Thirty Under 30

2016 Class of Fellows: Basic Needs

Ford’s Thirty Under 30 program is a yearlong course in leadership and philanthropy that matches nonprofits with Ford employees under age 30 in the U.S.

Group photo of the 2016 class of fellows

Back row (L-R): James Ping, Product Development; Michael Kelly, Mobility Solutions; Lizzie Smith, Marketing; Gabriel Blanco, Product Development; Jack Owen, Manufacturing; Michael Moore, Manufacturing; Scott Georges, Product Development; Harrison Crum, Marketing; PJ Wascher, Information Technology; Fatima Kebe, Manufacturing Middle row (L-R): Meredith Citkowski, Product Development; Kristine Guzak, Sustainability, Environment & Safety Engineering; Olivia Detroyer, Finance; Shelby Smith, Marketing; Jacqueline Wolverton, Finance; Kayla Zurawski, Product Development; Kendra White, Product Development; Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman Bill Ford; Mahar (Mark) Samhat, Ford Motor Credit Company; Kelby Wagner, Ford Motor Credit Company; Lindsay Fatherley, Ford Motor Credit Company; Dina Tayim, Research & Advanced Engineering; Clayton Stewart, Purchasing; JaRod Collins, Advanced Manufacturing; Jacqueline Shagena, Finance Front row (L-R): Amy Hall, Human Resources; Roy Yewah, Ford Motor Credit Company; Ginny Mueller, Product Development; Mohamed Mattar, Product Development; Jake Christopherson, Marketing; Jennyfer Darling, Information Technology

Who We Work With


Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries logo

Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries

Detroit, Mich. — provides hope to the hopeless, abused, and disadvantaged of the community.

Team A proposed solution — Built the “Who Cares?” app — designed to connect volunteers, nonprofits and corporations with an emphasis on the positive influence of your social network. Features include: specified giving and volunteer opportunities, easy to filter calendar, and an option to invite friends and co-workers to join you in volunteering.

Fellows — Gabriel Blanco, Olivia DeTroyer, Scott Georges, Fatima Kebe, and Mark Samhat

Team B proposed solution — Created the NextGen board — designed to harness the ideas and influences of a younger philanthropic audience — for participatory engagement of potential volunteers and donors at established nonprofits, such as Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.

Fellows — Jake Christopherson, Shelby Smith, Clayton Stewart, Jacqueline Wolverton, and Roy Yewah


Salvation Army logo

Salvation Army – Eastern Michigan Division

Southfield, Mich. — serving the Detroit area since 1887, the Eastern Michigan Division of the Salvation Army supports those in need within the region.

Team A proposed solution — Developed a comprehensive strategy to engage millennials in volunteering by understanding the “quick and easy” preferences of a younger generation. This team planned micro-volunteering events, occurring on-site at large workplaces and/or in popular public spaces, including sandwich-making at Ford Motor Company.

Fellows — Meredith Citkowski, Mike Moore, Jack Owen, Dina Tayim, and Kelby Wenger

Team B proposed solution — This team formed a plan to bring the story of the Salvation Army to potential volunteers and donors in a participatory way, using an annual calendar of signature events - each highlighting a unique piece of the nonprofit’s work — as a way for teams of volunteers to be engaged with a heavy emphasis on fun. Events included a Holiday Santa 5k and Day Camp for Adults.

Fellows — JaRod Collins, Lindsey Fatherly, Amy Hall, James Peng, and Jacqueline Shagena


Southereastern Michigan United Way logo

United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Detroit, Mich. — works for universal success and prosperity in Southeastern Michigan by focusing donor contributions on strategies in Education, Economic Prosperity and Health.

Team A proposed solution — Striving to build knowledge around the work of nonprofits and create an easy way for employee donors to support it, this team launched an employee communications strategy which offered a multi-phase approach for implementation within a corporate structure, fostering a sustainable culture shift within the company.

Fellows — Mike Kelly, Mohamed Mattar, Ginny Mueller, Lizzie Smith, and Kayla Zurawski

Team B proposed solution — Created a transparent volunteer to donor connection process for United Way to attract and grow relationships with volunteers through project-specific, impact-driven giving.

Fellows — Harrison Crum, Jennyfer Darling, Krissy Guzak, P.J. Wascher, and Kendra White