Detroit Lions Charities Grants Announced; $345,829.13 In Grants Awarded Bringing Overall Total to Nearly $5.6 Million ALLEN PARK, MICH. -- Detroit Lions Charities (DLC) has awarded 88 grants totaling $345,829.13 to non-profit agencies in 2009-2010. This year's awards bring DLC, the football organization's philanthropic foundation, to nearly $5.6 million in total donations in its 20-year history.
DLC was established in 1990 to assist all age groups in a diverse range of needs and programs in Michigan. Particular emphasis is placed on programs that benefit the children of Detroit.
“Detroit Lions Charities is honored and pleased to partner with so many outstanding charitable organizations in making the most positive impact we can in the community,” said Lions’ President Tom Lewand. “These organizations have proven track records in making a difference especially during these difficult times when needs are so great.”
For the 12th consecutive year, a $60,000 grant will sponsor the Think Detroit PAL Football League. The league involves 3,200 Detroit youngsters, ages eight through 14, playing in one of the nation’s largest tackle football leagues. The Think Detroit PAL season will conclude with its annual championships to be held in November and hosted by the Lions at Ford Field.
Another major commitment to Detroit was made through a $50,000 grant to Communities in Schools (CIS) of Detroit for the Detroit Lions Academy. The Academy will celebrate its 10th year this fall and has a student body of 140 sixth, seventh and eighth grade Detroit children who have had difficulties in traditional school settings. The Academy is a cooperative effort between the Lions, Detroit Public Schools and CIS in association with several corporate sponsors including Costco Wholesale and Ford Motor Company.
A grant for nearly $23,000 sponsored fitness equipment in the new “Lions’ Den” at the Lloyd H. Diehl Boys & Girls Club in Detroit. The donation was made in partnership with United Way for Southeastern Michigan and the NFL’s Play 60 initiative that encourages children to be active at least 60 minutes each day. Also, in partnership with American Heart Association and Detroit Public Television, DLC awarded a $10,000 grant to support youth fitness and nutrition programs through a youth summit and public service announcements featuring Lions’ receiver 
The Lions’ High School Football Coach of the Week program awarded grants totaling nearly than $17,000 to 10 Michigan prep football programs from Detroit to Grand Rapids and from Hudson to Pontiac. Marshall’s Rich Hulkow was named High School Coach of the Year. The Lions have donated $246,000 to Michigan high school football programs through the “Coach of the Week/Year” program since 1997.
A grant for $20,200 went to the Athletes with Disabilities Network to promote programs for persons with disabilities. This grant among several others came from the proceeds from the annual Lions’ Tony Filippis Memorial Bocce Tournament. This year’s event will be held on May 18 at Palazzo di Bocce in Orion Township.
DLC and the Lions continue to be major supporters of HAVEN, Oakland County’s premier center for the prevention and treatment of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. The annual Detroit Lions Courage House Dinner has raised approximately $1.6 million for HAVEN since 1994.
DLC and the Lions supported various relief efforts following the earthquake in Haiti including a $10,000 grant to American Red Cross International Response Fund.
Among others, grants of $5,000 or more were made to support The Children’s Center, The Henry Ford, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and United Way for Southeastern Michigan.
DLC raises funds from several sources. Major support comes from corporate sponsors as well as funds raised through NFL auctions of Lions’ memorabilia and game-worn items. Lions’ players, coaches and staff support the “CATS for Kids” program that provides free game tickets to youth groups and also raises funds for DLC. Donations also come from the “Up in Lights” program on game days.
DLC fundraisers include the Lions’ Kickoff Luncheon, Detroit Lions Invitational (DLI), and the bocce tournament. This year’s DLI, a golf tournament open to the public and featuring several current and former Lions’ players, will be held at TPC Michigan in Dearborn on June 8. The date of the Lions’ Kickoff Luncheon has yet to be determined.
For tax-exempt Michigan organizations interested in filing for future funding, grant requests will be accepted from October 1 through December 31. Further information on grant eligibility guidelines and application procedures is available by going to the Lions' web page www.detroitlions.com or by writing Detroit Lions Charities, 222 Republic Drive, Allen Park, MI, 48101.
