Champion Foods, a manufacturer of premier-branded and private label products available in supermarkets across the U.S., has promoted 17-year veteran Jon Newsom to the role of Vice President and Managing Director.

Jon was previously Champion Food’s vice president of sales and marketing and played a key role in expanding relationships with various companies like Costco, Walmart, and Aldi. Jon is a graduate from the University of Michigan with a degree in business administration and management.

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Team sports can play a key role in childhood development by teaching and reinforcing the ideas of teamwork, honesty and responsibility. That’s why the Detroit Tigers, along with the Detroit Tigers Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, have partnered with Bally Sports Detroit and USA Baseball to offer the virtual Fun At Bat At Home Series to kids, available through June 4.

Fun At Bat At Home is a free, interactive, five-week video series introduces kids in grades K-5 the fundamentals of baseball and softball. Hosted by Bally Sports Detroit studio analyst and former Detroit Tigers outfielder Craig Monroe, the program promotes fun and active lifestyles with an emphasis on character development, functional movement, literacy, active play and wellness.

The program features appearances from Tigers players, manager A.J. Hinch, PAWS and more!

Learn more at Tigers.com/FunAtBat.

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To commemorate his historic start in the major leagues, and as a thank-you to Tigers fans, Akil Baddoo entered the non-fungible token (NFT) market with a limited three-piece collection of exclusive digital artwork designed by renowned artist Dan Abrams of Athletes Logos.

NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital collectibles with a built-in certificate of authenticity. Each NFT is unique, and can only have one owner, making them highly collectible. The technology, which has existed since the mid-2010s, has become increasingly popular over the last few years with artists and athletes. Baddoo is the first Tigers player to offer such digital assets.

A portion of the proceeds from this limited-edition NFT sale benefited two community organizations: Detroit R.B.I. (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Youth Baseball and Softball program; and RISE, a national nonprofit with a strong Detroit presence that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations.

“I’ve always been a person that is looking to give back and set an example for the young people that are watching me,” Baddoo said. “The NFTs were a way for me to do that, while at the same time thanking the city of Detroit for all the love and support they have shown me and my family during Spring Training and the start of the season. I’m thrilled that we were able to donate some of the proceeds from the NFT sale to the Detroit R.B.I. program as well as RISE, two organizations that are important to me for the work that they do and what they stand for.”

Baddoo wasted no time endearing himself Tigers to fans when he hit a home run in his first MLB at bat. The rookie outfielder then hit a grand slam in his second game and a walk-off single in his third, thereby making Major League Baseball history. Since then, fans can be heard yelling “DOOOOO” when he comes to the plate or makes a play, echoing the way fans would yell “LOOOOO” to cheer on legendary Tiger Lou Whitaker.

The limited NFT sale is now closed. Learn more about the exclusive NFT collection and purchase other limited-edition Baddoo items at www.akilbaddoo60.com.

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While walking her dog near her home in Detroit, Amy Peterson would talk with women staying at COTS, the Coalition on Temporary Shelter located in the city.  It was during those conversations that Amy became inspired to find a way to help women in need.

Several years later, in 2013, Amy co-founded Rebel Nell with a mission to provide employment, equitable opportunity, and wraparound support for women with barriers to employment.

Rebel Nell does this in a unique, one-of-a-kind way: it hires and teaches women to repurpose meaningful Detroit materials, including from iconic landmarks or even graffiti, into wearable art and jewelry.

When Amy started Rebel Nell, she was Assistant Counsel at the Detroit Tigers. “It was supposed to be a passion project – something I just did after hours,” Amy said. “But it just kept growing, and it became something I couldn’t stop thinking about.”

With encouragement of her colleagues, Amy eventually took the leap and became a full-time entrepreneur.  Since then, Rebel Nell has continued to expand and now includes a nonprofit arm, T.E.A. (Teach. Empower. Achieve.), which provides women with resources like stable housing, financial education, business classes and legal aid.

Over the years, the Detroit Tigers, Red Wings and the Ilitch companies have collaborated with Amy and Rebel Nell on various projects and jewelry lines, including the Dugout Collection and the Joe Collection, and look forward to doing so in the future.

“What’s important is that Rebel Nell continues to positively impact the lives of women facing barriers in the Detroit community,” said Amy. “Through art, we can provide women with safe spaces to hone their skills and help them live lives of independence.”

To learn more, visit RebelNell.com.

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The Detroit Tigers’ annual Jackie Robinson Art Contest seeks to educate and encourage young baseball fans on Robinson’s nine values: citizenship, commitment, courage, determination, excellence, integrity, justice, persistence and teamwork. At the April 20 Tigers home game at Comerica Park, the Tigers celebrated the winners of this year’s Jackie Robinson Art Contest, including grand-prize winner, 12-year-old Devin Mulligan from Saline Middle School.

