The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-04-23
COUzENS WILL |
give MILLIONS
TO SULKY KIDS
Child Welfare Fund Is Gre
ated by Wealthy MiChi-
gan Senator. (
TEACH THEM TO PLAY
Interest Aroused in Lads
Who Shun Sports, Says
Donor of Money.
By KENNETH G. CRAWFORD
United Press STAFF Correspondent.

IutAtu J ItNS CAdli AHAitN puuutANs
WASHINGTON. April 23-The
kid who sulks on. the sidelineS un-
able or unwilling TO take part in the
games of those who should be his
cronieS was uppermost in the mind
of Senator James Couzens, Detroit
millionaire. when he created a So
100000 child welfare fund
Watching the Fairgrounds We
have built in Detroit, Couzens told
the United Press today, Il have
been interested in these lads who
can't I'm to enter into the game.
Sometimes it is i'll health; some
times an anti-sOcial streak; some
times a more serious mental abnor-
mality
Proper attention in most cases
might remove the peculiar quirk
that prevents them from participant
ing. Some who otherwise might re-
main antagonistic to society all
their lives could grow up to be use
full, social-minded citizens, if given
a little intelligent help.
Criminals Too Young
81 am impressed too, with the
youth Of our criminals. When
was city official, the criminals
with whom we had to deal, were
middle-aged men. Now they are
youngsters. I believe We can help
prevent development of young
criminals by taking better care of /.
our children.
And l have a theory that some
things can be done better by out
siders than by members of the
childS family
The vast sum CouZenS has set
aside will not be devoted entirely to
treatment of the mentally and
physically abnormal, but much of it
will be spent for their benefit.
The announced purpose of the
fund is to promote the health, well
fare, happiness and development of
the children of Michigan primarily
and elsewhere in the world"
Spend Millions in IS Years
Couzens said he has no definite
plan for distribution, which will be
left largely to the other trustees,
headed by DR.. Hugo A. Freund, his
physician.
The senator has place on the
board and veto power over its de-
cisions, however, and plans to take
an active interest in administration
Of the fund.
He has stipulated that the entire
gift must all be spent at the end
Of twenty-five years-both prin-
ciple and interest, which together,
if the surplus is loaned at per cent
from year to year, will be SIG, 100000.
This vas done to avoid creation
of "a sclf-satished institution" and
to give the donor an opportunity to
help get the work started Couzens
explained.
Couzens said he first became in
terested in child welfare work
through the efforts of Miss Van
Loon Browne, who conducted
school for crippled children near his
Detroit home. depending upon smaH
donations for its maintenance.
Many Child Projects
Cou1enS built Miss Browne
school, still in existence but nov
consolidated with a hospital for
children. which he endowed on the
condition that the word free" be
deleted from the title. Mothers we're
ashamed to take their children to
a hospital labeled free he ex-
planned. It now is the Children's
Hospital Of Michigan-free in fact.
but not in name
That enterprise led him into other
child philanthropieS.
In the last ten years he has given
away about S2O000,Oo0 and he says
there is more to be used before
I am ready to quit
If he lives TO be 81, and his sturdy
physique would indicate that he will,
although he hopes to die before
then. Couzens will see the last Of