Fall is a beautiful time in The D, and three fun-filled, socially distanced outdoor events on Columbia Street (right next door to the Fox Theatre) are the perfect opportunities to enjoy the crisp October weather.

• The District Detroit Workouts presented by Saint Joseph Mercy Health System on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. promises sweat-inducing, high-intensity interval training, or HIIT, followed by a 40-minute yoga session led by premier local instructors. Each workout costs $5, and includes a new yoga mat for each attendee, plus a Rush Bowls gift card. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Detroit Red Wings Foundation. Register today and find more information at DistrictDetroit.com/Workouts. Parking is free at the Fox Theatre Garage.

• The District Detroit Acoustic Nights presented by Jack Daniel’s on two consecutive Fridays, Oct. 9 and 16, give adults a chance to enjoy free, live acoustic music outdoors from 7-10 p.m. Some of metro Detroit’s best acoustic artists will perform. Masks are required, and seating will accommodate six-feet social distancing. Entry is free. Pre-register here for free parking at the Fox Theatre Garage.

• The District Detroit Comedy Night on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. is packed with local talent, featuring Michigan natives Pat Sievert and headliner Josh Adams for 90 minutes of laughs. Tickets cost $29.00 and are available on Ticketmaster.com.

To help keep attendees safe, temperature checks will be conducted at all events, and the completion of a health screening form is required upon entry. Learn more about all the upcoming events at DistrictDetroit.com.

The Detroit Red Wings Foundation is committed to making a positive impact in the community. Earlier this year, the foundation announced the Learn, Play, Score program. The Program, which is designed to increase hockey access for kids, is rooted in a commitment to build confidence in character, promote positive values and part enduring life skills to thousands of youth across Detroit.  

As an extension of the groundbreaking Learn, Play, Score program, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and Labatt Blue are donating a total of $60,000 to three hockey rinks in the city of Detroit. The announcement was made during the Red Wings’ NHL Draft Virtual Show on Tuesday, Oct. 6.

Jack Adams Memorial Arena, Clark Park and East Side Foundation Hockey Arena will each receive $20,000 to enhance programming and make facility improvements.

“We are committed to providing kids throughout Detroit with access to the game of hockey,” Kevin Brown, Red Wings director of community impact, said. “And this donation, to these rinks, all located in the city, is central to that effort.”  

Anthony Benavides, director of the Clark Park Coalition, said he’s excited to safely welcome hockey players back to the rink.

“This donation from the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and Labatt will help the Clark Park Coalition engage more Detroiters in ice hockey and provide for a safe outdoor hockey experience,” Benavides said. “We are extremely grateful for this support.”

Brian Francis of the East Side Youth Sports Foundation echoed Benavides’ excitement.

“The East Side Youth Sports Foundation would like to thank the Detroit Red Wings and Labatt for donating $20,000 to be allocated for building improvements at the ESH Ice Arena in Detroit,” Francis said. “This investment will help us continue to keep our rink safe and efficient.”

Earlier this year, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, through the Learn, Play, Score initiative, caught up with Detroit Ice Dreams Hockey Association founder Jason McCrimmon and 13-year-old King Moore — just one of the Detroit kids who has flourished on the ice.

Learn, Play, Score is funded through a $1 million investment in partnership with the Red Wings, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and the NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund to grow and expand access to hockey across Detroit. Learn more at DetroitRedWings.com/LearnPlayScore.

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Serve Detroit, a City of Detroit initiative, began this year to connect willing and dedicated volunteers with meaningful ways to help Detroiters. Shawnise Brown, administrative coordinator in the Little Caesars finance department, is one such volunteer.

Through Ilitch Charities’ “I Care Colleague Engagement Program,” which connects colleagues with an array of opportunities to give back, Shawnise is working with Serve Detroit to deliver meals to Detroiters who lack access to food due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Follow Shawnise as she spreads kindness and delivers essential meals to Detroiters in the video below.

For more than 20 years, Ilitch Charities has developed programs and made significant donations to causes like Serve Detroit that uplift the community. Learn more about Serve Detroit and how you can help at DetroitMI.gov.

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Whether in the stands or at home, one thing’s for sure: Detroit Roots. This season, Tigers fans continued to support their team and it was genuinely felt and appreciated by the players. As a thank you, the Detroit Tigers are hosting a virtual Fan Appreciation Weekend, taking place Sept. 25–27.

