When PHILADANCO! performers took the stage at Detroit School of Arts, it was more than a performance.

It was a call to action.

The troop performed “Endangered Species,” a movement work by famed choreographer Anthony Burrell, as a part of Heritage Works‘ Youth Day.

As Ginger Penfil sat down to balance her checkbook – reconciling the stack of mounting bills against the account’s remaining funds – her heart sank into her belly.

“I was in disbelief, really,” she said. “Shocked.”

The financial and emotional shocks had stacked up against Ginger and her husband, Robert, over the past several years.

If every home has a story, then the little three-bedroom bungalow on Milner Street in Detroit weaves an inspirational tale of hardship and triumph – themes the home’s owner, Renetta Frazier, knows well.

In 2020, Renetta and her husband, Marvin, lost the home to property tax foreclosure. After avoiding notices because they lacked resources to catch up on payments, Renetta came home one day to find a note and lifeline taped to the front door.

Make a difference today — and every day. Our volunteer portal makes it easy to find ways to give back.

Join us for a series of 30-minute virtual community conversations around topics that impact your life.

From childcare and education resources to free tax prep and financial coaching, United Way for Southeastern Michigan partners with hundreds of organizations across the region to provide services that help families become stable and ensure children can thrive.