@GM Foundation Pledges $500,000 to Help Victims of Texas Tornadoes

The funds will be used to help restore neighborhoods devastated by Wednesday’s storms.

“Helping Texas residents rebuild and repair their homes is a critical priority for Habitat for Humanity International in the aftermath of the recent tornadoes,” said Selim Bingol, vice president, GM Global Communications and Public Policy and Chairman of the GM Foundation. “Through the $500,000 grant from the GM Foundation and the recently donated Chevrolet Express Vans, we are helping the organization immediately provide financial and other important resources to those in need.”

Habitat for Humanity is assessing the impact on affordable housing in the affected areas and will assist with clean up, repairs and new construction efforts.

In addition to GM Foundation’s donation, Chevrolet donated 24 Chevrolet Express vans in 2012, creating the organization’s first-ever fleet of mobile response units. With their work behind them, some of the mobile response units are making their way from Superstorm Sandy-affected areas to Hood, Johnson, Montague, Parker and Wise counties to assist in recovery efforts. The vans are filled with tools and equipment from Lowe’s and Robert Bosch Tool Corporation

The GM Foundation’s support of Habitat for Humanity in 2013 also includes a $1 million grant for neighborhood revitalization efforts in 12 U.S. cities, including Arlington and Austin, Texas, where teamGM Cares volunteers will be deployed this year.

“From leadership giving and corporate gifts to much-needed vehicles and volunteers to assist with recovery efforts, Dan Akerson, the GM Foundation and Chevrolet are leading the way to help families rebuild their lives,” said Jonathan Reckford, CEO, Habitat for Humanity International. “This latest pledge will help the residents of impacted Texas communities come home again.”

In 2012, GM’s Chairman and CEO Dan Akerson and his wife, Karin, provided a $1 million personal gift to Habitat for Humanity’s “Leaders to ReBuild Detroit” initiative.

The GM Foundation’s support of Texas also includes a recent $100,000 grant to the Red Cross to aid emergency management officials with relief efforts in West, Texas. The GM Foundation also donates annually to the American Red Cross Disaster Responder Program to ensure the organization has funds to provide immediate relief when disaster strikes.

For more information, visit www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

@MLB & People magazine Announced "Tribute for Heroes" Campaign

Detroit Tigers fans are encouraged to visit  TributeforHeroes.com to nominate an active or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States or Canada for the chance to represent the Tigers at the 2013 All-Star Game. Tigers fans are encouraged to share their nominee’s extraordinary military or community service and/or personal and professional accomplishments.

Once all the nominations are reviewed, three veterans/military service members per Club (90 finalists) will be selected by MLB, PEOPLE, and a celebrity panel of judges, who will be announced at a later date.

@MLB & People magazine Announced "Tribute for Heroes" Campaign

Fans will then be encouraged to vote online from June 9th through June 30th for their Tigers favorite. All 30 winners, one representing each MLB Club, will be announced on July 10th. They will be included in All-Star Week festivities and recognized during the All-Star pregame ceremony leading up to the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field on July 16th on FOX. A “Tribute for Heroes” winner will be featured in PEOPLE magazine the week of the MLB All-Star Game.

The “Tribute For Heroes” campaign will support Welcome Back Veterans (welcomebackveterans.org, powered by MLB.com), an initiative of Major League Baseball and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, which addresses the needs of veterans after they return from service. Major League Baseball has committed more than $23 million for grants to hospitals and clinics that provide post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment to veterans and their families in a public/private partnership with “Centers of Excellence” at university hospitals throughout the country.

The nomination deadline for “Tribute For Heroes” is May 17^th.

Source: detroit.tigers.mlb.com

Ford Motor Company Fund Donates $1 Million to College for Creative Studies

The funds are being used to establish the Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies (HFA: SCS) College and Career Transitions Office at CCS, as well as start a Ford Blue Oval Scholarship fund at CCS for graduates of HFA: SCS to attend CCS.

HFA: SCS is the public charter middle and high school created as a partnership between CCS and Henry Ford Learning Institute (HFLI), with generous support from the Bob and Ellen Thompson Educational Foundation.  HFA: SCS, which is located inside the CCS A. Alfred Taubman Center for Design Education, will graduate its first high school senior class this year.

“These two unique institutions in downtown Detroit share a commitment to the education of promising students for a vibrant creative economy future,” said Jim Farley, executive vice president, Ford Global Marketing and Sales and Lincoln, and a member of the CCS Board of Trustees. “Ford Fund’s assistance will maximize their impact and support for a population that is traditionally underrepresented in art and design professions.”

