St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center

Mission: To support our community through education, bridging the economic gap for the low income community, which is disproportionately made up of minorities.

For over 175 years, the St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center (SVSF) has been a pillar of support for children and families across Southeastern Michigan. Founded in 1844 as a kindergarten for orphaned children, SVSF has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of the community. Today, SVSF provides free, personalized educational programs for children and adults in Detroit, helping individuals overcome barriers and empowering them to build better futures. Through an integrated approach that combines education and social support, we are committed to changing lives and strengthening families—one student at a time.

The Center now has four campuses across the City and offers free, one-one-one tutoring programs for children (grades 1-5) at its main campus and assists adults (18 and older) to obtain their GED as their first step towards economic self-sufficiency for themselves and their families. Services are available to all students and Detroit residency is not a requirement. In fact, 20% of the student base comes from the surrounding Metropolitan areas, whose educational programs need support too. With an active student base of approximately 400 students a year, SVSF is working to contribute to the revitalization of the Metro Detroit area, one student at a time.