Contest applicants were asked to submit an artistic expression that captured the spirit of one or more of Robinson’s nine values. As grand-prize winner, Mulligan received $1,500 and had his artwork featured on digital billboards on Jackie Robinson Day throughout Detroit, including the historic Fox Theatre Marquee, Little Caesars Arena and Bally Sports Detroit billboards. Second and third place winners Kyndall McMillion, 16, from Cass Technical High School; and Jackson Kennedy, 14, from Waterford Kettering High School, received $750 and $250, respectively.

An annual tradition, Jackie Robinson Day takes place the date of his debut in 1947. The day seeks to honor the legacy of the pivotal player who broke the color barrier in baseball’s modern era.

See each of the winning artists’ works and their own interpretations of them below.

1st place: Devin Mulligan: “I thought of ways to incorporate Jackie Robinson’s nine values into the drawing and I decided to use the words to make his uniform, hat, and bat. Jackie Robinson inspired me because despite how many times he got hate letters and was verbally abused, he kept pushing to be the best he could be.”

2nd place: Kyndall McMillion, 16-year-old from Cass Technical High School: “Jackie Robinson played major-league baseball during a time of segregation and faced many adversities on and off the field. These adversities caused Jackie Robinson to come up with nine values that he lived by in life. In this piece of art, I wanted to depict Jackie Robinson and all nine of his values. I drew Mr. Robinson holding his nine values in the shape of a bat because he held on to these values to make it in life. I had them stand out from the rest of the picture because these values are what made him stand out as a person. I feel that these values gave him the tenacity to overcome adversity and execute every swing that made him the legend that he is today.”

3rd place: Jackson Kennedy, 14-year-oldfrom Waterford Kettering High School: “My name is Jackson Kennedy. I’m 14 and I started drawing very early on. I learned about Jackie Robinson in school and learned a lot about his childhood and I know he stood for equality. To me as a person it means a lot because I’m transgender and its hard every day just like it was for him. We all have our struggles and at the end of the day, we are human and that’s what I try to express in my art and everyday life.”

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Detroit Tigers great Miguel Cabrera has volunteered to serve as a co-chair of the Protect Michigan Commission and help promote the state’s COVID-19 vaccination and education efforts, announced Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

“I am honored by Gov. Whitmer’s appointment as a co-chair of the Protect Michigan Commission and look forward to using my platform to increase awareness of how getting vaccinated can help slow COVID-19 infections,” Cabrera said.

“Based on what I know from getting vaccinated already, the shots are nowhere near as bad as the virus,” Cabrera said. “Our goal with the Commission is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, and I hope my support toward that end is successful.”

Cabrera, nicknamed “Miggy,” is an 11-time Major League Baseball All Star and two-time American League Most Valuable Player who joined the Tigers in December, 2007. He and the Tigers have offered to produce public service announcements in English and Spanish that will encourage Michiganders to get vaccinated and continue to practice preventative measures such as properly wearing masks, social distancing and frequent handwashing to reduce the spread of the virus until the vast majority of people have been vaccinated.

“We are grateful that ‘Miggy’ is stepping up to the plate to help inform Michiganders on the importance of getting their COVID-19 vaccinations,” Gov. Whitmer said. “We appreciate the Tiger organization’s advocacy because this is an all-hands-on-deck moment in our state’s effort to persevere and overcome the pandemic.”

Gov. Whitmer created the Protect Michigan Commission in January. The appointees represent a diverse array of industries, professions and backgrounds. Housed within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), they are charged with helping to ensure every Michigander has a plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 once the opportunity becomes available. Their goal is facilitating at least 100,000 shots in arms daily.

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Little Caesars, the global, family-owned pizza chain with franchise and company-owned stores in each of the 50 U.S. states and in 27 countries and territories, is looking to grow its Pacific Northwest presence with a goal of awarding more than 50 new franchise units across Portland and Seattle by 2026.

“We know the Pacific Northwest is ripe with aspiring entrepreneurs who value technology and innovation,” Craig Sherwood, vice president of U.S Development at Little Caesars, said. “And, the benefits of our new contactless options for both delivery and carry-out have never been more important. This includes our signature Pizza Portal pickup—the first heated, self-service mobile order pickup station in the restaurant industry—and our revolutionary Reserve-N-Ready system for pickup and delivery. We are confident that our business model is a perfect fit for prospects in these key areas.”

With more than 120 Little Caesars locations currently open and operating across the Pacific Northwest, the brand is building momentum for expansion, as it seeks out single and multi-unit franchisees looking to grow their businesses, primarily in Beaverton, Tigard, Tacoma and Bellevue.

The launch of this development initiative comes just as key executives from the Little Caesars franchise development team will be exhibiting and in attendance at the The Franchise Show occurring May 1–2 in Seattle at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center.  While at the expo, the brand looks forward to discussing franchise opportunities to interested prospects.

