Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
The Rink at Royal Oak Returns for Second Season
The Rink at Royal Oak, which debuted last winter, will return for a second year at Centennial Commons in downtown Royal Oak on Nov. 17.
“The Rink at Royal Oak instantly became one of the best new holiday attractions in downtown Royal Oak,” says Michael Pesendorfer, CEO of M3 Investment Services. “During the first year, local residents and visitors from the surrounding communities came out to take advantage of skating in an outdoor rink making it one of the area’s favorite holiday traditions.
“It’s the perfect winter spot for families and friends to come together to celebrate the holiday season, as well as a special attraction that will encourage people to support downtown Royal Oak retailers and restaurants.”
The Rink at Royal Oak season opens Nov. 17-19, and feature opportunities for free skating, $1 hot chocolate, marshmallow kits, and more. On opening night, DJ Katalist will spin tunes to keep everyone entertained from 6-11 p.m.
On Nov. 18, New Edge Figure Skating Club will perform from 2-4:30 p.m. On Nov. 19, the Detroit Skating Club will perform from 2-4:30 p.m.
Skate Performance from
Admission to The Rink at Royal Oak is $10 on weekdays and $12 on weekends and skate rentals are $5. Tickets and skate rentals may be purchased on-site. They are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. The rink will be open daily through Feb. 19, 2024.
For more information, visit here.
Bank of America Awards $4.4M+ to Nonprofits in Metro Detroit
Bank of America recently celebrated its annual Day of Giving, connecting more than 100 employees with the bank’s community partners to volunteer with organizations helping to advance economic mobility and racial equality in Detroit.
The day also included a small business roundtable, a luncheon with bank teammates and partners and a special GIVE celebration event.
In 2023, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation Detroit Market awarded more than $4.4 million in community giving grants to 74 Metro Detroit area nonprofits. This year, Bank of America Corp. contributed more than $6.3 million in Michigan through grants, investments, sponsorships, and engagements.
These partnerships focus on ensuring individuals and families in Michigan have access to tools and resources improving economic mobility and essential services such as emergency shelter, affordable housing, access to food and financial education. Additionally, Bank of America employee volunteers spent more than 21,000 hours helping to strengthen local nonprofit partners.
“Our trusted community partners help businesses, individuals and families forge a path toward economic opportunity and stability,” says Matt Elliott, president of Bank of America Michigan. “Through our volunteers and grants, Bank of America is proud to stand with them to improve financial lives and the support people and programs devoted to building strong communities and neighborhoods in Detroit and throughout Michigan.”
Sanders Candy Declares November 13th National Sea Salt Caramel Day
Sanders Candy in Madison Heights has declared today the first National Sea Salt Caramel Day, which has been officially acknowledged by the National Day Archives.
“What a sweet day it is,” says Jennifer Bauer, chief marketing officer at Second Nature Brands, which owns Sanders. “We are thrilled to finally have a special day to celebrate Sea Salt Caramels, for the first time this year and ongoing every year, on Nov. 13. For decades, people have enjoyed and shared these perfectly balanced, delicious bites of heaven. Today, we can’t wait to celebrate National Sea Salt Caramel Day with you by together enjoying Sanders Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels.”
For more information, visit SandersCandy.com.
Opus IVS in Dexter Partners to Offer Collision Professionals a Platform for Diagnostics, Training
Opus IVS in Dexter has announced a partnership with National Coatings and Supplies Inc. and Collision Hub aimed at enhancing sales of the Opus IVS diagnostics/calibration solutions, training, and support services within the collision repair industry.
This collaboration unites the strengths of Opus IVS, NCS, and Collision Hub to offer collision repair professionals an integrated, comprehensive, and state-of-the-art platform for diagnostics, training, and support. One of the key aspects of this partnership involves Collision Hub providing continuous training to NCS’s sales team, who will serve as a valuable extension and partner for the Opus IVS suite of collision repair diagnostic solutions.
The collaboration will leverage the strengths of NCS, known for its solutions that enhance repair shop efficiency and profitability.
As part of the partnership, Collision Hub will take a lead role in training NCS’s sales team, ensuring they are well-versed in the Opus IVS suite of collision repair diagnostic solutions. This collaboration will enable NCS to effectively represent Opus IVS and provide tailored guidance to collision repair professionals.
