THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF iCARE
Our Founding Fathers
The story of iCare of Michigan begins with a simple but powerful idea: when people come together to help others, lives can change.
In 1969, Warren Smith and a dedicated group of compassionate men and women set out to make a difference in Detroit’s Cass Corridor. They saw real need in their community—families struggling, children going without essentials, and individuals facing hardship with few places to turn. Rather than waiting for someone else to act, they stepped forward themselves.
What began as a grassroots effort fueled by generosity, volunteerism, and a shared sense of responsibility grew into what is now iCare of Michigan.
These Founding Fathers—and the many women and volunteers who stood beside them—built more than an organization. They built a mission. They created a culture of giving rooted in dignity, compassion, and immediate action. They believed helping people in crisis should never be slowed by bureaucracy or burdened by unnecessary obstacles. That belief still defines iCare today.
Through fundraising events, volunteer-led initiatives, and countless hours of service, these early leaders established a legacy of caring that continues to impact lives decades later. Many gave not only financial support, but their time, talent, relationships, and hearts. They organized events, rallied sponsors, built community partnerships, and created a model where volunteers did the work and donations went directly to those in need.
That commitment remains one of the things that makes iCare unique.
From the beginning, the mission has centered on providing one-time emergency assistance when there is nowhere else to turn. Whether helping with urgent medical needs, financial hardship, housing instability, or other emergencies, iCare has always stepped in where others could not—providing immediate support with NO RED TAPE™.
That founding philosophy continues today.
Our Mission Remains The Same
iCare of Michigan assists children, adults, and families facing urgent need, while also serving as a trusted partner to many Detroit-area charitable agencies. When those organizations are unable to meet a critical need, iCare helps bridge the gap—often when time matters most.
What makes this mission especially meaningful is the way it has always been sustained.
One hundred percent of direct donations go straight to helping those in need.
One hundred percent of net proceeds from events go directly toward one-time emergency assistance.
And just as it was in the early days, iCare remains powered by volunteers. Board members, officers, supporters, and community partners continue to give generously of themselves, often behind the scenes, carrying forward the spirit established by those who came first.
The photos on this page are more than historic images.
They are a tribute to the people who laid the foundation.
They reflect friendship, generosity, hard work, and a deep commitment to serving others. They capture moments from the early days of building something extraordinary—one act of kindness, one volunteer effort, one fundraiser, and one life helped at a time.
They remind us that iCare was built not by one person, but by a community of people who believed compassion could be organized into action. Their legacy lives on in every family assisted, every emergency met, every donor who gives, every volunteer who serves, and every life touched through iCare’s mission.
We honor these Founding Fathers and all those who helped shape the early years of iCare with profound gratitude. Because of their vision, generosity, and unwavering belief in helping others, iCare did not simply begin—it endured.
And because of the foundation they built, that caring legacy continues today.