Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies, including updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
Fair Lane Launches 2022 Bronco Sweepstakes Fundraiser
Fair Lane: Home of Clara & Henry Ford in Dearborn has launched a fundraising sweepstakes giving participants a chance to win a 2022 Bronco Raptor painted in Area 51 Blue.
The newest member of the Bronco outdoor brand of Built Wild SUVs is the most powerful street-legal Bronco ever and the world’s first Ultra4 Racing-inspired SUV. Ford Performance, the same team that produces the F-150 Raptor, designed and engineered Bronco Raptor.
Bronco Raptor is equipped with elite off-road technology and hardware. Ultra4 Racing is the epitome of grueling off-road competition, featuring demanding races such as the famed King of the Hammers in California’s Johnson Valley.
“Raptor is the apex of our off-road lineup and is now a full lineup with race-proven content and design that you can’t get from anyone else,” says Jim Farley, CEO of Ford Motor Co. “Only Ford could create a Bronco Raptor.”
Due to high demand, the 2022 is no longer available for retail order but sweepstakes participants have a chance to win this one while supporting Fair Lane. All proceeds from the sweepstakes will go to the restoration and re-imagination of the National Historic Landmark.
For more information and to enter the sweepstakes, visit here.
WirelessCar in Detroit Expands Connected Vehicle Services with Android Applications
WirelessCar, a Detroit-based connected car services provider, announced an expansion of applications built on the Android Automotive Operating System (Android Auto OS), paving the way for automakers to develop new digital services for their customers in a fraction of the traditional development time.
Starting this spring, WirelessCar is featuring these new applications globally in cars from Polestar, the Sweden-based premium electric vehicle manufacturer.
Automakers currently are locked into long development cycles. It can take 12 to 24 months to bring hardware, software, and new in-vehicle logic to market. Using WirelessCar’s new Android Auto OS applications, automakers will be able to offer new connected car services with little or no lead time and dramatically reduced expense. It also will be easier to update in-vehicle apps with over-the-air updates, according to the company.
One of WirelessCar’s new applications, Journey Log, collates and tracks details about each ride taken in a vehicle, securely storing the data in the WirelessCar cloud. This application benefits consumers and businesses who need to track mileage and energy consumption and allows for the categorization of trips. The service also can be extended for Usage Based Insurance (UBI) applications.
Another new WirelessCar Android Auto OS application for larger businesses gathers this same kind of trip information for fleets, such as rental car companies. Fleet owners will be able to monitor the usage and availability of fleet vehicles in real time and on a system level. For example, they’ll be able to get alerts based on the number of hours each vehicle is used or when it goes out of specified geographical boundaries.
“Automakers will be one of the big winners with WirelessCar’s next-generation technology,” says Niklas Florén, CEO of WirelessCar. “Car companies using WirelessCar’s applications will be able to analyze real-world vehicle data that will drive better decisions about features and engineering.”
Movie Nights in the D Returns to Campus Martius Tonight
Starting tonight, the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) is bringing back Movie Nights in the D, a free outdoor movie series featuring beloved films on the big screen at Campus Martius Park every Thursday through August.
Families and friends are welcome to bring a chair or blanket to spread out on the lawn for a relaxing, entertaining summer evening under the stars in the downtown Detroit park. They also can purchase popcorn from Nikki’s Unique Treats, as well as cocktails from Parc and pop from Faygo.
The season kicks off tonight with a showing of “Jurassic Park,” the 1993 American science fiction action film directed by Steven Spielberg. Moviegoers are encouraged to arrive early for goodies and free giveaways and a sneak peek at the trailer for the new “Jurassic World Domination” movie hitting theaters Friday. Two lucky fans will receive a VIP movie swag bag courtesy of DDP, NBC Universal, and Capital One Café.
For a full schedule of movies to be shown this summer, visit here. Campus Martius Park is located at 800 Woodward Ave. in downtown Detroit.
Prime + Proper in Detroit Offering Grill Kits, Meats to Go for Father’s Day
Detroit steakhouse Prime + Proper is offering pre-packaged grill kits from its butcher shop to help customers celebrate Father’s Day.
The kits, which can be ordered here through June 20 “are perfect for any size gathering,” according to the restaurant.
All grill kits and meat selections can be picked up daily from Prime + Proper, anytime between 3-8 p.m. Customers may get their orders inside the restaurant or call ahead for curbside delivery. All kits will include recommended temperatures, grilling instructions, and seasonings.
Available kits include:
Burger + Links Grilling Kit ($100) — Four dry-aged burgers ground in-house daily, four, quarter-pound Wagyu Dogs, eight house-baked buns, aged Cheddar, zip mayo, French onions, and Jacobson’s sea salt.
Large-Format Steak Grilling Kit ($250) — One 40-ounce tomahawk ribeye steak, one 32-ounce Porterhouse steak, each USDA Prime and 28-day dry-aged, four ounces of beef fat for grilling, and Jacobson’s sea salt.
