Vanguard Community Development Corporation Unveils Cameron Court State-of-the-Art...

Vanguard Community Development Corporation Unveils Cameron Court
State-of-the-Art Senior Living Center and Plans for 15th Anniversary
Celebration

DETROIT, May 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Bishop Edgar L. Vann, Jr., President & CEO and
Scott Alan Davis, Executive Director of Vanguard Community Development
Corporation (CDC) were joined by Mayor Dave Bing, Wayne County Executive
Robert Ficano, several new residents and special guests at the unveiling of
the Vanguard Community Development Corporation's Cameron Court Senior Village
today at 8600 Cameron near I-75 and the Clay/Grand Exits. "Unveiling Cameron
Court to Detroit is one of my happiest moments and represents 15 years of
untiring dedication on behalf of Vanguard's board and staff," said Vann. "To
know that we can offer affordable and luxurious living for our seniors, in
addition to much needed services, is a major milestone for all of us," he
said. The $9M, 52,000 square foot facility has 48 one and two bedroom units,
full meeting facilities, an activities room, a massage room and salon, and
medical, legal and transportation services for both Cameron Court and North
End area seniors. "Cameron Court represents hope and promise for a
revitalized Detroit. I congratulate Vanguard Community Development
Corporation for serving our seniors with this beautiful facility," said Mayor
Bing. News Anchor Rhonda Walker of WDIV Local 4 was the master of ceremonies.

Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano praised Vanguard for its multifaceted
approach to community enhancement. "I appreciate the way in which Vanguard
serves basic needs, education, training, housing and more, this is a worthy
non-profit organization," he said. The North End of Detroit has a large
senior population. "Cameron Court represents Vanguard's commitment not only to
the North End of Detroit but also to its senior citizens. As a non-profit
organization, we really do seek to improve the lives of children, adults and
seniors in our community and beyond," said Davis. "We have achieved all the
goals we set out to meet five years ago," he added. Due to high demand for
quality and affordable senior residences, Cameron Court became 95% leased
months before its opening. Cameron Court resident Thelma Mitchell says she
feels "blessed" to have found Cameron Court. "A year ago, I worried about all
the maintenance my house needed, new doors and windows, and was praying to
find a way to get them. Today, I have so much more with this beautiful new
home," she said.

Vanguard CDC is a small non-profit organization located on Grand Boulevard in
the heart of the North End adjacent to Detroit's New Center Area. Operating
on less than $800,000 per year, Vanguard's mission is major, including
providing programs for youth including after school and summer programs
related to arts, sports and urban gardening, GED training and entrepreneurial
and business development training for adults from its Milwaukee Junction
Business Center, re-entry programs for returning citizens and now senior
services through Cameron Court Senior Village. To celebrate 15 years of
service to the community, a series of events and programs are being produced
that will take place on or near the 15th of each month throughout the year
(see attached preliminary calendar).

The year will culminate in the fall with a major community dialogue event to
highlight the work of Vanguard's "Boys to Men" program, which teaches young
males to stay in school and on the path of success. The dialogue will feature
a panel of presenters and a keynote speaker to have an interactive discussion
about improving the high school graduation rate in Detroit. In addition,
"Come Home" Raffle tickets will be on sale beginning June 15 for $15 each and
will result in the raffle of a house on Nevada provided by Chase and a number
of runner up prizes.

The colorful, state-of-the-art Cameron Court Senior Village was designed by
RDL Architects and made possible by the City of Detroit, Charter One Bank,
National Equity Fund, Michigan State Housing Development Authority, Detroit
Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC), Atwell Hicks, BVS LLC, Warren
Dean and Associates and The NRP Group. Vanguard CDC is located at 2785 East
Grand Boulevard in Detroit. Telephone 313.872.7831 and visit
www.vanguardcdc.org.

2009 Events Calendar

Program Date Location
------- ---- --------

3 on 3 Basketball Tournament 7/18/09 Second Ebenezer Church
for ages 16 and up/$15 per team

Urban Arts Collective
Youth Art Exhibition 8/15/09

Oakland West Groundbreaking 9/15/09 45 Single Family Homes
E. rand/Holbrook/Oakland

Boys 2 Men Community Dialogue
High School Retention Forum 10/17/09 TBD

Come Home House Raffle
Awarded 11/15/09 Vanguard CDC Office

5,000 for $15 "Come Home" House Raffle
2009 Ongoing ~ Tickets will be available mid June in Glory Supermarkets

Contact: Peggy Goodwin, APR
248.376.0390 cellular
313.715.0199 office
peggygoodwin@goodwinconsulting.us

SOURCE Vanguard Community Development Corporation

Peggy Goodwin, APR, Cellular: +1-248-376-0390, Office: +1-313-715-0199,
peggygoodwin@goodwinconsulting.us, for Vanguard Community Development
Corporation