PRSA Detroit to Induct Mark Winter into its Hall of Fame
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Detroit’s annual meeting, which takes place tomorrow in Southfield, is honoring the achievements of local public relations (PR) professionals and inducting Mark Winter, president and founding partner at Identity PR, into its hall of fame.
Other PR pros being honored include:
· Jeff Adkins, senior public relations specialist at Henry Ford Health, The Robert Hefty Distinguished Service Award.
· Michelle Gilbert, vice president of PR at Comcast, The Nancy Skidmore Distinguished Service Award.
Two PR students: Leona Falconer from Central Michigan University, and Holly Lalicata from the University of Michigan-Dearborn, are this year’s Donald P. Durocher Memorial Scholarship recipients.
The Chapter also is honoring newly accredited APR members, Suzanne Miller Allen, APR, senior director, community responsibility and social mission at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; Tammy Battaglia, APR, communications & media relations manager at Detroit Medical Center & Children’s Hospital of Michigan; Ray Day, APR, vice chair at Stagwell; and Michelle Franzen Martin, APR, manager, system and community PR at Corewell Health. Additionally, Cydney Foster, Chapter intern, will be celebrated for her excellent work throughout the year.
The 2024 PRSA Detroit Board and officers also are being formally elected, with the passing of the gavel from Maribeth Farkas, 2023 president, to TaQuinda Johnson, the Chapter’s 2024 president. Notably, PRSA Detroit 2024 executive officers include Vice President Megan Bonelli, treasurer Antonice Strickland, and Secretary Jeff Adkins.
For information about joining PRSA Detroit and upcoming events, visit prsadetroit.org.
The Henry Ford Hosting Nelson Mandela’s Longtime Friend Christo Brand
The Henry Ford in Dearborn and the City of Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship (ACE) today are hosting a panel discussion — “Nelson Mandela: Leadership Lessons for Today” — a panel discussion with Christo Brand and Andrew Russell.
The event is in conjunction with Mandela: The Official Exhibition.
Brand is a South African author and former prison guard of Robben Island Prison. Beginning his tenure at Robben Island in 1978 at 19 years old, Brand was responsible for guarding Nelson Mandela during his lifetime sentence. In 1982, Brand was transferred along with Mandela to Pollsmoor Prison where the pair developed a close friendship over the course of many years. Brand is the co-author of his book “Doing Life with Mandela – My Prisoner, My Friend” (2014).
Russell is a South African storyteller and leadership coach, along with Christo Brand’s manager and editor. Russell authored and published; “The Leadership We Need – Lessons for Today from Nelson Mandela” in October.
“This collaboration with The Henry Ford aligns with the City’s mission to ensure that Detroiters have access to all opportunities to experience arts and culture, wherever they are,” says Rochelle Riley, director of ACE. “Because of Nelson Mandela’s unique connection to Detroit and his visit here in 1990, this exhibit will give Detroiters a tangible re-connection to the extraordinary life of a global icon.”
For more information, please visit thehenryford.org.
ACG Detroit to Host ‘Surviving & Thriving: Crisis Management in the Age of Cancel Culture’
ACG Detroit will host “Surviving & Thriving: Crisis Management in the Age of Cancel Culture” from 8-10 a.m. Nov. 15 at the Birmingham Community House.
Carrie Schochet, founder and CEO of Purple Squirrel Advisors, will be joined by two-time TEDx speaker and best-selling author Evan Nierman, founder and CEO of Red Banyan, to discuss how businesses and personal brands can arm themselves with the knowledge and strategies to fight the tides of cancel culture and online crises.
Ticket prices are as follows—members: $65, non-members: $85. For more information and to register, visit here.
Eastern Michigan University Leads Group Distributing 1,000+ Thanksgiving Meals
Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, the Hundley Foundation, Chartwells, and Golden Limo are hosting the second Thankful for You event Nov. 16 at the George Gervin GameAbove Center on the school’s West Campus.
“Eastern Michigan University is honored to team up with the Hundley Foundation, Chartwells, and Golden Limousine to host an event that gives back to the Ypsilanti community and our students, who are at the heart of our campus,” says James Smith, president of EMU. “We are thankful for the volunteers and hosts who donated their time and resources to make this event happen.”
