Chamber celebrates 2010 successes, ‘Operation: Teddy Bear’

For the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce, 2010 was a year filled with good numbers.

Chamber President Jennifer Giering counted some of them off at the organization's Dec. 16 holiday party, held at the Dearborn Country Club: more than 36 events, 600 business leads, 80 new chamber members, 18,000 visitors to the Dearborn Farmer's Market, and 20,000 website visits.

"But what's special about this organization is that no one keeps score," she said. "That's how we can keep moving forward: through passion, through motivation to make this community as great as it possibly can be and to make our members as proud as they can be to be part of our organization."

Perhaps one of the most impressive numbers the Chamber of Commerce amassed this year are the over 600 presents gathered through Operation: Teddy Bear.

Working in conjunction with the YWCA of Western Wayne County, the chamber worked to gather coats, hats, gloves, toys, and many teddy bears for about 700 children and their families through the YWCA's Head Start Program.

Head Start is a free pre-school program available to children who are part of a family living below the poverty line. Children who have health or mental disabilities, who are homeless, or fit several other criteria are also eligible.

Head Start's newest location is in the ' new center in southeast Dearborn. Head Start also operates two other Dearborn locations, on Littlefield and Kenilworth, as well as locations in Inkster, Garden City, Redford and Dearborn Heights.

Musleh said that the need for the YWCA and Head Start's services have increased every year. "The need is always greater for our families," she said, "but with the economic situation, it's been even worse."

However, the Dearborn Chamber of Commerce helps to alleviate financial stress for Head Start families during the holiday and winter season, and has done so for the past four years.

Giering said that the outpouring of support this year has been overwhelming, with clothes, toys and other necessities being gathered from several sites throughout the city. "I went to one site and I just started crying," she recalled. "I couldn't even fit everything in my car."

Donations continued at the chamber's holiday party, with teddy bears and other toys piling up in the Country Club's lobby. The organization continued accepting donations through Dec. 17 at their office, and presents are being distributed to families throughout this week.

Operation: Teddy Bear, said Giering, is just one marker of the group's continued success.

Beyond numbers, they have built their connections and reputation far beyond city borders. In 2010, the group saw the joining of efforts with the Dearborn Heights Chamber of Commerce. They continued successful programs such as their monthly Business Builder Breakfasts, which brought in such speakers as governor-elect Rick Snyder, and began new programs like their Four-by-Four lunches, which periodically brought together four chamber members to have lunch together and discuss how to do business together.

And the work, commented incoming chamber Chairman of the Board Eddie Fakhoury at the holiday party, continues into 2011 with a focus on positive perception of Dearborn.

"Our job in 2011 … is to lock arms, to speak highly of our community," he said. "Speak positively of Dearborn and let (visitors) know that the businesses here, the community, the residents–it's one of the best cities you can be a part of."