Granting Joy to The Rainbow Connection
Lakes Transportation was founded by Susan Koehler Gross, a Michigan native, entrepreneur, and two-time breast cancer survivor who built her company on a single belief: every ride is a chance to make someone's life better. Susan knows the weight that illness places on a family. She built Lakes Transportation to ease burdens, not add to them, and a portion of every fare goes toward causes that reflect that mission.
This contribution to The Rainbow Connection is made in honor of a brave young member of our community whose spirit and strength have moved everyone who knows them. Giving in their name is our way of saying: we see you, we celebrate you, and we are cheering for you.
Wishing Big for Michigan's Bravest Kids
The Rainbow Connection Michigan has been granting wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses since 1985, and the work they do is nothing short of extraordinary. This year, we are proud to support that mission with our contribution. As a wish-granting organization dedicated entirely to Michigan families, The Rainbow Connection represents exactly what Lakes Transportation’s community giving efforts were designed for. Every child deserves a moment of pure joy, and every family deserves relief from the weight of a diagnosis, even for just one incredible day. That is what makes this Michigan children charity so worth celebrating.
Since 1985, The Rainbow Connection has granted over 4,500 wishes to Michigan children facing some of the most difficult circumstances imaginable. Each wish is more than an experience. It is a message to that child and their family: you matter, your joy matters, and your community has not forgotten you.
Who Is The Rainbow Connection?
The Rainbow Connection Michigan is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Waterford, Michigan, dedicated exclusively to granting wishes for Michigan children between the ages of 3 and 18 who have been diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses. Unlike national organizations, The Rainbow Connection focuses entirely on Michigan families, meaning every dollar raised stays right here in our state and goes directly to the children who need it most.
As a wish-granting organization, The Rainbow Connection works closely with medical teams, families, and volunteers to design experiences that are meaningful, personal, and joyful. From meeting a favorite athlete to traveling to a dream destination, each wish gives a child something to look forward to and something to hold onto through the hard days of treatment.
To learn more or make your own contribution, visit rainbowconnection.org
"When a child is fighting for their life, a wish is not a luxury. It is fuel. It gives them something to hold onto when treatment is hard and the days feel long. We are honored to help light that spark for Ziggy and every child The Rainbow Connection serves."
