The Ilitch Companies protective mask production initiative, announced last week, officially launched today at their newly opened facility. The effort is being driven by dedicated employees from across the organization, all of whom were presented with the opportunity to participate in this important endeavor. Employees are working in either full or part-time shifts depending on their availability, and participation is optional.

“Our inaugural shift today was a seamless success, thanks to the positive energy and enthusiasm of our employees,” said Alex Graff, Operations Manager. “You could see and feel the pride that they take in this work that benefits their fellow colleagues and uplifts their communities. Everyone is excited for day two and beyond.”

For many, participating in mask production is an important way to give back to their hometown.

The sentiment was echoed by other employees who were on hand for day one.

“I am just really happy to be able to help with this project,” said Janae Stinson-Brown, Security Manager, Little Caesars Arena, Fox Theatre and the Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre. “It’s important that our visitors, our guests and our colleagues all feel safe.”

With an estimated output of 60,000 masks per day, the facility will continue to supply masks to employees, franchisees, customers, fans and guests. The masks will also be donated to community groups and organizations who need them. “To design, set-up and activate a production facility like what we have here in less than two months is truly impressive,” said Eric Brasseur, who is overseeing the facility. “This was made possible by the collective efforts and adaptability of employees across our family of companies. They have taken this from an important idea to an impactful reality.”

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This week, Little Caesars Love Kitchen, in partnership with local franchisees and the United Way, traveled to Midland, Mich. to distribute free pizzas to those in need.

Midland County residents have been affected by catastrophic flooding that has forced about 11,000 people across mid-Michigan to evacuate their homes following the failure of two nearby dams. Volunteers from United Way of Midland County have already collected food and supplies and set up 11 distribution centers across the county.

Since its inception in 1985, Little Caesars Love Kitchen has partnered with countless food pantries and community organizations across America to serve pizza to those in need at no cost. An estimated 50,000 franchise owners, employees and corporate colleagues nationwide have graciously donated food and volunteers. Now celebrating its 35^th year, Love Kitchen has fed more than 3.5 million people to date, including more than 113,000 people in 2019 alone.

To learn more about the United Way of Midland County and how to help, visit UnitedWayMidland.org.

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For more than 60 years, innovation, entrepreneurship and resolve have been foundational pillars of the Ilitch organization — one that has long prided itself on its ability to swiftly adapt to meet the evolving needs of customers, local communities and employees.

Seeing a significant need for a reliable supply of protective face masks to help ensure health and safety, the Ilitch companies mobilized to set up a mask manufacturing facility and are training a core group of current employees on production. With an estimated output of 60,000 masks per day, the facility will soon supply masks to employees, franchisees, customers, fans and guests. These crucial masks will also be donated to community groups and organizations that need them.

In addition to mask production, the organization will continue to explore the evolving needs and demands of today’s changing marketplace. Dedicated teams will continue to actively research and ideate, with a focus on developing products and services that enhance safety, well-being and the consumer experience.

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Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera and his wife, Rosangel, have personally partnered with the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, to donate $250,000 to several distinguished organizations in Detroit that serve families and children.

The Detroit Public Schools Community District will receive $50,000 to aid in meal distribution to students and families. The Detroit Public Schools Foundation will also receive $50,000, which will go to the Connected Future initiative to help bridge the digital divide by providing tablets, six months of sponsored internet and IT support for all 51,000 DPSCD students.

“We partnered with the Detroit Tigers Foundation to make a donation that will assist with meals for children, technology for students, affordable childcare, and protective face masks for families,” noted Cabrera. “The people of Detroit have been so great to us over the years and we hope this brings some hope and positivity to this very strong city. We will get through this together.”

Their generosity will also extend to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan, Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) and Brilliant Detroit, receiving $140,000 to support their collaboration to provide affordable childcare for families.

The remaining $10,000 of the donation will support a philanthropic collaboration organized by G1 Impact to hire Detroiters to manufacture 100,000 reusable, hospital-grade masks for children and families in the community.

For more information on the Detroit Tigers Foundation, visit www.detroittigersfoundation.com.

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First 1,000 fans will get to pull up a chair and interact with Hall of Famers Alan Trammell and Jack Morris and Manager Ron Gardenhire

The Detroit Tigers and longtime partner, Miller Lite, are hosting their first virtual happy hour. The event will kick off Tuesday, May 19 at 5 p.m. EST. The first 1,000 fans to join the Zoom chat will have the opportunity to pull up a chair and ask questions to Tigers personnel and alumni greats through the Zoom chat function.  

The Miller Lite Happy Hour will be hosted by FOX Sports Detroit Tigers play-by-play announcer, Matt Shepard. Guests include Hall of Famers Alan Trammell and Jack Morris, and Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire.

The Zoom link will be released on the Tigers Twitter (@tigers) Tuesday, May 19, at 5 p.m. EST. The first 1,000 fans to click and register will be admitted into the event.

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Construction work is restarting on Olympia Development of Michigan’s prominent projects in The District Detroit – bringing jobs and opportunity to the city and continuing progress near Little Caesars Arena.

