almost all year long!

For Christmas, Jamie’s Smiles adopted six families with children with special needs through the Macomb Infant Preschool Program.  We then provided these 28 people with 386 gifts including clothing, hats, gloves, shoes and boots for every family member.  We also provided toys for the children, diapers, wipes and both non-perishable food and gift cards for perishable food items.

Jamie’s Smiles has released two $1,000 grants to help special needs children.  The first grant was released to Glen H. Peters School.  This school serves over 300 special needs students ages 3-26 in Macomb County.  They are planning on purchasing sensory and gravitational assistance equipment as well as assistive communication technology with our grant.  The second grant was given to the Macomb Infant Preschool Program (MIPP) which serves 650-700 students in Macomb County with special needs every year.  They have purchased a jungle gym for the development of motor skills, improvement of balance and sensory processing.

On December 1, 2007, our daughter, Sidney, was born to Mark, Gretchen and Logan.  She is a healthy, average little girl.  Logan adores her and Mom and Dad are very proud of her sweet nature and charismatic personality.  She smiles constantly and the Bates’ all feel very blessed by their new addition.