Dearborn Business to Host Fundraiser For Children Who Lost Parents

A Dearborn business has committed itself to helping raise funds for three local children who lost both their mother and father within the span of a month.

Yogurtown will host a fundraiser for the Cannizzaro family from 5-10 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29, at their shop in west downtown Dearborn.

The shop, located at 22055 Michigan Ave., sells self-serve frozen yogurt. Proceeds from sales will be donated to the family.

There will also be a DJ on Tuesday night.

Michael, 16; Drako, 9; and Chastity, 8, lost their mother, Nikki, to cancer just before Christmas. And on Jan. 20, their father, Ray, passed away from a pulmonary embolism. The children—all students in Dearborn Public Schools—have been under the care of their grandmother, Shirley Sironen.

Friend of the family and fellow Dearborn parent Alysia Schuler has spearheaded efforts to raise funds for the family through word of mouth and media outlets.

The efforts have paid off so far, too: According to the Detroit Free Press, more than $1,000, plus groceries and gift cards, have been given to the family to support the Cannizzaro children.

Sironen told the Free Press that she's "very overwhelmed" by the outpouring of support.

Can't attend, but still want to give? Helpful donations include:

• Checks (made out to the children's grandmother, Shirley Sironen)
• Gift cards to local stores or restaurants
• Meals/groceries

Items can be dropped in the school's main office, or mailed to:

Snow School, c/o Alysia Schuler PTA
2000 Culver Street
Dearborn, MI, 48124