Embracing the Season of Giving
One of the tenets that Golden Limousine International is built upon, is the importance of giving back to the community.
Founder Sean Duval believes that by doing so, we all benefit. To that end, he and the company are involved in and support numerous non-profit and community organizations and events throughout the year. Most recently, Golden Limo was involved with two events that helped to spread joy during the holiday season.
Student Development Program Christmas Giveaway
On December 15, Puffer Reds owner Eric Williams hosted kids from the Ypsilanti Community High School Student Development Program for a pre-holiday event where they were invited to pick out items for Christmas. The Student Development Program is a non-profit dedicated to helping Ypsilanti Community High School students realize their dreams.
Golden Limousine was proud to provide transportation for the participants. Golden's President, Sean Duval, spearheads the efforts of the Student Development Program, along with community leaders Fred Jackson, Kirk A. Profit and Thomas Biggs. The Program was established to level the playing field for the students of Ypsilanti Community High School by removing complications and barriers that they individually experience as extremely unfair challenges and competitive disadvantages to their growth and success.
It all began in 2015 when the founders were asked to help raise funds for a weight room at Ypsilanti Community High School where Fred Jackson, who had recently retired from a storied coaching career at the University of Michigan, was coaching. Their work initially focused on leveraging student interests in football but has evolved to include a much broader group of students.
Climate and Culture Coach Fred Jackson continues to lead the program today. His trusting connection with the students results in them being comfortable sharing their challenges so that the program can bring the necessary resources.
BIG Toy Drive
On December 17, University of Michigan football players Will Johnson and Semaj Morgan hosted a holiday Toy Drive at The Blue Leprechaun in Ann Arbor.
Despite the soggy weather, family, friends and lots of fans showed up with toy donations in hand, including Golden Limousine President Sean Duval. All who arrived with a toy to donate were able to take a photo with Will and Semaj and autographs were given out.
Photo by Katy Kildee, The Detroit News
The toy drive was a tremendous success, making it a very Merry Christmas for many kids. The toys were given out to over 1,000 families during a distribution event hosted by University of Michigan football players on Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023 at Heilmann Community Center in Detroit.
“It’s always good giving back to the community,” Johnson told The Wolverine. “Giving back to the people who supported us growing up. It’s all great and it means a lot.”
Among those on hand to help with the distribution of the toys were members of SoundMind SoundBody, a year-round training and exposure academy that works with top area football prospects.
“Me and Will played for SoundMind SoundBody with Curtis Blackwell (Founder and President),” Morgan said. “Being under Blackwell, he taught us that football isn’t the only thing. Do well in school, look a man in the eye when you talk to them and shake their hand, and give back was another important part, too. I feel like Coach Blackwell was a great inspiration.”
By the end of the event, all of the toys and hundreds of autographs were handed out, making it a very Merry Christmas indeed.