Hero Story

Ava Mickens is a 10 year old girl who embodies the importance of giving back. Ava is a member of an organization called, Jack and Jill of America, Inc. that fosters and nurtures future leaders.

Being a member of Jack and Jill fosters the importance of Community Service, Philanthropic Giving, Civic Duty and Leadership Skills. Ava has been doing community service since she was 6 years old. Ava has Partnered with the Lighthouse of Oakland County and participated in the “Spread the Love Campaign” where she collected peanut butter and jelly for their food pantry. Also, one of Ava’s first community service projects was assembling “cleaning buckets" for the Furniture Bank of Pontiac, where her family are members of the Civitan Club of Pontiac, Michigan where the mission is helping people with handicaps and disabilities.

Additionally, Ava completed her second food drive for the Lighthouse where she collected 160 more jars of peanut butter for the food pantry. In the height of COVID, Ava did a letter writing campaign for residents in Grove Crest Nursing Home to bring them peace and joy. She knew that seeing their families was not an option as well as those who didn’t have families at all. Ava has volunteered with Pontiac Meals on Wheels to deliver food on Thanksgiving to those in need.

Ava also volunteers with Blessings in a Backpack where she packs food for at risk kids to take home on the weekends. Ava recently partnered with the United Way of Southeastern Michigan and collected and assembled personal needs items for a local nonprofit called Oakland Hope. Ava has been taught at an early age to find her purpose and leave her imprint by serving others in and around her community.