Detroit Pistons Community Relations
The Detroit Pistons Community Relations department is committed to building positive relationships in southeastern Michigan in order to promote corporate and philanthropic growth. Our goal is to make a difference in the lives of youth and families through programs and activities which promote respect, teamwork, excellence, and integrity.
Since the department's inception in 1989, the staff has developed and implemented a number of programs that address specific community needs, especially those affecting youth. By providing opportunities for young people to build self-esteem, develop leadership skills, and learn the importance of cooperation, we equip them with the skills needed to make the right choices and help ensure a better future for our youth, our community, and our world.
READ TO ACHIEVE
The Detroit Pistons will unveil a new initiative this season called Read To Achieve. The mission of the program is to promote the value of reading and on-line literacy and to encourage families and adults to read regularly with young children. Read To Achieve will serve as our primary community activity as the metro Detroit community will unite to address one of the most pressing issues our society faces - reading literacy.
The program was introduced during a march celebrating school being back in session this past August at Franklin Elementary School in Pontiac. Over 350 kids joined Jerry Stackhouse and Michael Curry in a five-block march, culminating in a school rally and classroom visits from the players, our team mascot, Hooper and the Pistons dance team, Automotion.
The Pistons will also recruit a Reading All-Star Team to assist in our effort to promote Read To Achieve. Over forty metro Detroit community leaders, government officials, celebrities and media personalities will join Pistons players, coaches, trainers and front-office staff for the Pistons Reading All-Star Team. Members will conduct read-alouds with children, serve as volunteer reading coaches and take part in on-line chats.
Read To Achieve will be officially launched during NBA "Read To Achieve Week" in October with a special kick-off event at the Palace. Members of the Pistons Reading All-Star Team will run youngsters through a series of stations that include storytelling and mini-book making sessions. The Pistons will also team with several school districts in the area to conduct ongoing storytelling visits from our Reading All-Star Team, reading contests and on-line chats. Several book drives will take place throughout the season to assist in providing new or gently used books to worthy recipients.
PISTONS-PALACE FOUNDATION
The Pistons-Palace Foundation continues to devote resources to better the Detroit community each year. It's major endeavor - the PARK Program, which was developed in 1994 during an informal meeting between Pistons owner William Davidson and Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, continues to provide clean and safe play areas for Detroit's youth in an effort to provide positive recreational activities. While the initial project was completed in 1999, the PARK Program Maintenance Endowment Fund has been established to ensure the long-term upkeep of the parks. Approximately $2,500-$3,000 per year will be available to the PARK Program advisory committee at each of the 33 parks. In addition to its effort with the PARK Program, the Pistons-Palace Foundation continues to help the less fortunate during the holiday season each year by delivering food baskets, visiting senior citizens and presenting gift baskets to women in domestic violence shelters.
HOLIDAY BASKET DISTRIBUTION
The Pistons-Palace Foundation teams up with Pistons players and coaches each year to coordinate a Holiday Basket Distribution that provides food and toys to disadvantaged families during the holiday season. Last season the club partnered with The Lighthouse of Oakland County to provide food baskets and toys to disadvantaged families in Pontiac. Since 1992, Pistons players and coaches have donated more than $36,000 to provide more than 400 toys and 180 baskets to disadvantaged families from Auburn Hills, Clarkston, Davisburg, Detroit, Pontiac, and Waterford. Last season, Detroit Piston, Michael Curry, hosted his annual holiday canned food drive and toy exchange where children receive a free toy in exchange for a canned food item.
FANNIE MAE FOUNDATION - HOME TEAM PROJECT
Since October of 1998, the Fannie Mae Foundation and the Detroit Pistons have been working together to revitalize inner-city neighborhoods and provide home-buying information to help more Americans achieve the dream of homeownership. One major element of the partnership is working with a local nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing housing to lower-income families and first-time homebuyers. Each year the Pistons and the Foundation host two Workdays. Last season, Mike Curry, Brian Cardinal, Chucky Atkins, Mikki Moore and Ben Wallace contributed to the cause. In addition to the Workdays, the Pistons conducted an on-line auction of autographed memorabilia and "experience items." The $15,000 that was raised from this auction was donated to the local nonprofit organization in charge of managing these Detroit-area rehabilitation projects.
AMERICAN DIABETES ASSOCIATION SCHOOL WALK
Detroit Pistons guard Jerry Stackhouse is assisting the American Diabetes Association with the School Walk campaign. Last year, 15 schools in Michigan participated in the event raising more than $35,000 in donations as 4,000 students were involved in the fight for diabetes. The program emphasizes to young people the seriousness of diabetes, the importance of physical activity and good nutrition throughout their lives and the value of helping others.
BIKES FOR KIDS
Domino's Pizza and the Detroit Pistons collaborate with Variety, The Children's Charity to support the Bikes for Kids program. Four deserving students from over 200 schools will be chosen by their principal to be prize recipients based upon criteria that Variety has established. The criteria consists of the student doing something to help better themselves and to help others. Two of the four students chosen from each school will receive a bike and four tickets to a Detroit Pistons regular-season home game, while the other students chosen will also receive four tickets to a future Pistons home game. A Bikes for Kids radio-a-thon is being held on November 14 and 15 with a celebration party following the conclusion of the event. Many valuable items will be auctioned off, including autographed memorabilia from the Detroit Pistons and other NBA teams.
FIT KIDS, HEALTHY FUTURE
Fifteen Michigan elementary schools will win a chance to host a Fit Kids, Healthy Future program brought to schools free of charge by the Detroit Pistons and Care Choices, a leading healthcare plan in Michigan. Coach Steve Moreland and Pistons' mascot Hooper present the program. Moreland uses an interactive and participatory method to reinforce five main healthy tips: staying fit, eating right, using proper safety equipment, playing together and including others, and focusing on goals and aspirations.
PISTONS WOMEN'S COMMITTEE
The Pistons Women's Committee spends countless time and energy throughout the season to help in the community. Last season members of the Pistons Women's committee led a toy drive which placed close to 2,000 toys in the hands of needy children in the metro Detroit area. This season, a number of new projects are planned throughout the holiday season and into the new year.
CHARITABLE DONATION PROGRAM
The Pistons support the community through donations of tickets and team merchandise. Thousands of individuals from local community organizations and schools will attend Pistons games through ticket donations from the Pistons Community Relations Department and the Pistons-Palace Foundation. In addition, autographed team merchandise and other team items will be donated this season to registered non-profits throughout Michigan.
Piston players also reached out to non-profits in Michigan by donating over 2500 tickets last season. Jerry Stackhouse and Mateen Cleaves provided 25 tickets for every home game to deserving young people and various community organizations.
For more information on any of these programs, contact Jessica Guyor, Director of Community Relations, at (248) 371-2034.
