A Memorable Assist

Canton basketball team dedicates free time to help Kelly's Kidz foundation

BY ED WRIGHT
Dec. 1, 2009, 11:30 a.m.

  The example of teamwork, heart and extra effort displayed by Canton's girls hoop team one night last week was extraordinary.

  And there wasn't a basketball in sight.

  On Nov. 24, less than an hour after the conclusion of a pre-season scrimmage against Grosse Pointe North, the Chiefs gathered in the basement of Dave and Kelly Hermann, the husband-and-wife co-founders of Kelly's Kidz, a local charitable foundation that assists families with special-needs children attain necessary resources.

  Armed with envelopes, letters, stamps and big hearts, the players set aside a few hours to assist in the distribution of appeal letters for Kelly's Kidz.

  "It's nice that these girls want to get involved in a cause that helps the community like this," said Dave Hermann. "It gives them a chance to get exposed to something they don't see every day.

  "They're helping us get our annual appeal letters out to potential donors. We're mailing out about 600 letters, so they're doing a lot of folding, stuffing, labeling and licking stamps. We also have a few girls working on updating our database."

  "It makes me feel good that we're able to help out a great cause like this," said Canton senior Alyssa Cottrell, as she worked on updating the database with junior teammate Kari Schmitt.

  The creation of Kelly's Kidz was inspired by the Hermanns' 6-year-old daughter, Maggie, who was born with cerebral palsy in December of 2002.

  As the Chiefs prepared the letters downstairs, Maggie maneuvered around the main level of the Hermanns' home in her motorized wheelchair, a wide smile on her face.

  Armed with an unbreakable spirit, the progress Maggie has made over the years has amazed the doctors and her parents. She is currently a first-grader at Dodson Elementary School in Canton.

  "Because we have been so fortunate, we wanted to create opportunities for other families who have children with special needs," said Kelly Hermann.

  "When you have to purchase a $30,000 wheelchair and you don't have help, you're in a world of hurt," added Dave Hermann. "That's what we're here for."

  In just over a year, the Hermanns have already raised over $75,000 for the Oakwood Center for Exceptional Families.

  "We want to be able to help five to 15 families every six months," said Dave Hermann. "Hopefully, we can expand it even more in the future. The program (the Oakwood Center for Exceptional Families) has is outstanding."

  "I think it's good for the girls to give back and do something for a great foundation like this," said Canton girls basketball coach Brian Samulski. "This is the first year we've done something like this as a team. It's not only good for team bonding, but it's nice to be able to help out a great cause."

  For more information on Kelly's Kidz, visit www.kellyskidz.net.

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or [email protected].