Father William T. Cunningham (1930 – May 26, 1997), a Detroit native, began studies for priesthood in 1943 at Sacred Heart Seminary. Fr. Cunningham was a parish priest for five years, then in 1961 joined the faculty of Sacred Heart Seminary as an English professor. He was a columnist and book review editor of the Michigan Catholic. Fr. Cunningham is most remembered for his work at Focus: HOPE

Focus: HOPE

Focus: HOPE is a Detroit-based, non-denominational, non-profit organization whose aim is to overcome racism and poverty by providing education and training for underrepresented minorities and others...

. In 1968 Fr. Cunningham and Eleanor Josaitis

Eleanor Josaitis

Eleanor Mary Josaitis was the co-founder of Focus: HOPE. She was engaged in building the legacy of the civil rights organization. For many years, she was the Associate Director of Focus: HOPE. Upon Father Cunningham's death in 1997, she became the Executive Director, and later the CEO...

 co-founded Focus: HOPE, a nonprofit civil and human rights organization, helping to resolve discrimination and injustice and to build a harmonious community. Father Cunningham died in 1997 after a battle with cancer. In 2005, members from the Church of the Madonna, along with its music director, William S. Harrison, honored Fr. Cunningham's legacy with the Fr. William T. Cunningham Memorial Choir. The choir has won both national and international choral competitions and is recognized for its vast and eclectic repertoire.

Awards

• NAACP's Ira W. Jayne
  Ira W. Jayne
  Ira Waite Jayne was elected to the Wayne County, Michigan Circuit Court bench in 1915 and served as Chief Judge for 27 years of his 37 years working for the court. He graduated from the University of Michigan in 1905. He was the attorney for The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children in...
  
  Memorial Medal
• Temple Israel Brotherhood Award
• Bishop Donnelly Alumni Award
• Jefferson Award
• UCS Executive of the Year Award
• Jessie Slaton Award of the Detroit Association of Black Organizations
• National Governor's Association Award (twice)
• 1987 Detroit News Michiganian of the Year Award
• Salvation Army's William Booth Award
• Marquette University Alumni Award
• University of Michigan 1993 Business Leadership Award

External links

• http://www.focushope.edu