Through the annual Hometown Holiday Assist initiative, the Detroit Red Wings and Tigers partnered with Meijer and The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division’s community program, Pathway of Hope, to bring joy to local families. Pathway of Hope offers services to families seeking to break the cycle of poverty.  

During this year’s Hometown Holiday Assist, five local families identified through the Pathway of Hope initiative were surprised by the Red Wings, Tigers and Meijer with an all-inclusive holiday experience.

“The Salvation Army has enjoyed a long, storied and successful relationship with the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers,” Major Timothy Meyer, general secretary, metro Detroit area commander and chief operating officer for The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division, said. “In a year that has been difficult for thousands of metro Detroit families, it’s a blessing to know that there’s individuals in this community, including the amazing folks with the Red Wings and Tigers, who are helping rescue Christmas.”

Meijer, players from both teams, as well as coaches and front office staff donated thousands of dollars towards the initiative. Colleagues and players then took to the Meijer in Royal Oak, Mich. to purchase gifts, décor, food and a $200 Meijer gift card for five families and then surprised them outside of their homes, along with pre-recorded holiday greetings from Red Wings and Tigers players.

The families were also given the opportunity to “pay it forward,” by donating $1,000 of Hometown Holiday Assist funds to an organization of their choosing. Recipients included the Ronald McDonald House, the National Diabetes Association, The Salvation Army and the Samaritas Family Center.

“The benefits of this initiative extend beyond the gifts and food delivered to each home,” said Kevin Brown, director of community impact for the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers. “True to the spirit of giving and receiving, many additional lives will be positively impacted through the pay-it-forward donations directed by each recipient family to nonprofits near and dear to their hearts.”

To learn more about Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers community impact efforts, visit DetroitRedWings.com and DetroitTigers.com. Learn more about The Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Division and Pathway of Hope here.

‍

From “Pizza! Pizza!”™ to Hot-N-Ready, innovation has been fundamental to the growth and success of Little Caesars for the past 60 years. And since Anita Klopfenstein joined the company as Chief Information Officer in 2017, she has continued that legacy by creating a best-in-class IT team and implementing industry-leading technology that drives the business forward.

Under her leadership, Anita has helped develop technology solutions that has digitally transformed Little Caesars into a carryout and delivery company.  This includes online ordering and delivery through the Little Caesars app, as well as contactless order pickup through Pizza Portal, the first self-service mobile order pickup station in the quick service restaurant industry.  These innovations help ensure even greater convenience, quality and value to Little Caesars customers.

Anita has also built partnerships with leading technology companies like Cisco, Google, World Wide Technology and Microsoft, as well as grown a world-class IT team with top recruits from around the globe.  

Recognizing Anita’s vast experience, ingenuity and strength as a leader, Industry Era Magazine recently named Anita as one of the “10 Best CIOs of 2020.” With Anita on board, Little Caesars is poised to remain an innovative leader in the food service industry.

See more about Anita and the Little Caesars approach to technology.

‍

Today, we mourn the tragic loss of a true hero, Benny Napoleon. A champion of the people of Detroit, Benny touched the lives of so many with his decades of public service and leadership, creating a legacy of inspiring mentorship and integrity. He was a tremendous partner and dear friend of our organization and owners, and we are grateful for our longstanding relationship. Our thoughts are with Benny’s family during this difficult time.

This summer, more than 100 current and former Black professional baseball players came together in the wake of social injustices to form The Players Alliance, a non-profit organization to create an inclusive culture within baseball and the community.

Recently, the Players Alliance partnered with Pull Up Neighbor, a Black-owned community response team, to provide direct support to communities in need. The “Pull Up Neighbor Tour” is a two-month, cross-country mobile tour to aid communities of color in a safe, socially distant and responsible way. At each stop, the tour offers baseball gear and equipment to Black youth, a pop-up pantry in conjunction with local food banks, COVID resources like face masks and hand sanitizer, and special gifts from MLB and the local clubs.

