Crain's Detroit Business: Ilitch Charities for Children changes name, announces grants

By Sherri Begin

Ilitch Charities for Children Tuesday announced $50,000 in economic-development grants.

The charitable arm of companies owned by Michael and Marian Ilitch has also changed its name to Ilitch Charities to reflect its scope beyond programs that improve the lives of children in the areas of health, education and recreation.

Broadening the organization’s mission to include a focus on economic development “will allow us to address not only shorter-term needs, but support longer-term efforts that will result in increased jobs and an improved economy, which we believe attacks many social issues at the root,” said Christopher Ilitch, chairman of the charitable division, in a release.

“This approach, we believe, has the potential to cure problems, versus temporarily fixing them.”

At a Tuesday morning press conference, Ilitch announced grants of $25,000 each to Detroit Renaissance Foundation and to United Way for Southeastern Michigan.

The grant to Detroit Renaissance will support establishment of the Creative Economy Investment Fund, which will provide capital to entrepreneurs and small to midsize companies to help them establish and expand creative businesses.

The funding to United Way will support the 2-1-1 health and human services hotline.

Ilitch also announced Ilitch Charities’ inaugural golf outing scheduled for Aug. 25 and said the organization is seeking funding proposals from potential beneficiaries of the event.

The event, which will include participation from the Detroit Red Wings and the Detroit Tigers, will benefit up to three local, nonprofit organizations with a total of up to $300,000, Ilitch Charities said.

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