Here is a roundup of the latest news concerning the COVID-19 pandemic in addition to announcements from local, state, and federal governments, as well as international channels. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Kohl’s Donates $100K to Gleaners, $5M to 100+ Nonprofits Nationwide
Wisconsin-based Kohl’s, which has 21 retail locations in metro Detroit, has donated $5 million in grants to more than 100 nonprofit organizations across the country, including a $100,000 donation to Detroit’s Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan.
The Kohl’s grant will provide support for Gleaners’ emergency mobile distributions launched in March at the beginning of COVID.
Through Kohl’s A Community with Heart program, Kohl’s associates nationwide nominated and identified local nonprofits that make a difference for families in their communities to be surprised with a grant from Kohl’s. The donations are made possible through Kohl’s philanthropic merchandise program, Kohl’s Cares, which sells children’s books and toys and donates 100 percent of the profit to charitable organizations that improve the health and wellness of families.
“We know that this year has been challenging for so many, including the nonprofit organizations all across the country that serve their local communities, and this holiday season we are honored to be able to celebrate those that give with all their heart,” says Greg Revelle, chief marketing officer at Kohl’s. “We’re proud of our Kohl’s associates and their commitment to the communities they serve and thank them for their many efforts to inspire and empower families by giving back.”
More than 100 nonprofits across 49 states will receive grants ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. Benefiting organizations include local chapters of Alliance for a Healthier Generation, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Health, and National Park Foundation, as well as local hospitals and food banks across the country.
Rainbow Push to Convene Global Automotive Virtual Summit
The automotive industry will pause during the pandemic to discuss the status of the industry through a diversity lens at the 21st Annual Rainbow Push Global Automotive Summit, an initiative of Citizenship Education Fund on Dec. 2 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The theme of the summit, “Moving the Economic Needle Towards Equality,” will focus on the segue to equal opportunities for African American suppliers, dealers, and professionals. Experts will provide the virtual attendees with real-time data that will prepare businesses with opportunities in the automotive industry.
More than 1,000 automotive executives, entrepreneurs, suppliers, dealers, manufacturers, government officials, and consumers are expected to participate virtually.
This year’s summit will include opening remarks by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, president and founder of Rainbow Push.
For more information, visit here. To register for the summit, visit here.
Walmart Foundation Grants $3M to National 4H Council
The Walmart Foundation has awarded a $3 million grant to the National 4-H Council to help reach more than 269,000 youth, families, 4-H professionals and volunteers across the country with essential nutrition education through the 4-H Healthy Habits program.
The program focuses on rural and underserved communities in 28 states including Michigan to leverage youth – and their voices – as catalysts to build healthier lifestyles with education and activities in nutrition, wellness, cooking skills, physical activity, and budgeting.
Since 2012, funding from the Walmart Foundation has helped 4-H equip more than 1.25 million young people with the skills to make healthy food choices. This year, as communities across the country continue to navigate the impacts of COVID-19, the 4-H Healthy Habits program is evolving to help bridge the opportunity gap and ensure all youth have access to the resources they need to continue learning important health and nutrition skills when in-person learning is not possible. Through the 4-H at Home digital platform, diverse youth and families will have access to engaging activities and resources to increase knowledge of nutrition and improve eating behaviors.
“In 4-H, we believe in the power of young people and the key role they can play in creating a more promising and equitable future,” says Jennifer Sirangelo, president and CEO, of the National 4-H Council. “Thanks to continued support from the Walmart Foundation, we can help ensure that even more young people have equal access to opportunities to not only know how to eat right, but also have the confidence and skills to face life’s challenges.”
4-H Healthy Habits uses a multi-pronged approach to strategically leverage resources of the Cooperative Extension system to address food access, nutrition and health equity for underserved youth and families. Healthy Habits utilizes university-backed, evidence-based, impactful programs, local partnerships and national influencer engagements designed to reach diverse audiences, sustainability plans that impact underserved youth and their families and professional development opportunities for 4-H professionals, with the end goal to improve health equity across the country.