Members of the Tigers organization joined the tour for its stops in Flint and Detroit.  They included vice president of baseball operations and general manager Al Avila, pitching coach Chris Fetter, and current players John Schreiber and Werner Blakely, Jr.  All met directly with community members and helped distribute necessary aid.

“The efforts being made by The Players Alliance is inspiring, especially around the holidays,” Avila said. “As an organization, we’re proud of our players, both past and present, who are actively involved. It’s important we support their goodwill and it speaks volumes of the character of the players who are uplifting lives in the black communities. The commitment they have made is impressive — to travel across the country with this tour, especially during the pandemic — all to supply meals, PPE and baseball equipment in Detroit and Flint is wonderful. The Players Alliance is making a lasting impact.”

The tour was funded by a group of Players Alliance members who donated their game-day salaries to the organization. This amount was matched by MLB, allowing The Players Alliance to expand their reach to the communities most in need.  Over the past 5 years, the MLB Players that make up The Players Alliance have collectively donated more than $40M to support Black communities across the country.

“I am so proud of the young Black baseball players that formed The Players Alliance,” Willie Horton, Detroit Tigers legend, said.  “I stand alongside The Alliance in its investment in Black communities beyond baseball, and applaud its founders and members — including current and former Tigers players — for working to provide opportunities at every level of the game, and to combat racial prejudice in the places we live and play.”

Learn more about The Players Alliance and Pull Up Neighbor at ThePlayersAlliance.com andPullUpNeighbor.com.

‍

Detroit-based journalist, author and broadcaster Mitch Albom formed SAY Detroit in 2006 with a commitment to working in the city’s neighborhoods, providing opportunities and uplifting those in need. Albom created the SAY Detroit Radiothon in 2012 to help raise money for many organizations in need of aid.

Since its first broadcast, the annual SAY Detroit Radiothons have raised more than $7 million to help the poor, the homeless, families without homes, children without medical care, students hoping to reach the college of their dreams and veterans who have hit hard times.

In support of the Radiothon’s goal to help raise funds for vital community organizations throughout metro Detroit, Red Wings executive vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman, Tigers manager AJ Hinch and Ilitch Holdings president and CEO Chris Ilitch appeared remotely during SAY Detroit’s Ninth Annual Radiothon. The Ilitch organization also donated funds, autographed memorabilia and exclusive player virtual meet and greet opportunities.

The Ilitch organization has been proud to partner with SAY Detroit in various ways over the years, beginning with the 2006 creation of Bright Beginnings, a free day-care program for infants and toddlers. Aimed at breaking the cycle of homelessness while providing quality education to its students, Bright Beginnings is designed to keep children happy and safe while preparing them for a bright future with the priceless gift of education.

Earlier this year, Detroit Tigers players stopped by the SAY Detroit Play Center, an after-school facility, to record a modern take on “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” with Detroit students.

For more information, or to learn how you can help, visit SAYDetroit.org.

‍

Magic of Lights brightens up the night for the holiday season — part of a new type of outdoor entertainment options offered by 313 Presents. Building on the incredible excitement of this summer’s outdoor show, Jurassic Quest, this new, safe and exciting show runs nightly at DTE Energy Music Theatre through Jan. 2.

The show offers a spectacular 1.5-mile drive through holiday lights, featuring holiday-themed vignettes brought to life through the latest LED technology and digital animations. Themes include the all new drive-through Blizzard Tunnel, as well as the 12 Days of Christmas, Winter Wonderland and The Night Before Christmas.

“Following the outstanding response of over 125,000 guests to this summer’s Jurassic Quest at DTE Energy Music Theatre, 313 Presents is excited to offer the festive Magic of Lights holiday drive-through experience to spread joy and holiday cheer to our community in a safe and engaging way,” said Howard Handler, president of 313 Presents.

