Representative Kevin Green and his wife Chele believe that giving back to the community is one of the most rewarding and vital opportunities families are given in life. The Green Light Foundation was established in 2005 as a non-profit 501(c)4 organization committed to improving the health, safety and welfare of Michigan’s residents. The Foundation achieves its mission through education, stewardship and community involvement.
There are many ways that the Green Light Foundation is presently achieving these goals: by donating funds to community organizations such as the Lions Club, Wyoming’s summer concerts in the park, the Youth Violence Concerns Initiative through the City of Wyoming as well as making donations to individuals who are in need of medical procedures or surgeries that are not covered by insurance.
Representative Green has, through his time in the Michigan legislature, proposed several bills regarding health care reforms including HB 4531, which will require annual reporting of the differences between Medicare and Medicaid disbursements, helping statewide leaders to make better decisions in future health care policy matters. Kevin has also introduced HB 4776 and HB 4777, bills that would amend the LTC Savings Account Act to allow for tax-deductible contributions to their Health Savings accounts. Kevin has also been working with the Police Department and the Retired Senior Volunteer Police to expand the kinds of violations RSVP officers can enforce, maximizing the effectiveness of the program and saving the city money.
The Green Light Foundation’s other current focuses include Skylar’s Closet and a Grief Counseling Scholarship. Skylar’s closet is a program within the Green Light Foundation to provide hand-made clothing to stillborn, sick or extreme premature babies (1 – 6 lbs). These packages include items such as outfits, hats, boots, blankets, and memory albums to give the babies the respect and acknowledgement they deserve. The packages also contain a letter to let the parents know that they are not the only ones who have experienced this tragedy and that there are people who understand what they are facing.
The Grief counseling scholarship is a scholarship through the Green Light Foundation that allows nurses to apply for a grant to attend and complete grief counseling training. This education prepares them to assist families through the difficult time of stillbirths, sick and extreme premature births. Kevin and Chele appreciated the compassion and companionship they received when their daughter, Skylar Anne, was stillborn at 7 months on September 6, 2007.
Through the Green Light Foundation, Kevin and Chele hope to create a healthier, safer, and more compassionate community.