Colleague Volunteers Turn a Page with Young Readers at Detroit School

Ilitch Companies’ colleagues spent time this month giving back to the community, volunteering at Cornerstone Schools’ Jefferson-Douglass Academy for a special Partner Reading Day with kindergarten through fourth grade students. 

The initiative focused on strengthening literacy skills by pairing volunteers with students to support Cornerstone’s reading programs. Through interactive reading sessions, colleagues helped children build vocabulary, improve comprehension, and develop a deeper enthusiasm for books. 

School Principal Monica Thompson highlighted the value of the event, emphasizing how meaningful reading time can be for young learners. “It's an amazing partnership. And it just reinforces what we tell our students when we talk about the complete life,” said Thompson. “All of the volunteers here today are showing our students they could have been anywhere else, but they took their time to come and to meet our students and to read with them.”

The day began with a warm welcome from the school community. A performance by the middle school choir set an uplifting tone, followed by a powerful student story about his personal journey to reaching grade-level literacy, an inspiring reminder of the impact strong reading support can have on a child’s future. 

Volunteers then joined students in classrooms, sharing stories and encouraging active participation, making reading both fun and engaging. 

For many colleagues, the experience was just as rewarding as it was impactful. Talent Acquisition Manager for Little Caesars, Shaun McGowan, reflected on his time with students, sharing his perspective on the importanceof literacy and community involvement. 

“The energy that we get from these kids and helping these kids, is something that we're going to continue to do a lot more of,” said McGowan. “We're all about Detroit, born in Detroit. We have to make deposits into the community before we ask for withdrawals from the community.”

Events like Partner Reading Day reinforce Ilitch Companies’ ongoing commitment to supporting youth education and empowering the next generation, one story at a time.