The three-day festivities kick off today with the “Retweet to Win” contest, where two lucky fans will win the chance to virtually join one of three former Tigers players from the 2006 AL Championship team and watch the first two innings of Friday’s game. (Spoiler: former Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland is confirmed to be one of the participants). Additional virtual events include:

• Friday: Fans have the chance to win special prize packs, as well as autographed and authenticated Tigers items.
• Saturday: More giveaway opportunities and a surprise Tigers player will join fans on Twitter to virtually sign photos from fans an hour before the game.
• Sunday: 40 autographed #DetroitRoots t-shirts will be given away.

Fans will need to submit an entry form through the Ballpark App or Tigers.com to win prizes throughout the weekend. The winners of each contest will be announced in the middle of the 7^th inning of that day’s game.

Watch members of the Detroit Tigers personally thank their fans in the video below.

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This season, the Detroit Tigers are missing their faithful, cheering fans at Comerica Park. But, with the help of a creative broadcast team, the sounds of the game and the Tigers’ always-supportive crowds still fill the stadium.

The roar remains, virtually, as cheering sounds are piped through speakers during games highlighting homeruns, clutch hits and strikeouts.

Stan Fracker, the Tigers’ director of broadcast and in-game entertainment, has been keeping Detroit sports fans on their feet behind the scenes for more than two decades.

As the Tigers take on the Cleveland Indians for their final home game of the unique 2020 season, take a look at Fracker and his team as they keep the sights and sounds pumping at Comerica Park.

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Beginning this weekend, the Detroit Tigers will highlight the important contributions of Hispanic and Latino players, as well as Detroit-based community organizations. The effort is part of “Somos MLB,” a league-wide recognition of Latino baseball stars and their contributions to the game.

The celebration kicks off on Friday, September 18, when Detroit Tigers radio announcer Dan Dickerson virtually interviews Tigers icons Ivan “Pudge” Rodriguez, Placido Polanco, Ramon Santiago and Juan Berenguer, who played for the team during their 1984 World Series win.

Throughout the coming weeks on social media, the Tigers will share stories and content celebrating the accomplishments of other Hispanic and Latino players who have made an impact on the team.

Additionally, the Tigers will highlight community organizations such as Latin Americans for Social and Economic Development, Inc. (LA SED), a non-profit agency that serves Hispanics and residents of Southwest Detroit. The Tigers have a long-standing relationship with LA SED, and the organization’s Ago Benavides will throw out the Virtual First Pitch prior to Saturday’s Tigers game.

As part of its programming, LA SED’s Youth Center provides invaluable resources for Hispanic and Latino children in the Detroit community. The bilingual volunteer staff of the Youth Center is dedicated to serving young people in need through advocacy, tutoring, summer employment programs and more.

Learn more from LA SED’s Jane Garcia, who this week sat down for an interview for the Word on Woodward to talk about the importance of resources such as the Youth Center.

To learn more about “Somos Tigres,” Hispanic and Latino Detroit Tigers players, past and present, and the ongoing “Fiesta Tigres” event, which has been held at Comerica Park since 2008, visit here:  https://www.mlb.com/tigers/community/hispanic-heritage/

You can follow the Detroit Tigers Spanish-language Twitter and Instagram pages here.

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The Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings have announced a partnership with the Michigan secretary of state’s office to support the United States presidential election and encourage voter participation in Detroit and throughout the state of Michigan.

Little Caesars Arena, home of the Detroit Red Wings, will serve as a safe, centralized training venue for more than 6,000 volunteer election workers over a several week period in September and October.  Comerica Park, home of the Detroit Tigers, has been made available to host a ballot drop box, should the city need additional locations. In addition, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings will use their social media platforms to share educational information about voter registration, voting by mail, Election Day volunteer opportunities and ballot completion.

“Elections are the foundation of our democracy and we are committed to doing all we can to support the upcoming election,” said Chris Granger, Group President, Sports and Entertainment, Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “Not only are our facilities uniquely suited to support the needs of the community and the Secretary of State leading up to election day, our sports teams provide voices to share information and fulfill our civic obligation to encourage all Michiganders to exercise their right to vote on Nov. 3.”

Through a series of training sessions, Little Caesars Arena will fill an imperative election need, by offering a safe, socially distanced space to prepare Detroit volunteers to work the polls on Election Day.

“I am grateful to the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers for helping us fill these critical needs this election cycle,” said Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. “Leveraging the resources and unrivaled platforms of these teams will enable us to reach voters and give them the assurance that their elections will be accessible and secure. And I am proud to say that with this announcement Detroit is now the first U.S. city where all four professional sports teams are taking an active, nonpartisan role in supporting this fall’s elections. We hope that this inspires every Michigan voter to participate in our democracy.”

Over the next two months, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings will remain connected with the Secretary of State to support election needs, and the teams are committed to sharing important information and resources with fans to help them prepare for Nov. 3.