Tickets are available at 313Presents.com and MagicofLights.com. On-site ticket sales are accommodated Sundays through Thursdays. Advanced ticket sales are available for all days and, due to the popularity of weekend event times, are required for Fridays and Saturdays.

‍

Acentury after it first opened, two women are helping lead the revitalization of Detroit’s former Eddystone Hotel:  Meredith McLellan, project manager for Olympia Development of Michigan and Jennifer Elmore, director of architecture for Kraemer Design Group.  

In concert with metro-Detroit-based O’Brien Construction, McLellan and Elmore have helped complete restoration of the building’s exterior, featuring rusticated limestone, age-old brickwork and stunning terracotta details.

“We have been able to restore, repair or replicate the original features of this fantastic building to their former glory,” said Elmore. “With the exterior restoration now complete, the building looks absolutely beautiful.”

Once completed, the Eddystone will feature 92 market-rate and affordable residential units. “We have a great group of experts on board and we’re making progress as we march towards projected completion in late 2021,” said McLellan.

For more information about the Eddystone’s restoration and Olympia Development’s work across The District Detroit, click here.

‍

What’s better than a calendar featuring the Detroit Red Wings? A calendar with photos of the players and their furry friends. Arriving just in time for the holiday shopping season, the 2021 Pucks for Paws Calendar, presented by PetSmart, is on sale now for $20.

Calendar proceeds benefit PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, and the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, which provides opportunity and access to hockey for thousands of children in Detroit.

The fun calendar pairs Red Wings players with their own four-legged friends and adoptable pets from Michigan Humane.

Longtime Pucks for Paws fans will recognize such favorites as Tyler Bertuzzi’s dog, Aspen; Luke Glendening’s dog, Lucy; Ken Daniels’ dog, Jack; and more.

Purchasers can also buy exclusive Pucks for Paws merchandise, including a limited number of Red Wings-branded leashes and pet bandanas.

Visit DetroitRedWings.com/PucksForPaws to purchase a calendar while supplies last.

‍

For 35 years, Detroit Tigers outfield instructor Gene Roof dedicated himself to developing the young players that would wear the Olde English D.

“We’ve been fortunate to have had Gene Roof with our organization for over three decades, and personally, I’ve appreciated and enjoyed working with him for 19 years,” Al Avila, Detroit Tigers executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager, said. “Gene comes from a wonderful baseball family who have dedicated their lives to coaching and teaching players. Gene’s commitment at both the major and minor league level is a testament to his passion for the game, and he has positively impacted the development of countless Tigers players. I can tell you from ownership on down, we appreciated his devotion to making our players better. We wish he and his wife, Marianne, nothing but the best in retirement.”

Roof, one of five brothers who played professionally, has been involved in baseball since age 18. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1976, where he played for three seasons and earned a ring from the 1982 World Series.

Roof’s playing career ended within the Tigers farm system in 1987. He was invited to coach the Double-A Nashville team – then affiliated with the Tigers. He would remain with the organization for the rest of his career.

“Gene-O was a joy to be around,” Dave Owen, Detroit Tigers director of player development, said. “He’s one of the truest baseball guys you’ll ever meet. No ego – just a genuine, nice man who cared so much for the players. You could tell the respect was mutual with the guys he worked with. You don’t have a 35-year career without understanding the players and adjusting the way you coach. The players always responded to him. He was one of them. They knew that he wasn’t just talk. He walked in their shoes. He not only connected with them on a baseball level, but on a personal level.”

The list of players whom Roof has coached is any baseball fan’s dream, and includes legends like Alan Trammell and Kirk Gibson. He also helped spur the development of countless Tigers, and three years ago, helped Nick Castellanos transition from third base to outfield.

Careers that span decades can be hard to summarize, but Roof does so with ease: “I never had a bad day wearing the Olde English D,” he said.

The Tigers plan to honor Roof for his outstanding career before a home game during the 2021 season.

‍