The Gilbert Family Foundation in Detroit announced the hiring of Darnell Adams as its director of Detroit community initiatives, where he will oversee the organizations Detroit-based programming as part of its Building Opportunity and Equity pillar.
“Dan and I are honored to welcome Darnell to the Gilbert Family Foundation team. His experience, talents and dedication to Detroit will lead to unprecedented impacts across our community,” says Jennifer Gilbert, entrepreneur and co-founder of the Gilbert Family Foundation.
“Darnell leads by always asking questions first. His curiosity and empathy allow him to bridge gaps and connect residents to the resources they need, build community and grow access to equity and opportunity.”
Adams will oversee the deployment of $350 million in philanthropic investments, which is directly tied to the 10-year, $500 million joint commitment between the Gilbert Family Foundation and Rocket Community Fund announced by Dan and Jennifer Gilbert this past March.
“I am grateful for the trust placed in me by Dan and Jennifer Gilbert. Having the opportunity to work hand in hand with Detroiters – to be intentional, thoughtful and inclusive with the right partners and resources – has been a dream for me since I was a kid,” says Adams.
“Detroit is full of talented organizations and individuals that have been doing incredible work to keep this great city moving during its hardest times. I look forward to building upon the Foundation’s relationships with those partners to scale up their impact.”
In related news, the Detroit Tax Relief Fund, established by the foundation to eliminate the property taxes owed by an estimated 20,000 low-income homeowners who are eligible for the city’s Homeowners Property Tax Assistance Program (HPTAP), has paid back the property tax debt for 1,600 Detroiters.
An additional 3,250 homeowners are in the pipeline to have their back property tax burden addressed by the Detroit Tax Relief Fund. This cohort should see their taxes paid in full by the end of the year.
An additional 5,000 Detroit residents who called the Detroit Tax Relief Fund hotline have been referred for a property tax exemption through HPTAP.
If you are a Detroit homeowner struggling with your property taxes, you may be eligible for the Detroit Tax Relief Fund. Please call 313-244-0274 to learn more, or visit the Wayne Metro Property Tax Assistance page.