“Little Caesars is a family business and we pride ourselves on the solid relationships we form and maintain with our franchise owners around the world,” Sherwood said. “We’re excited to connect with potential new owners at the upcoming franchise trade show in Seattle as we continue growing our Pacific Northwest ‘family.’”

Little Caesars franchising investments start at around $360,000, with incentive programs for both veterans and first responders. Interested prospects should visit Franchise.LittleCaesars.com for inquiries about opening a franchise.

For more details on how to attend The Franchise Show in Seattle, visit FranchiseShowInfo.com/Seattle/Visitor.

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Little Caesars has named Glen McIntosh chief supply chain officer. In this newly created role, McIntosh will report directly to the CEO and lead end-to-end supply chain strategies for the company, including purchasing, replenishment, transportation, warehousing, distribution, international supply chain and export functions, and will oversee a first-rate, multi-disciplinary team.

“With his experience and leadership abilities, Glen will help support our continued growth all over the world,” David Scrivano, president and CEO of Little Caesars, said. “The development and execution of innovative, time and cost-saving strategies will benefit our franchisees and stores and ensure our customers continue to receive the very best in quality products at a great value.”

McIntosh has more than 25 years of supply chain experience, having served most recently as vice president of distribution operations at Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, a division of Little Caesars. Previously, he served in various supply chain capacities in the food and automotive industries. McIntosh is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a graduate of the University of North Texas, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Management.

“We are experiencing rapid growth both in the United States and internationally, which presents a unique and exciting opportunity in my field,” McIntosh said. “I am looking forward to further developing and leading efficient and robust supply chain efforts, making it possible for Little Caesars stores around the globe to serve customers a delicious, fresh product with industry-leading convenience and value.”

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In celebration of Earth Day, and as part of an ongoing commitment to ensure that Detroit youth have access to sports, the Detroit Tigers, Detroit Red Wings and DTE Energy announced a $50,000 donation to enhance energy efficiencies at two community sports facilities in the city: Detroit’s Belle Isle Athletic Complex and East Side Ice Hockey Arena.

The Tigers, Red Wings and DTE made donations to the Belle Isle Athletic Complex, managed by HYPE Athletics Community, to install brand-new, energy efficient LED lighting and additional enhancements on the baseball and softball fields, and East Side Hockey Ice Arena to support upgrades to the nearly 50-year-old transformer. The donation to East Side Hockey Ice Arena builds upon a previous contribution from the Red Wings to support this vital project. Upgrades at both facilities will take place this summer.

“The Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings are honored to inspire future generations of baseball, softball and hockey players in our great city,” Kevin Brown, director of community impact for the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings, said. “We’d like to thank our friends at DTE for supporting that commitment. This summer’s enhancements at Belle Isle Athletic Complex and East Side Hockey Ice Arena represent another important step in the process of ensuring widespread sport accessibility for young Detroiters.”  

The donations follow similar energy-saving enhancements DTE has made. DTE’s Community Lighting team has installed nearly 900 outdoor lights in neighborhoods and businesses throughout the City of Detroit over the past two years. All lights installed were energy efficient LEDs which typically save customers roughly 30% on the cost of lighting.

“Detroit has such a rich sports history, and DTE is excited to add to that heritage today by partnering with the Tigers and Red Wings to update field and arena facilities in which children can play baseball, softball and hockey under bright lights – just like their professional heroes,” John Boladian, director of Energy Efficiency at DTE, said. “These children are our future college athletes, coaches and leaders. While they are young, we can all pitch-in in our own ways to provide them a with positive environment that will help them physically develop and have fun.”

Everyone can contribute on Earth Day. When considering ways to conserve resources, fans also can manage and save on their own energy usage. DTE offers energy-saving tips, tools and rebates to help fans lower their energy bill and reduce their carbon footprint. You can start by replacing your most frequently used bulbs with ENERGY STAR® certified LEDs. LEDs last longer and use less energy. To learn more ways to save go to DTEenergy.com/SaveEnergy.

The Tigers and Red Wings, in partnership with DTE Energy, will celebrate Earth Day at Comerica Park and Little Caesars Arena on Thursday, April 22. The Tigers will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates at 1:10 p.m., while the Red Wings will host the Dallas Stars with a 7:30 p.m. puck drop. The Tigers and DTE Energy will also host “Going Green Night” on Saturday, May 29 against the New York Yankees, including a reusable tote bag giveaway for fans in attendance at Comerica Park.

Both teams have other recent initiatives that further their commitment to increase youth sports involvement and accessibility within the city of Detroit. The Red Wings’ Learn, Play, Score program consists of several innovative and engaging hockey-related platforms, while the Tigers’ involvement with Fun At Bat, in partnership with USA Baseball, offers a free online curriculum for kids that emphasizes character development, functional movement, active play and fun.

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