“We are delighted with Ford Fund’s generous gift which provides the resources to work more closely with Henry Ford Academy: School for Creative Studies,” said Richard L. Rogers, president of the College for Creative Studies. “I look forward to welcoming new HFA: SCS graduates to CCS next year as part of our mission to bolster the creative economy in Detroit.”

Ford Fund’s donation is a continuation of Ford’s commitment to art and design education. In October 2012, Ford established an automotive design club which gives HFA: SCS students the opportunity to learn transportation design skills from Ford designers, their teachers and CCS Transportation Design students.

Ford also works with CCS on a number of Corporate Sponsored Research Projects. Most recently, Ford partnered with CCS Transportation Design students to design projects that respond to trends in urban mobility.  Corporate Sponsored Research Projects at CCS allow students the opportunity to gain real-life experience through working with industry to solve art and design challenges.

The College and Career Transitions office allows HFA: SCS and CCS to more fully realize the shared goal of providing traditionally underserved youth with access to post-secondary education opportunities.

For more information about the College for Creative Studies, visit: http://www.collegeforcreativestudies.edu/about-us/.

Venus Williams Steps Up for Sjogren's Awareness

“Venus’ willingness to share her story makes her a great Awareness Ambassador. Her courage gives hope to many patients who live silently with Sjogren’s because of the lack of awareness around this disease. The SSF is thrilled to have her leading the charge,” said Steven Taylor, SSF CEO.

Sjogren’s (“SHOW-grins”) is a systemic disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own moisture producing glands. The hallmark symptoms are dry eyes and dry mouth, but fatigue, muscle and joint pain are also prominent symptoms. Serious manifestations can occur, such as life-threatening lung involvement, central nervous system complications and disorders of cognitive functioning. Nine out of ten patients are women with an average age of onset in the early 40s. However, Sjogren’s can occur in all age groups, even in children.

Sjogren’s is the second most prevalent autoimmune disorder, striking as many as 4 million Americans with an estimated 3 million cases currently undiagnosed. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for preventing complications with Sjogren’s. Unfortunately, reaching a diagnosis is often difficult and has been found to take an average of over 4.7 years from the onset of symptoms. Only when Sjogren’s is recognized as a serious disease will patients receive the care needed.

Venus, like many Sjogren’s patients, struggled with getting a proper diagnosis, which is why she wanted to be a voice for Sjogren’s. Awareness Ambassadors help to educate their community and local medical professionals about Sjogren’s and are the front lines for helping the Foundation achieve our 5-Year Breakthrough Goal: “To shorten the time to diagnose Sjogren’s by 50% in 5 years.”

Venus Williams Steps Up for Sjogren's Awareness

Venus hopes you will step up for Sjogren’s Awareness! “By becoming an Awareness Ambassador, you will be helping to increase awareness of Sjogren’s — a very important cause I have been working on since I was diagnosed in 2011. Please join with me as we make a difference in how Sjogren’s is perceived in both the medical field and general public.” — Venus Williams

The SSF wants to recognize The Carroll Petrie Foundation whose generous grant, supporting the Awareness Ambassador program, will allow us to provide the materials needed to increase awareness in communities across the United States.

Source: http://www.sjogrens.org

Ford COO Mark Fields Named 2013-2014 Campaign Chair for United Way for Southeastern Michigan

Outgoing chair Sergio Marchionne, Chrysler Group LLC Chairman and CEO, passed the torch to Fields.

Fields’ role as 2013-2014 Campaign Chair builds on the thriving long-term partnership between Ford Motor Company and United Way. Ford has contributed more to the United Way for Southeastern Michigan than any other corporation since the organization was founded in 1949.

The company and United Way have collaborated to place countless Ford employees as volunteers in local nonprofit agencies, serve more than 1.1 million meals in metro Detroit through their Mobile Food Pantries program and build wheelchair ramps for dozens of local families, among other initiatives.

Ford has been a major presence in the metro Detroit community since the company was founded here more than 100 years ago, and Ford Fund – our philanthropic arm – has contributed significantly during the last 64 years since its founding. The company also works hand-in-hand on many charitable initiatives with its UAW partners.

Ford has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in nonprofit organizations and programs supporting education, community development, arts and culture. Its investment in Detroit during the past five years alone is roughly $60 million.

“Our One Ford team is dedicated to doing our part to build a better world, and that starts with the metro Detroit community where our company was founded,” Fields said. “We look forward to supporting United Way’s efforts by raising funds to support education, boost financial self-sufficiency and reduce hunger for those in need.”