Construction managers and subcontractors are now implementing additional safety practices to keep the public and construction workers safer from the spread of COVID-19.

Jobsites across the state were allowed to reopen on May 7 under new safety standards. Olympia Development sites include the former Eddystone Hotel at 110 Sproat Street and a multi-use office building at 2715 Woodward Avenue.

Measures put in place on all construction jobsites include, among others:

• Daily health screenings
• Mask-wearing
• Installation of additional handwashing and sanitation stations
• Social distancing
• Dedicated jobsite entry points
• Designation of a supervisor to enforce COVID-19 safety

Renovation of the historic former Eddystone hotel includes new affordable and market-rate housing and 2715 Woodward brings new office and retail space to Detroit’s main street.

Construction is also expected to begin again soon at the Columbia Street shopping and dining destination near the Fox Theatre. A new Union Joints restaurant and Sahara Restaurant and Grill will join recently opened businesses like Frita Batidos, Rush Bowls and The M Den.

For more information of safety practices on construction jobsites across Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/Coronavirus.

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This year, National Nurses Week, established by the American Nurses Association in 1990, holds a special significance as we honor the dedication of health care workers in the global fight against COVID-19. In appreciation of their remarkable strength and commitment, Little Caesars is donating and delivering thousands of pizzas to healthcare workers at Los Angeles area hospitals. The donations kicked off at Keck Hospital of USC and will continue to other area hospitals throughout National Nurses Week.

“Little Caesars wants to recognize the incredible contributions that nurses and other front-line medical heroes make to our communities every day,” said President and CEO of Little Caesars, Dave Scrivano. “They’re working around the clock to keep us safe and healthy, and we want to give them the opportunity to take a break and enjoy a wholesome meal.”

This effort is part of the chain’s commitment to donating and delivering 1 million pizzas to hospital workers and first responders nationwide, which is made possible by Little Caesars, its thousands of independent hard-working franchisees and their locally owned stores, and Ilitch Charities, a non-profit whose goal is to positively impact lives and empower communities.

To help deliver the pizzas throughout the Los Angeles area, the Little Caesars Love Kitchen, a big-rig pizza kitchen on wheels, will travel from the chain’s hometown of Detroit to Los Angeles.

Customers can join the effort and “Pie It Forward” by donating a pizza to their nearby hospitals, police and fire departments when ordering from the Little Caesars app or website. To date, more than 170,000 pizzas have been generously donated by Little Caesars customers.

To learn more about the American Nurses Association and how you can help, visit NationalNursesWeek.org.

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Olympia Development of Michigan will restart construction operations next week at all active sites, consistent with the company’s continued commitment to create jobs, enhance opportunity and build neighborhoods. That work includes the historic former Eddystone hotel, which brings affordable and market-rate housing to the city, and 2715 Woodward, which brings new retail and office space.

“We have been working every day, along with our construction and development partners, to ensure that our job-creating development is moving forward and that we would be ready to resume on-site construction activity as soon as possible,” said Zarah Broglin, Vice President of Construction for Olympia Development. “These historic renovation and new construction projects represent permanent jobs, business opportunities and contribute to dynamic, welcoming neighborhoods in The District Detroit, and all of us at Olympia Development are thrilled to restart construction activities.”

Olympia Development construction managers have been working diligently and each will have a site-specific safety plan that aligns with the new safety guidelines, including:

• Designating a site supervisor to enforce COVID-19 control strategies.
• Conducting daily health screenings for workers.
• Creating dedicated entry points, if possible, or issuing stickers or other indicators to ensure that all workers are screened every day.
• Identifying choke points and high-risk areas (like hallways, hoists and elevators, break areas, water stations, and buses) and controlling them to enable social distancing.
• Ensuring sufficient handwashing or hand-sanitizing stations at the worksite.

Construction activity is also expected to resume at the new Columbia Street dining and retail destination, where future tenants like the new Union Joints restaurant and Sahara Restaurant and Grill will join recently opened businesses like Frita Batidos, Rush Bowls and The M Den.

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Little Caesars customers nationwide have gone above and beyond in giving back to those who keep us safe. Through the Little Caesars app, or by ordering on LittleCaesars.com, generous customers have donated nearly 140,000 additional pizzas — and counting — toward Little Caesars #PieItForward campaign.

Little Caesars recently announced a 1 million pizza donation to healthcare workers and first responders made possible by the brand, its thousands of independent franchisees and Ilitch Charities. Since then, customers have donated pizza to their local healthcare workers and first responders through the Little Caesars app or website.

“As a family company, we wanted to thank our healthcare heroes in the best way we know how – by delivering millions of wholesome meals to them around the country,” says President and CEO of Little Caesars, Dave Scrivano. “The fact that so many of our customers have jumped on board to contribute even more shows that the spirit of kindness and generosity is alive and well, even during times of crisis.”

Customer contributions will go toward pizza servings at hospitals, police departments and fire departments around the nation over the coming weeks.

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