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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 23, 2010

City Year to recognize Robert Bobb as its "Idealist in Action"
at its 8th Annual Ripples of Hope Benefit Dinner

DETROIT – City Year Detroit will honor Detroit Public Schools Emergency Financial Manager Robert C. Bobb with its "Idealist in Action" award at its annual "Ripples of Hope" dinner at the Max M. Fisher Music Center April 29.

"We look for extraordinary leadership, courage, idealism and commitment to Detroit and its children when we choose our Idealist in Action honoree," said Penny Bailer, executive director of City Year Detroit. "Robert Bobb has displayed these qualities with the exceptional leadership he has demonstrated in overhauling the District’s finances, rooting out corruption and expanding educational opportunities for our youth."

Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Robert Bobb emergency financial manager for DPS in March 2009 to begin eliminating the District’s crippling deficit and restore public confidence in the school system. Last fall, the Governor extended his appointment for an additional year.

Mayor Dave Bing and First Lady Yvette Bing will serve as Honorary Chairs of the Ripples of Hope Benefit Dinner, which will begin at 6:00 p.m.

"We are so proud to have Mayor Bing and Detroit’s First Lady Yvette Bing serve as Honorary Chairs of our dinner. They are totally committed to the success of DPS and to partnering with Robert Bobb to transform the educational outcomes for Detroit’s children," said Bailer. Arne Duncan, U.S. Secretary of Education, has said that ‘Detroit could become the nation’s model of urban educational excellence,’ and it is clear that Robert Bobb, as well as Mayor Bing and the First Lady, are passionately committed to that objective."

As Emergency Financial Manager, Bobb has instituted major reforms and demonstrated fearless and courageous leadership in initiating several bold initiatives, including the establishment of an Office of Internal Audit, which identified dozens of cases of fraud and abuse, freeing up critically needed funding for the education of Detroit’s children. In addition, he has closed and consolidated schools and streamlined operations in order to serve children more efficiently and cost-effectively while instituting transformational educational reforms.

"This kind of bold and courageous leadership is clearly what Detroit needs in confronting this tragic educational and financial emergency," said Bailer. "Our children deserve nothing but the best, and while dramatic change is often painful, the alternative is too grim to contemplate."

Bobb led a successful $500 million bond campaign, supported by 61% of voters, to modernize and build new DPS schools. He also spearheaded the "I’m In" Blue Door student retention campaign, stemming a downward enrollment trend and increasing funding for DPS. Other reforms include creating the DPS Summer School Academies, which retained $30 million in Title I funding for the District.

Robert Bobb is a pro-active champion for civil rights and continually finds time to mentor urban youth and young professionals. Under his direction, several successful outreach programs have been de-signed and administered to foster urban youth in civic responsibility, educational achievement and competitiveness in the employment market. Recently, Bobb initiated the highly successful Detroit "Reading Corps," to ensure that every third grade student is reading at grade level by 2015. This initiative has inspired over 5,000 volunteers to tutor Detroit children, and Bobb proudly serves as a reading tutor himself.

A former President of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, Bobb has received its Marks of Excellence award. Previously, Bobb was elected president of the Washington, D.C. Board of Education after serving three years as its city manager. In addition, he served as the city administrator of four other cities, giving him the distinction of being the longest tenured African-American city manager/administrator in the nation. He is currently the president/CEO of the LAPA Group LLC, a multi-faceted private/public consulting firm.

Previous honorees of the "Idealist in Action" award have been:

• (2009) Matt Cullen
• (2008) Dave Bing
• (2007) Shirley Stancato
• (2006) Congressman John Dingell
• (2005) Tarik Daoud
• (2004) Eleanor Josaitis
• (2003) Gail Warden

About City Year
City Year unites young people of all backgrounds for a year of full-time service, giving them the skills and opportunities to change the world. As tutors, mentors and role models, these young adult leaders serve in diverse teams, helping children stay in school and on track and transforming schools and communities in twenty cities across the United States Founded in Boston in 1988, City Year has established programs in Boston; Chicago; Cleveland; Columbia, SC; Columbus; Detroit; Little Rock/North Little Rock; Los Angeles; Louisiana; Miami; Milwaukee; New Hampshire; New York; Greater Philadelphia; Rhode Island; San Antonio; San Jose/Silicon Valley; Seattle/King County; and Washington, D.C.; as well as international affiliates in Johannesburg, South Africa and London, England. City Year is a proud member of AmeriCorps. For more information, please visit www.cityyear.org.

City Year Detroit is sponsored locally through the generous support of corporate and foundation sponsors, including: Chase, Comcast, Comerica Charitable Foundation, CSX, DTE Energy Foundation, Ford Motor Company Fund, Henry Ford Health System, The Kresge Foundation, The Skillman Foundation, and United Way for Southeastern Michigan. Its AmeriCorps support is provided by the Michigan Community Service Commission.

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