The Hope Clinic is hosting a breakfast benefit on Thursday, March 23 with University of Michigan’s football coach Jim Harbaugh and his wife Sarah Harbaugh.
Harbaughs for Hope Clinic will take place from 7:30-9 a.m. at The Kensington Hotel, including a meet-and-greet and Q&A session.
The volunteer-based organization connected with the Harbaugh’s through mutual friends about a year ago, and the couple offered to help with a fundraiser as a way to raise money for the organization.
“They both were willing to support the work that's happening because they are very excited to care for people who are in need," Doug Campbell, chief executive officer of The Hope Clinic, said.
The clinic, with one location in Ypsilanti and one in Westland, has been open for 40 years, providing people free medical, dental, food, and behavorial health care. Furthermore, it was one of the first free clinics in the nation to integrate behavorial and mental health services.
The CEO said that the Zulu greeting “sawubona,” meaning “I see you," ties into the clinic’s values.
"Everybody who comes through our doors at Hope, we're saying "we see you," not however other people are describing you or how you're feeling," he said.
Campbell compared Jim Harbaugh to Eastern Michigan University’s football coach Chris Creighton, who helped the clinic with a similar fundraiser four years ago.
"He and I went to college together. We were the same year in undergrad," Campbell said. "Chris is a great guy and he was willing to do a similar bet...they both kind of have that approach in coaching of building people up rather than tearing down and that's part of our core values.”
Campbell said that he is grateful the Harbaugh’s are willing to help, especially since their reach allows the ability to draw in more attention to the organization.
“People are gonna want to come and hear them and then they're using that platform to highlight the need in our community so they're able to widen our audience in a way that we would never be able to," Campbell said.
Tickets for the fundraiser can be purchased for $250 through the Hope Clinic’s website. People can purchase a table sponsorship for $250 as well and have the opportunity to add on a meet and greet with the Harbaugh’s for $1000.