Ford COO Mark Fields Named 2013-2014 Campaign Chair for United Way for Southeastern Michigan

United Way for Southeastern Michigan President and CEO Michael J. Brennan thanked Ford for its support.

“We are now looking ahead to the coming year and thank incoming Campaign Chair Mark Fields for agreeing to carry the torch forward with a visionary approach to meeting our next annual goal,” Brennan said. “We are grateful for his enthusiasm for and dedication to United Way’s mission.”

The United Way Worldwide on Thursday honored General Motors with its Summit Award for making a difference in Metro Detroit and communities across the United States, particularly in the area of education.

The philanthropy award recognized GM employees’ contributions of more than $5.8 million through the United Way campaign, as well as the GM Foundation’s transformative $27.1 million grant to United Way of Southeastern Michigan to create a “Network of Excellence” within seven Metro Detroit high schools. Its goal is to increase graduation rates from 50 percent to 80 percent over five years. Attendance rates at all seven schools improved last year — an early indicator for improved graduation rates.

Also noted was the nearly 1,200 hours the company’s teamGM Cares volunteers served within the Network of Excellence schools in 2012.

“General Motors and the GM Foundation have made a tremendous commitment to education and ensuring that all people are given the tools they need to be successful in life” said Brian Gallagher, United Way Worldwide president and CEO.

More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at: http://www.gm.com.

For more information, visit: www.gm.com/gmfoundation.

KVD Charity Classic Set For June 10th, 2013

The event will benefit Living for the City, the Detroit Lions philanthropic initiative and youth and conservation efforts supported by the Kevin VanDam Foundation.

Kevin VanDam is one of the most recognized and accomplished outdoor athletes.  He has won the Angler of the Year award seven times and is a four-time Bassmaster Classic Champion. The Lions and VanDam have partnered to create this unique fishing tournament to not only fish with your favorite Lions’ players, but also have the opportunity to fish with other professional anglers.

Join the Tigers for Detroit Dog Rescue and Firefighters Events at Comerica Park

Detroit Dog Rescue Night will take place on Wednesday, April 24^th as the Tigers host the Kansas City Royals at 7:08 p.m. Firefighters Night will take place on Monday, May 13^th as the Tigers host the Houston Astros at 7:08 p.m.

Detroit Dog Rescue Ticket Package - Wednesday, April 24^th at 7:08 p.m. vs. Kansas City Royals
Join the Detroit Tigers as they go to bat for the dogs of Detroit! A portion of each package will support the Detroit Dog Rescue. The package priced at $29 includes an Upper Box Infield Ticket, a $5 donation to Detroit Dog Rescue and a Detroit Tigers dog bandana. Tickets can be purchased at www.tigers.com/dog through April 9th.

Firefighters Ticket Package - Monday, May 13^th at 7:08 p.m. vs. Houston Astros
Support America’s Bravest by purchasing this special ticket package. A portion of each package will support the Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The package priced at $40 includes an Upper Box Infield ticket, food voucher, a $10 donation to the Fallen Firefighters Foundation and a ‘Firefighters in the D’ T-Shirt. Tickets can be purchased at www.tigers.com/firefighters through April 12^th

CHICAGO, IL — Chicagoland area landmarks and retailers will illuminate with special blue lights on the evening of Tuesday, April 2, 2013 in support of Autism Speaks global 4th Annual Light It Up Blue campaign to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month.

Merchandise Mart illuminated with blue lights in support of Light it up Blue on Autism Awareness Day

They join a list of nearly 3,000 iconic structures, buildings and landmarks in more than 600 U.S. cities and 50 countries around the world that will shine a bright light on autism as a growing public health crisis. The Empire State Building in NYC, the Aspen Mountain in Colorado,Niagara Falls in Canada, Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and even the International Space Station will all join Autism Speaks in support of the millions of families affected by autism.

Throughout the month of April, residents can lend their additional support by getting involved in three key ways:

• Illuminate: Change your white bulbs to blue. Light up your home, business, school, place of worship or even your website blue to show your support.
• Donate: Text Autism to 25383 to donate $10 to Autism Speaks* or make a donation on LightItUpBlue.org.
• Advocate: Take action as we call on President Obama and Congress to develop and implement a comprehensive national plan to address autism. Sign a petition on LightItUpBlue.org.

The following buildings will participate in the Light It Up Blue campaign throughout the Chicagoland area:

Visit www.lightitupblue.org for more fun and creative ways that you can support your neighbors and friends.