Boy receives 'Spirit of Detroit Award' after raising funds from - Fox 2 News Headlines

Nine-year-old Joshua Smith, who delivered a $2,832.64 check to the City of Detroit on Friday, received the esteemed "Spirit of Detroit" award today to honor his generosity.

Joshua grabbed attention of basketball stars, local government and a scholarship foundation when he first started his lemonade stand to help clean up and mow his neighborhood park.

While driving to piano lessons one day he heard a radio report about the sorry state of Detroit's finances. "I heard the city was in crisis because the city is broke and I was really upset," said Joshua, who lives in the Russell Woods neighborhood with his parents, Flynn and Rhonda Smith, and two brothers.

Joshua was so upset that from 5-8 p.m. every day last week he sold fruit punch, water and popcorn at his family home at 4252 Leslie.

"You always teach your child values and you hope they're getting it, but this is a good example that he's getting what we're trying to pour into him," said his mother.

The lemonade stand actually raised $3,600, so the family plans to make another $800 donation to the City once the electronic payments clear.

"It's amazing and I couldn't do it without God," said Joshua.

Joshua received visits from University of Michigan's point guard Trey Burke and forward Jordan Morgan, a $2,000 scholarship for college from the Rosa Parks Foundation as well as offers from lawn and landscape businesses who volunteered services to mow and clean up the local park.

Joshua's lemonade stand actually raised $3,600, so the family plans to make another $800 donation to the City once the electronic payments clear.

You can do little stuff" Joshua said, "even if you're little, you can do big stuff, too."

Watch the video player above to see the full report by FOX 2's Maurielle Lue.