Beth Kraft

St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center

St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center (SVSF) is one of Southeastern Michigan's oldest organizations, whose mission is to assist those in need. In 1844, SVSF opened as St. Vincent's Academy as a kindergarten for orphaned children in Detroit. It evolved through the years and settled in Farmington Hills, where it resided for many years and was primarily known as a residential facility/orphanage for children. However, due to changes in national policy and the economy, the Center closed the doors to its residence in 2006. But the Board of Trustees did not want to close the organization and instead, due to the great need in Metro Detroit for educational assistance, decided to return to its roots. So SVSF relocated back to Detroit, where it launched, free educational programs for at-risk children and adults. The Center now has four campuses across the City and offers free, one-one-one tutoring programs for children (grades 1-5) at its main campus and assists adults (18 and older) to obtain their GED as their first step towards economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. Services are available to all students and Detroit residency is not a requirement. In fact, 20% of the student base comes from the surrounding Metropolitan areas, whose educational programs need support too. With an active student base of approximately 400 students a year, SVSF is working to contribute to the revitalization of the Metro Detroit area, one student at a time.