Go Blue and Red

As we go to the polls in America next Tuesday, I thought you might enjoy the remarks I made at the University of Michigan Board of Regents meeting on October 17. May we all treat each other with grace and dignity, regardless of whether we vote to go blue or to go red.

Good afternoon, Board of Regents. I emailed each of you a link to a video about the impact of U of M in Honduras, and I’m here today to share with you the rest of the story.

I’m a proud graduate of Michigan Law, Class of ’96, and two of my daughters also graduated from U of M. One was a LEAD scholar who was recently featured in the Fall Issue of Michigan Alum, and she just learned yesterday that she passed the summer bar exam!

I lead International Samaritan, at the house with all the flags in front on Main Street in Ann Arbor. We provide holistic scholarships to nearly 1,000 young people living in the communities surrounding the dumpsites of the largest cities in Central America and East Africa. We are the leaders and the best at what we do. Our 300+ college and trade school graduates since 2019 are making almost three times as much money each month as the entire households of our current Samaritan Scholars.

Three years ago, we made a commitment to build a water tower and system to deliver fresh water to the Buen Samaritano community in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, at a cost of $250,000. We raised about $78,000 and then got stuck. Just stuck. We prayed, and worked, and asked everyone for help—and remained stuck. Then a guy I never met called us out of the blue. His name is Bill Martin, and he owns an office kitty-corner to ours on Depot Street. 

I went to his office and Bill said, “I’d like to make a gift to secure naming rights to that water tank you’re building. When I was the athletic director here at U of M, I was always impressed by Ken Coleman, the husband of Mary Sue Coleman, our president at the time. Whenever I saw Ken, it was clear to me how much he loved his wife and the University, and how much better off Michigan is because of him. Ken speaks highly of you guys, and I’d like to help build that water system to honor Ken.”

We built that water system and put Vamos Azul (Go Blue) with Ken’s name on it. The Martins and Ken came to the opening celebration with me, bringing dozens of U-M shirts with us. This past year, they helped us to build a family life center too—and we returned with more U-M shirts for the grand opening. 

I wanted to share this story with you because we are living—and you are leading—in difficult, contentious times. Please keep in mind that Ken Coleman led and served with such grace a decade ago that a gift made to honor him has brought water and life to Buen Samaritano—in a way that continues to bless U of M too.

You will see Samaritan Scholars at U of M one day soon. Our campus, and their nation, will be much better as a result.

International Samaritan is a Christ-centered organization built on Catholic Social Teaching. Our mission is to walk hand-in-hand with people who live and work in the garbage dumps of developing nations to help them break out of poverty.

We provide holistic scholarships for students from kindergarten through college, and we’re currently supporting nearly 1,000 scholars in Central America, the Caribbean, and East Africa.

Would your church or school group like to partner and travel with us? Learn about our Learn, Serve, Grow program.

Empower our scholars to change their lives. Become a monthly supporter.

Your church, school, or community group can support Samaritan Scholars this Advent season by setting up a Samaritan Tree. Learn more and request your free kit: intsam.org/samaritan-tree.

Mike Tenbusch, President

Mike joined International Samaritan in 2018 after two decades of leading social change in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. He’s a University of Michigan Law grad and author of The Jonathan Effect: Helping Kids and Schools Win the Battle Against Poverty. He and his wife, Maritza, have three children who keep them young.