The two-part event starts at 11:30 a.m. with a Thankful Meals to Go giveaway followed by a sit-down meal for community members at 4 p.m., both at the center.
Community members can choose from two free meal options. During the drive-through event, university and Hundley Foundation officials, EMU athletics, the university mascot Swoop, and volunteers will provide meal kits serving up to six people with traditional staples alongside a combination of frozen turkeys, ham, and pies for easy reheating.
The 4 p.m. meal will feature brown sugar glazed ham, classic stuffing, and cranberry relish. The event also will showcase a band performance. Additionally, on the same day, a campus event is planned for EMU students, staff, and faculty, with holiday fixings, a canned food drive, interactive sustainability crafts, and more.
For more information, including free shuttle service details to and from the George Gervin GameAbove Center, visit here.
Central Michigan University Selects Regent Education to Automate Financial Aid
Central Michigan University in Mt. Pleasant has selected the Maryland-based Regent Award Suite from Regent Education to help it automate and streamline the financial aid process.
“Ensuring that students can access messages in many ways is important,” says Sarah Kasabian-Larson, director of scholarships and financial aid at CMU. “We’ll still email them, but the message will also be accessible from inside their portal, and they’ll also be able to message us with questions. That’s the kind of experience they’re used to.”
Regent Education’s suite of cloud-based financial aid solutions will enable CMU to automate, customize, and accelerate deployment of the financial aid lifecycle so it can provide the support students need, when they need it.
Integration across student, financial aid, CRM, and advising data will allow CMU staff to deliver even better support for students across the recruiting, admissions, and enrollment process. Key capabilities including electronic signatures and Smart Forms that guide students to complete missing items will improve efficiency and reduce errors.
Community Foundation Announces Michigan Central/Church Street Fund Microgrants
The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has approved a second round of microgrants from the Michigan Central/Church Street Fund to support organizations that strengthen the Detroit’s Corktown, North Corktown, and Hubbard Richard neighborhoods.
The 2023 microgrants will promote neighborhood improvement activities on issues including arts and culture, community and economic development, and environment and public spaces. Supported projects this year include street-level beautification efforts, environmental solutions to stormwater impacts, expanding a fund for minor home repairs, and theater pieces inspired by neighborhood murals.
The Michigan Central/Church Street Fund, which the Community Foundation manages, will continue to invest in community projects as the area grows and develops. The endowed fund’s value is expected to increase over time, providing support in perpetuity through microgrants totaling approximately $35,000 to $40,000 each year.
“It’s critical that residents in Corktown, North Corktown, and Hubbard Richard have a voice in how their neighborhoods develop,” says Richard (Ric) DeVore, president and CEO of the Community Foundation. “That’s why this year’s grantmaking from the Michigan Central/Church Street Fund is designed to ensure local nonprofits have the support they need to shape the future of their communities as they see fit.”
The Michigan Central Community Impact Fund was initiated with a $750,000 contribution from Ford Motor Co. Anchored by the redevelopment of Detroit’s iconic train station, Michigan Central is building an epicenter of innovation at the intersection of mobility and society.
Separately, developer Oxford Perennial provided an additional $100,000 to support community organizations in the area, establishing the Church Street Fund. It has a narrower geographic focus but will make grants through the same process as the Michigan Central Community Impact Fund.
The combined Michigan Central/Church Street Fund was created in response to requests from Neighborhood Advisory Councils during the Community Benefits Ordinance process for both the Michigan Central and Oxford Perennial developments. The city of Detroit ordinance requires development projects that meet certain thresholds and utilize public incentives to seek resident input and provide community benefits to impacted areas.
Throughout the 2023 grant cycle, the Community Foundation participated in meetings to engage and involve the community in the Michigan Central/Church Street Fund grantmaking process. Grants totaling $40,000 were awarded to the following recipients:
- Mexicantown Community Development Corp. ($10,000)
- Peter’s Episcopal Church ($10,000)
- North Corktown Neighborhood Association ($10,000)
- Matrix Theatre Company Inc. ($10,000)
For more information, visit here.