Steak Grilling Kit ($250) — Two eight-ounce filets, two 20-ounce ribeyes, two 16-ounce New York strips, (all USDA prime and dry aged), beef fat for grilling, and Jacobson’s sea salt.
World of Wagyu ($400) — One six-ounce block cut Miyazaki, one six-ounce snow beef strip loin, one six-ounce Australian 9+ BMS, and Jacobson’s sea salt.
Fill The Icebox ($600) — Eight dry-aged burgers ground fresh daily, eight, quarter-pound Wagyu Dogs, four eight-ounce USDA prime filets, four 20-ounce dry-aged ribeyes, four 16-ounce dry-aged New York strip, 16 house-baked buns, and Jacobson’s sea salt.
JVS + Kadima Planning 25th Anniversary of Strictly Business Fundraising Event June 22
The 25th annual JVS + Human Services Strictly Business fundraising event will return to an in-person networking and awards luncheon at 11 a.m. on June 22 at the Westin Book Cadillac in Detroit.
Keynote speaker and honorary chair is Jason Raznick, the founder and CEO of Benzinga, a Detroit-based news and analysis service that focuses on global financial markets. The event also will include an announcement about the new name for the recently merged JVS Human Services and Kadima.
Over the last 25 years, nearly $6 million has been raised through Strictly Business, with funds used to help more than 12,000 metro Detroiters each year who are unemployed and underemployed. This includes support to people living with disabilities, older job seekers, and those with other barriers to employment.
Information on the event, sponsorship opportunities, and ticket sales are available here.
Japhet School in Clawson Collecting Donations for Ukrainian Children
The Japhet School Community in Clawson recently stepped forward to send aid to Ukrainian children as part of a drive through the Ukrainian American Crisis Response Committee of Michigan.
“Children are fleeing Ukraine and arriving in nearby countries with absolutely nothing,” says Kerri Vizena, head of the school. “This is a tangible way for our Japhet School students to see how their generosity and giving can help others who are in need.
“Giving and serving others is at the heart of Japhet. We see it daily with our children being receptive to the needs of others. As we focused on our character quality Respect for Others, it will be even more apparent the many ways that we express this particular character quality.”
Japhet received donations via collection boxes at the school, as well as gifts that came in through Amazon Smile, and nearly $400 in monetary donations that helped to purchase the needed items. Nineteen packed boxes of supplies were donated to help Ukrainian refugee children.
Preschool families donated 2,007 diapers in 11 large boxes. Kindergarten families donated 169 coloring books, 160 boxes of crayons, and 107 boxes of washable markers. Lower elementary families donated more than 300 basic first aid supplies and hygiene supplies to make 144 small personal hygiene kits. Upper elementary families and staff donated 87 stuffed animals and middle school families donated 82 fleece blankets.
Vizena sent out the call for donations to the Japhet School community after learning that J9 Media Solutions, Japhet School’s communications and marketing firm, has a direct connection to Ukraine. Janine Krasicky Sadaj, president of J9 Media, is of Ukrainian descent. She has helped the Tell the Truth campaign, led by 100 communicators in Ukraine, which has connected journalists with people on the ground in Ukraine to provide them with accurate information. This helps to ensure journalists have access to truthful, undistorted content so the voices of Ukraine’s people are heard. She also volunteers with the Ukrainian American Crisis Response Committee of Michigan and arranged for a webinar with Ukrainian journalists for the Detroit Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Uncork for a Cure to Take Place Oct. 22 at M1 Concourse
The Dynami Foundation, which raises funds for scientific research, education, and patient support surrounding breast cancer, has announced that the seventh annual Uncork for a Cure will take place Oct. 22 at M1 Concourse in Pontiac.
The event will feature award-winning chefs, world-class wines, art, live music, cars, a silent auction, and more.
To date, the event has raised more than $1 million and Dynami Foundation continues to advance the fight against breast cancer, specifically Lobular breast cancer research, which accounts for 15 percent of all breast cancers yet only 1 percent of research funding is directed to this common subtype.
“This summer marks my 10th year being breast cancer free and I’m even more energized to help local women in need through Uncork for a Cure,” says founder Flora Migyanka. “I’m so thankful for our partners, chefs, and supporters who have helped us along our journey. Our fundraising efforts are just getting started.”
With a new location comes elevated guest experiences including a champagne lounge hosted by Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton as well as track rides through the M1 Concourse and boutique shopping. A number of Detroit’s award-winning restaurants will be making their return including James Rigato of Mabel Gray, Sarah Welch of Marrow, John Vermiglio, and Joe Giacomino of Grey Ghost and the soon-to-open Basan, Anthony Lombardo of SheWolf, and more. The event’s dishes will be hand-paired with wines chosen by Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon of Plum Market.
Tickets for this year’s Uncork for a Cure will be available starting Sept. 1. Sponsorship packages are available by emailing info@uncorkforacure.org.
