The Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF), a not-for-profit organization that provides free and low-cost gymnastics to urban youth headquartered in Harlem, New York.
They are excited to announce four new board members to their Detroit location.
Founded in 1996 and celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2021, the Foundation expanded to Detroit in 2016 and will be celebrating its 5th Anniversary in October 2021.
With the help of these new board members, the Foundation looks forward to enhancing its programming and providing more opportunities to underserved communities.
New WHGF Detroit board members include: Andy Doctoroff, Attorney and Principal Member of Andrew S. Doctoroff Consulting, LLC; Jeannine Gant, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit; Dimitrius Hutcherson, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Technology Officer at First Independence Bank; and Tom Sherry, Founder and Principal of consulting practice 313Creative, who has been a supporter of the WHGF on a volunteer basis for over 5 years focusing on locations, partnerships, and relationship-building in the Detroit landscape.
“We have a lot of exciting goals and plans for the Foundation in Detroit and adding these notable board members will help strengthen our presence and resources,” said Wendy Hilliard, CEO, and Founder of the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation. “Pre Covid we were serving 250 youth each week through successful partnerships with Goal Line Detroit and the Kemeny Recreation Center” “We are working towards having our own dedicated space for gymnastics and are focusing on our fundraising efforts.”
“The Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation has the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to the health, well-being, and happiness of a proud, vibrant community that works hard to overcome the many challenges with which it is faced,” said Andy Doctoroff, Attorney and Principal Member of Andrew S. Doctoroff Consulting, LLC. “I feel fortunate to be a part of this effort and look forward to what the future holds.”
“Joining the WHGF board is my way of staying involved in a sport that I’ve loved most of my life. As a former All-American gymnast, I rarely saw other black and brown girls who looked like me,” said Jeannine Gant, President, and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit. “I want to make sure that the sport is open for all young people who have a dream to be the next Simon Biles or Wendy Hilliard.”
“I am excited to join the Board of Directors of the WHGF,” said Dimitrius Hutcherson, Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Technology Officer at First Independence Bank. “It’s fulfilling to participate in an organization committed to providing opportunities to children of color from underserved communities. I look forward to helping to expand the Foundation’s presence in our hometown of Detroit.”
“I’m honored to join the Board of Directors for the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation in support of its 25+ years of critical work on behalf of our youth in New York and Detroit,” said Tom Sherry, Founder, and Principal of consulting practice 313Creative. “As a lifelong Detroiter and creative professional, I believe in the importance of access, opportunity, and self-empowerment that the Foundation provides for young people of color, and I look forward to playing a role in the continued growth and reach of our programs in the future.”
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Wendy started gymnastics at age 12. She trained through the Detroit Recreational Department with coaches from the former Soviet Union.
She was the first Black to represent the U.S. in international competition in rhythmic gymnastics and competed in three World Championships.
Related: Harlem’s Wendy Hilliard Talks Commitment on The Danny Tisdale Show
Following her competitive and award-winning experience as a world-class athlete and coach, Wendy recognized the lack of gymnastics opportunities among urban youth, which inspired her to launch the Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation in 1996 in Harlem, New York, and expanded to Detroit in 2016.
For more information please visit, https://www.wendyhilliard.org/. Visit Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Photo credit: 1) WHG student. 2) L to R: Andy Doctoroff, Jeannine Gant, Dimitrius Hutcherson, and Tom Sherry.
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