DETROIT — Fifty-four high school graduating seniors will receive college scholarships at this year's annual Metro Detroit Youth Day, July 14, on Belle Isle.  In addition, 30 high school students will be honored for outstanding leadership and community service.

Metro Detroit Youth Day is a full day of fun, games, contests, celebrities and free food for children between 8 and 15 years of age.  Organizers of the 28th annual event expect more than 35,000 youngsters to participate. It is possibly the largest event of its kind in the nation. The day was originally conceived as a way to bridge relations between African American inner city residents and those who often retailed in the city but lived outside its borders. Arab American Ed Deeb, chairman and coordinator of Youth Day and president of the Michigan Food and Beverage Association, along with radio newsman Jerry Blocker and Tom Fox began the tradition and Deeb works year round to promote and grow the event.

Children interested in participating in Youth Day must pre-register.  Registrations forms are available at Recreation Department offices, local youth organizations,  community groups or at the MFBA office or at www.metrodetroityouthday.com . Youngsters must have a parent or legal guardian sign the form in order to take part in activities. There will also be on-site registration but the size of the crowd makes pre-registering an exceptionally good idea.

Youth Day activities begin at 8:30 a.m. and run to 2:30 p.m. They are organized by local corporations, small businesses, the food industry, and civic and children's organizations.  Store owners and other businesses sponsor buses to transport the children to and from Belle Isle.

Scholarship presentations will take place on the central stage beginning at 9 a.m.  DTE Energy, Pepsi-Cola Co., AT&T Michigan, Sam's Club, Michigan State University, Pistons Palace Foundation, Michigan Food and Beverage Association, Detroit Athletic Club,  Detroit Lions, Digitas, Henry Ford Health System, Wrightway Enterprises, MGM Grand Detroit, Wayne County Sheriff, Wayne County Community College,  and the Arab American Chaldean Council, are awarding the scholarships for academic achievement.

"We want to encourage youth to pursue academics and a college education and help reduce the financial burdens of students who can't afford higher education," Deeb said.

"We are proud to see all these students honored. We are more than just a fun day for kids.  We want them to know that businesses and the community-at-large care for them and their future.  We appreciate our youth and we respect them.  We want to help them get to college and graduate and stay in Michigan to help our state prosper."

Official kick-off ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. with area dignitaries, sports celebrities and government leaders. 

In addition to games, food, and entertainment, youngsters between 8 and 15 years of age attending Metro Detroit Youth Day, will also learn a great deal.  On the athletic field of Belle Isle, there will be two large tents filled with exhibits and educational material.

On the field, along with the entertainment stage, will be the Shriners with pony rides, sports clinics in football, baseball, basketball, martial arts, golf, tennis, bowling,  boxing and weightlifting along with musical performances.

And the experts will be there, including boxing legends Emanuel Steward of Kronk Gym and Tommy Hearns; baseball great, Willie Horton;  football great Lem Barney; and  national martial arts champion Dr. Al Haywood.

There will be a free lunch at noon which is being provided by Michigan Food and Beverage Association and Michigan's food industry with the help of 1,500 volunteers.

"We want our youth to be physically fit, enjoy sports and entertainment, eat healthy foods and be well educated and finish college," said Deeb.

"The wholesale value of the lunch alone exceeds $150,000," said Deeb. "The food industry and MFBA have adopted Metro Detroit Youth Day as their major summer youth project," Deeb added.

Food sponsors are Pepsi-Cola, 7-Up of Detroit, Pointe Dairy, Dean Foods, Faygo Beverages, Wolverine Associates, Absopure, Acosta Sales & Marketing, Uncle Ray's Snacks, Frito-Lay, Better Made Snacks, Motown Snacks, Synder of Hanover, Matt's Cookies, Crossmark. Lipari Foods, Sysco Food Service, Gordon Foods, Sara Lee/Ball Park, Butcher Boy/Alexander Hornung, Sherwood Foods, Armour/ Eckrich, Kraft Oscar Mayer, Wonder Bread/Hostess, Merit Sales, Mascari Brokers, Bunzl, Nabisco, George Weston Bakeries, Keebler/Kellogg, Awrey Bakery, Quaker Oats and Prairie Farms. In addition, food sponsors include Spartan Stores, Inc,, Meijer, Inc., Sam's Club, Kroger Stores, and Costco Wholesale.

 "Metro Detroit Youth Day is a success story about people and organizations working together for harmonious community relations," said Deeb.  "This colorful event has become a major attraction for youngsters over the years.  The fun-filled day gives kids a chance to enjoy a day away from home while participating in supervised, constructive activities of a positive nature.  The day emphasizes sportsmanship, fair play and leadership, teamwork, and the importance of education."

Additional major sponsors include Toyota U.S.A., Beaumont Hospitals, New Detroit, Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Blue Care Network,  American Legion Post No. 570, Waste Management, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Michigan First Credit Union, Charity Motors, Detroit Urban League, NAACP,  Avis Ford,  Masco Corp, Wayne County Executive office, St John Providence Hospitals, Fairlane Town Center, Detroit Recreation Department, Wolverine Packing, Comerica Bank, The Salvation Army, Volkswagen Group,  Detroit Int’l Bridge Co., Freezer & Dry Storage Co., Focus:Hope,  J. Lewis Cooper, Co.,  F.O.P. #102, Wayne County Park System, Detroit Recreation Department, Executive Vehicle Sales. Children's Hospital of Michigan, Allegra Digital Printing, Davenport University, Strategic Staffing Solutions,  Masco Corp, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Detroit Lions and Detroit Tigers,

Media sponsors include Tellusdetroit.com, The Monitor, WMYD-TV20, Michigan Chronicle, Detroit Public TV,  Detroit Free Press, WWJ Newsradio 950,WDIV-TV4. Fox 2 WJBK-TV, Detroit News, WJR Radio, Detroit Media Partnership, WJLB-FM98, Olde Management, Oakland Press, Chaldean Detroit Times and The Arab American News.

Organizations or retail stores interested in sponsoring a bus to transport children should contact MFBA at 586.393.8800 or visit the website www.metrodetroityouthday.com . Call the Michigan Food and Beverage Association for more information at 586.393.8800.