ROBERT SHUMAKE FOUNDATION Robert S. Shumake is CEO of Inheritance Capital Group; a Michigan based private equity real estate investment and development firm. Shumake manages nearly 3 million sq.ft with a real estate portfolio worth $200 million dollars. Shumake is the author of For Entrepreneurs Who Considered Suicide When Business Got Tough! The book is a guide for entrepreneurs, containing quotes, helpful advice, interactive pages to record personal and professional goals; all based on his experiences as an entrepreneur and wealth builder. The Robert Shumake Foundation gives back big in Detroit. His foundation sponsors a special event called Scholarship Relays in Detroit every year. The goal is to help kids earn college scholarships. This year, Shumake and his team fed over 5,000 people at their Red Carpet Backyard Barbecue event. They gave away over 8,000 bags of groceries to the underserved. Shumake said, "I came up with this idea many years ago, growing up homeless myself. When I was able to move into my own home, I still couldn’t afford to buy food. This event is unique and it is designed to impact and inspire the homeless and those that are hungry." The significance of the Red Carpet element is to celebrate others regardless of where they may be in their life journey. Shumake feels that everybody deserves to be treated like a VIP. Shumake said, "The significance of the Backyard element is to remind ourselves that we should all have each other’s backs, so when you look at our back a little yard makes a difference. A little inch makes a difference.
Shumake shared that his childhood influence was the ‘Book” the Bible and also his parents. As a child, he liked to read. Some of his favorite authors are Zig Giggler and Wayne Dyer. They taught him that no matter what his circumstances, if you thought positive and moved forward with a positive message, you could achieve and make it. Shumake discussed the concept of leading through service and shared a wonderful book by John Maxwell called The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership. No matter where a person is in their life or circumstances, leadership is about giving and moving forward. For example, "A mother’s leadership role is leading her children. A pastor's is to guide and lead his congregation. A business person leads his employees and a child learns leadership and leads right in his own home. We all have a uniqueness we can add value to," expressed Shumake. His passion to give back and to make a difference, stems from the simple fact that Detroit impacted him. Shumake said, "Detroit is the most loving and contributing city on this planet. We had over 600 volunteers to help us Impact families in Detroit through the Red Carpet Backyard Barbecue event. Now that fact alone says something very positive about the people in our city and its surrounding communities. Impact Detroit Magazine thanks Mr. Robert Shumake for taking time to speak with us.
11