2009-2010 DETROIT LIONS CHARITIES GRANT RECIPIENTS
88 Grants Totaling $345,829.13
American Cancer Society (Southfield)
American Heart Association (Southfield)
American Red Cross International Response Fund (Washington D.C.)
Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan (Rochester Hills)
Athletes with Disabilities Network (Rochester Hills)
Bakersfield Youth Development (Bakersfield, CA)
B.A.R.R. Track Club (Detroit)
Bennie Blades 36 Foundation (Lauderhill, FL)
Boys & Girls Club of Oxford/Orion (Oxford/Lake Orion)
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (Farmington Hills/Highland Park/Detroit) (5 Grants)
Brain Injury Association of Michigan (Brighton)
Burger School for Students with Autism (Garden City)
Central District Christian Community Development (Detroit)
Charles Sanders Scholarship Fund (Rochester)
Children’s Center, The (Detroit)
Christ Child House (Detroit)
City of Troy/Parks and Recreation (Troy)
College for Creative Studies (Detroit)
Communities in Schools of Detroit (Detroit) (2 Grants)
Detroit Lions Academy (Detroit) (2 Grants)
Detroit Metro Sports Commission (Detroit)
Detroit Zoological Society (Royal Oak)
Eagle Sports (Detroit)
Eric Beverly Foundation (Lawrenceville, GA/Alger County, MI)
Essexville-Hampton Community Education (Essexville)
Family 2 Family Foundation (Southfield)
FISH (Lake Orion/Oxford)
Friends for the Rouge (Dearborn)
Gleaners Community Food Bank (Detroit)
HAVEN/Detroit Lions Courage House (Pontiac) (2 Grants)
Hearts Outreach (Agoura, CA)
High School Football Coach of the Week/Year Program (12 Grants)
- … Clinton High School (Clinton)
- … Detroit Crockett High School (Detroit)
- … Essexville-Garber High School (Essexville)
- … Grand Rapids West Catholic High School (Grand Rapids)
- … Holt High School (Holt)
- … Hudson High School (Hudson)
- … Macomb Dakota High School (Macomb)
- … Marshall High School (Marshall)
- … Millington High School (Millington)
- … Pontiac High School (Pontiac) … High School Coaches Reception
- … High School Coach of the Year Billboards
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (Southfield)
Karmanos Cancer Institute (Detroit)
Kolo Charities (Lake Orion)
Lake Orion Lions Club (Lake Orion)
Life Long Fitness, Inc. (Detroit)
Lift Up America (Detroit)
Maplegrove Community Education (West Bloomfield)
Metro Detoit Youth Day (Detroit)
Michigan High School All-Star Football Game (East Lansing)
Mike Furrey Foundation, The (Plain City, OH)
Mike Utley Foundation (Orondo, WA)
New Baltimore Lions Club (New Baltimore)
Oakland Land Conservancy (Rochester)
Orion Veterans Memorial (Lake Orion)
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (Royal Oak)
Race for the Cure (Detroit)
Reaching Higher (Brighton)
Reggie McKenzie Foundation (Highland Park)
RESET, Inc. (Detroit)
R.L. Hampton Group (Grand Rapids)
Second Chances Outreach (Detroit/Tyrone, GA)
Shack Harris and Doug Williams Foundation (Atlanta, GA)
Sky Foundation, Inc. (Bloomfield Hills)
Special Olympics Michigan (Sterling Heights)
Stefanie Spielman Breast Cancer Research Foundation (Columbus, OH) (2 Grants)
Summer in the City (Detroit)
THAW (Detroit)
The Henry Ford (Dearborn)
Think Detroit PAL (Detroit) (3 Grants)
Tony Semple Foundation for Hope (Lansing)
United Way for Southeastern Michigan (Detroit)
Visiting Nurse Association of Southeast Michigan (Oak Park)
Westside Christian Academy (Detroit)
YMCA of Greater Flint (Flint)