“Building healthy eating behaviors early on is key to building healthy communities,” says Eileen Hyde, director of food systems and food access for Walmart.org. “The Healthy Habits program does an excellent job of empowering youth in underserved populations, and we’re proud to support this work.”
Adrian Peterson Teams with The Athletes’ Corner to Provide 100K Meals to Families
Detroit Lions running back Adrian Peterson, The Athletes’ Corner, and the A&A Peterson Family Foundation Tuesday will present a check to Feeding America to cover 100,000 meals as part of its All Day Holiday Meals Campaign.
During November, the two organizations already have helped provide 6,000 meals to Gleaners Community Food Bank in Detroit with the help of Feeding America.
As part of the program, Peterson wore a custom pair of “fighting hunger” themed cleats during the Lions’ Thanksgiving Day game against the Houston Texans. The cleats featured four specific phrases as well as a cartoon of the running back carrying meals instead of a football.
“Playing on Thanksgiving Day is an honor, knowing that millions of people are choosing to welcome you into their home and share their holiday with you,” Peterson says. “I hope that this year I can use the national spotlight to draw attention to the millions of hungry families across this country that need our help.”
For more information, visit here.
Partnership Raised $700K to Help Feed 2M Families Over Thanksgiving Day Weekend
Michigan-based High Life Farms, the Celani Family Foundation, and Hunger Free in the D partnered to raise $700,000 to help feed more than 2 million Detroit-area families over the Thanksgiving Day holiday weekend.
High Life Farms and the Celani Family Foundation donated $250,000 to the cause.
“We couldn’t think of a better organization than Hunger Free in the D to partner with on this incredible effort,” says Ben Celani, co-founder of High Life Farms and The Celani Family Foundation. “The funds donated to Hunger Free in the D will help feed 2 million families throughout the Detroit area and support all the critical work being done at Capuchin Soup Kitchen and Gleaner’s Community Food Bank over the holiday weekend. My family’s foundation is rooted in serving the underprivileged and less fortunate families in Detroit and surrounding metropolitan areas. We’re thrilled by our community’s incredibly generous response. We will continue to look for meaningful ways to help families meet their basic needs, particularly during a time when so many are struggling due to the ongoing pandemic.”
The Celani Family Foundation hosts two major events that directly benefit charitable organizations in the Detroit area. These events have raised more than $8 million in charitable donations to date.
For more information, visit here. To donate, visit here.
Detroit’s First Freestanding Community Birth Center to Open in 2021
With support from a $250,000 planning grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, in partnership with Michigan Public Health Institute, Birth Detroit is expected to open the first freestanding accredited birth center in the city of Detroit in 2021.
A birth center is a home-like place where midwives provide prenatal, birth, and postpartum care. The grant funds will support Birth Detroit’s work to engage community members while fulfilling its mission to midwife safe, quality, loving care through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
In October, Birth Detroit opened Birth Detroit Care, an easy-access clinic located at 16919 Prairie St., in partnership with Brilliant Detroit. The easy-access clinic provides critical pre and postnatal care and resources to birthing families in the community. The opening of the clinic comes at a time when Black women continue to experience racial disparities in maternal health. The easy-access clinic is supported by the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, and other generous donors.
“Birth centers are a critical part of an integrated health system,” says Leseliey Welch, co-founder of Birth Detroit. “Now more than ever, all birthing people should have access to a full range of safe birth options, and Birth Detroit is excited to be a vital contributor to this goal.”
Welch is also co-director of Birth Center Equity, a national initiative launched to make birth center care an option in every community, by growing and sustaining birth centers led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color.
One hundred percent of funds raised go to BIPOC birth centers, including Birth Detroit. Birth Center Equity will direct $250,000 to 25 BIPOC community birth centers this Giving Tuesday. Funds will support general operations, staffing, easy access perinatal support, continued expense of PPE, and capital campaign development.
For more information and to contribute, visit here.
