Nonprofit organization receives Go 4 It Spirit Award for supporting southeast Michigan community

As part of our Go 4 It commitment, we review nominations from changemakers in Southeast Michigan each month. This time, it’s about helping an entire family.

This time, the winner from Local 4 is Towana Parker, director at DAPCO, also known as Destiny and Purpose Village.

For many, their job is best described as “fill in the gaps when the ends don’t fit together.”

“The smiles on the faces of the people we work with give me strength,” Parker said.

For the past 28 years, Parker and her nonprofit organization Destiny and Purpose Community Outreach have sought to help people of all ages.

“We just believe that if you really work with families, you can identify the areas in which they need help,” Parker said.

The organization’s goal is to help as many people as possible, from toddlers to seniors, using eight components.

“I never dreamed of running a nonprofit,” Parker said. “I was always involved in the community. I worked with women who wanted to start a business, and that’s what we started with, and then we went into residential schools.”

Thanks to grants, Parker says, the organization was able to acquire 7 acres of land, parts of which are used as housing for homeless women, children and veterans. Much of it depends on sponsors and volunteers.

“This is called the sponsor’s palace, that’s what this house would be called,” Parker said.

There is also a summer program for youth, but Parker said she participates because she loves to inspire.

“When I hear their stories about how our program has impacted their lives, it motivates me and gives me something to strive for,” Parker said. “I know we are going to make a difference in someone’s life.”

While Parker and DAPCO are already doing a great job, we’ve heard they have plans for the future, including an expansion that will really make the most of the facility.

Parker, Cynthia Maschat, vice president, and Dawn Saison, a valued employee of the nonprofit, were in the studio along with Bob Ellis, vice president and general manager of WDIV.

As seen in the video player above, Ellis accepted the honors at the awards ceremony on Tuesday (July 9).

If you have a story that embodies our Go 4 It spirit, email us at [email protected]