Kirk Mayes ’94, Alumnus of the Year 2022
“I’m proud to be a Brother Rice Warrior. My time at Rice taught me how to be a successful father, husband, and man for my community. I didn’t realize it as a student, but I’m grateful today for the discipline, focus, and the analytical ability to see past what’s obvious and the courage to do what’s right as a servant leader for others. Brother Rice helped me to grow into the man I am today. So, to be recognized as an Alumnus of the Year is an incredible honor which I will cherish as proof that everything that I’ve learned was a priceless gift that I will never be able to repay. While I continue to strive to improve who I am for my family and my community I will always reflect on the lessons from my greatest teachers and coaches from Rice as I do my best to make this world a better place for all. Thanks again and God Bless Brother Rice! “
The Brother Rice Alumni Association is proud to honor and recognize Kirk Mayes ’94 as their inspiring selection for the 2022 Alumnus of the Year.
The Alumnus of the Year is given to an exceptional alumnus who exemplifies the qualities of a Brother Rice education through an individual’s personal and/or professional influence. These values include life-long personal growth, responsible and moral decision-making, leadership and success in one’s professional endeavors, generosity to the local community, and a commitment to a rock-solid Christian value system.
Kirk Mayes walks in the footsteps of Blessed Edmund every day, addressing the needs of the hungry in the Detroit-area community. His philanthropic spirit is remarkable and inspiring. Kirk truly embodies the pillars of RICE.
Since 2014, Kirk has served as CEO of Forgotten Harvest, Michigan’s top non-profits and one of the nation’s premier food rescue organizations. Forgotten Harvest’s mission is to relieve hunger in the Detroit metropolitan community by rescuing surplus, prepared, and perishable food and donating it to emergency food providers. Like Edmund Rice, Kirk has recognized those most-in-need within his community and answered God’s call to serve the marginalized in his midst.
Under Kirk’s leadership, Forgotten Harvest delivers over 138,000 pounds of surplus food daily to local charities. Forgotten Harvest was recently gifted a $25 million donation to expand and stabilize the pantry network in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties – one of the single most significant philanthropic gifts in the entire state!
The Brother Rice Alumni Association is proud to recognize Kirk Mayes ’94, as the 2022 Brother Rice Alumnus of the Year. We thank Kirk for his tireless service to the community, his commitment to the RICE pillars — Respect, Integrity, Character and Excellence — and for being an example to our students and extended Warrior Family.
This spring, please join the many loyal alumni and current seniors who will be gathering at the Senior/Alumni Luncheon to congratulate and honor our 2022 Alumnus of the Year, Mr. Kirk Mayes!
All alumni are invited to join us at the Senior Alumni Luncheon to honor Kirk and welcome our graduating seniors into the Alumni Association on Friday, May 6, at 11:30 AM. The event will take place on Brother Rice High School’s campus. For more information, click here.
