
With 150 days to go before the 2024 NFL Draft in the Motor City next April, the Detroit Sports Commission and Visit Detroit today announced two charity partners for the three-day event.
In addition, the two organizations along with the support of local donors from the civic, corporate, and philanthropic community, will make a $1 million living-legacy donation to support youth literacy and active play in the city and region.
The two nonprofit organizations are Beyond Basics and Project Play. Beyond Basics is a literacy organization that pairs students who have fallen behind in reading, writing, or word comprehension with a certified tutor. Over one hour a day, 90 percent of the students are back reading at their grade level or higher. The organization also provides art appreciation classes.
Project Play is an initiative of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan that encourages students to be active physically. The foundation has partnered with the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation and the Aspen Institute to help youth live healthier lives.
“The 2024 NFL Draft will highlight all that makes Detroit and southeast Michigan a great place to live, work, invest, and visit,” says Claude Molinari, president and CEO of Visit Detroit. “Visit Detroit is proud to partner with the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, local hotels, restaurants, and shops to create a best-in-class hospitality experience for visitors from touchdown to takeoff.”
In March 2022, the NFL announced that Detroit will host the 2024 NFL Draft in the areas around Campus Martius Park and Hart Plaza.
Besides the Super Bowl itself, the NFL Draft has evolved to become one of the most anticipated sports events of the year for tens of thousands of fans who will attend the three-day event and millions more watching and engaging around the world.
As part of the event, the NFL Draft Experience — the NFL’s interactive football theme park — will provide fans a free opportunity to take part in participatory games, enjoy interactive exhibits, musical performances, and autograph sessions, and take pictures with the Vince Lombardi Trophy. The Draft Experience will be open all three days of the event.