Across the country, here in Detroit, and within all of the Ilitch companies, the important issues of diversity, equality and inclusion continue to take center stage. Over the years, the Ilitch companies have sought to address these issues through a variety of efforts, including the employment of a diverse workforce, various training programs for employees, and partnering with organizations such as the Michigan Diversity Council, the MLB’s Diversity Fellowship Program and the NHL’s Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs team. We are committed to using our resources and reach to foster greater inclusion and understanding.

In the spirit of continuous improvement, we are thoughtfully evaluating our policies and practices and are continuing to listen, learn and explore new efforts for the betterment of our employees, organization and community.

Following the recent meeting with Mayor Duggan, Rev. Anthony of the NAACP and other business leaders, the Ilitch companies took immediate action, including:

• Conducting a series of listening sessions were conducted with leaders and colleagues throughout the organization. These conversations were open, invaluable and instructive, covering topics such as recruitment and hiring, career development, training and other important issues.

• Forming a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Task Force comprised of colleagues from across the Ilitch companies with the goal of making sustainable improvements within our organization.

• Expanding our partnerships with experts like the Michigan Diversity Council (MIDC). Task force members will complete the MIDC’s 2020 East Virtual DiversityFIRST™ Certification Program, designed to help companies create and implement highly successful diversity and inclusion strategies for organizational excellence.    

• Working together with the MLB and the NHL, respectively, the Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings took visible actions to implement and localize league-led initiatives:

• At the Detroit Tigers home opener, Tigers players and uniformed personnel wore Detroit Roots t-shirts with the message “I Root for Equality.” The Tigers opening line-up was announced by representatives from the Detroit Branch of The NAACP Youth Council and The GM Rainbow PUSH Scholars. During the middle of the 7^th inning, Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals players paused for a moment of silence and reflection in support of equality, inclusion and social justice, followed by an “Equality” video shown on the Comerica Park scoreboard.
• More recently, the Tigers celebrated the MLB Negro Leagues’ 100^th anniversary with programs aimed at honoring the rich history of the leagues and providing opportunities for Tigers fans of all ages to learn more.
• During the Tigers game against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 26, we again had a moment of silence during the 7^th inning stretch and posted an equality message on the scoreboard reflecting the MLB’s “United for Change” initiative. Additional league-led initiatives are in the works for topics on voter education, the women’s equality and more.

• The Detroit Red Wings remain committed to the NHL’s year-round Hockey is for Everyone platform, celebrating equality and inclusion within the sport of hockey. And this approach to creating fair and just opportunities doesn’t solely live within Hockey is for Everyone. Through their groundbreaking Learn, Play, Score platform announced in February 2020, the Red Wings, NHL and NHLPA are also breaking down systemic barriers by introducing equitable access to hockey in various forms for thousands of children across Detroit. In partnership with respected local organizations and revered Detroiters — the late Marlowe Stoudamire and current Learn, Play, Score Ambassador Jason McCrimmon — children of all races, ages and abilities in the city of Detroit are now experiencing the social, emotional and educational benefits of hockey — many of them for the first time.

• The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately impacted the Black community and in response we prioritized our efforts to help those most in need by donating thousands of masks to Detroit senior centers, non-profit organizations, and children’s groups. More information can be found here.

Racial gaps exist in our society. Business leaders have an opportunity to address them. As we take a careful look within our own organization, the Ilitch companies are committed to living up to the very best of our ideals and enacting policies and practices, that will positively impact our employees, our organization and our community for years to come.

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For kids in Detroit and surrounding communities, access to quality sports equipment can make a big difference in learning the games they love. The Detroit Tigers are proud to support the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in its effort to work across southeast Michigan communities to improve access to sports equipment and do-it-from-home skills development drills for children. A program called Project Play Kits, which provides sports equipment, directions and links to guided videos, allows kids to participate in fun activities without the need for communal spaces. Launched by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, The Aspen Institute and Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, the Project Play Kits initiative serves 2,400 children weekly, and features a different sport every week.

The Detroit Tigers and Detroit Tigers Foundation joined Major League Baseball to help adopt the Project Play Kits “baseball week” from Aug. 17–23.  In total, more than 2,400 Baseball Project Play Kits were donated and distributed throughout seven counties in southeast Michigan. Each kit included MLB Play Ball bat and ball sets, as well as instructional videos and drill sheets from the Tigers to give kids a safe way to learn and play. The Tigers mascot, Paws, distributed many kits to youth at a recent event at the Boys & Girls Club in Highland Park, Mich.

Project Play Southeast Michigan believes that every child should reap the benefits of a lifestyle that’s active, healthy and fun. To learn more about their work at and see the Project Play Kits baseball instructional videos, visit ProjectPlaySEMI.org.