True to our philanthropic mission, we want to share with festival goers some of the great work being done across the city of Detroit.
A number of positive service projects will showcase their work in the “Oakaloosa Community Corridor,” a row of more than a dozen non-profit organizations that will be onsite to help spread awareness of their initiatives. We hope you’ll be inspired to get involved, too.
Detroit Sports Zone, Inc.
Founded in 2011, based on the vision of former Harlem Globetrotter Ernest “Wag” Wagner, Detroit Sports Zone, Inc. is committed to exposing youth, adults and older adults to sports, cultural arts, mentoring, life-skill development and character building activities. Detroit Sports Zone, Inc. is a State of Michigan non-profit organization and is a pending IRS/501c3 non-profit organization.
Historic Fort Wayne Coalition
The Historic Fort Wayne Coalition is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to preserving the history of Michigan men and women who served their country between 1845 and 1973 who either sent material to or personally passed through Historic Fort Wayne as a place of induction to United States military service. The coalition assists the Fort’s caretakers, the City of Detroit Recreation Department, with this effort in two major ways by presenting high quality events that provide ways for the public to enjoy Historic Fort Wayne and by helping in the efforts of preserving and restoring as much of the structures and facilities as possible on the Fort grounds.
Detroit Historical Society
The Detroit Historical Society educates and inspires our community and visitors by preserving and portraying our region’s shared history through dynamic exhibits and experiences. Since its founding in 1921, the Detroit Historical Society has been dedicated to ensuring that the history of our region is preserved so that current and future generations of metro Detroiters can better understand the people, places and events that helped shape our lives.
Detroit Recreation Department: Northwest Activities Center
The Detroit Recreation Department’s mission is to deliver the highest quality of service in the management of parks and leisure facilities, so that the City of Detroit is a place where children, families, and seniors can grow and flourish.
Jewish Federation
As the major instrument of Jewish philanthropy and engagement in the Detroit area, we are a community-driven organization committed to taking care of the needs of the Jewish People and building a vibrant Jewish future, in Metropolitan Detroit, in Israel and around the world.
Locally, the Federation supports a family of 18 social service agencies and Jewish schools across Metropolitan Detroit. Working with its global partners, Federation also impacts the lives of thousands of Jews throughout Israel, in the former Soviet Union, and in 60 countries around the world.
Defeat the Label
Defeat the Label is a locally created 501(c)(3) that strives to promote an inclusive, bully-free society free of social labels and pressures. We do this by engaging young people, parents, school districts and administrators with our anti-bullying curriculum, website, Facebook and Twitter. We engage young people with our weekly missions and celebrity ambassadors and offer social advocacy tools to help them take a stand and stop bullying in their schools.
The Heidelberg Project
The Heidelberg Project is a Detroit-based community organization designed to improve the lives of people and neighborhoods through art. Our mission is to inspire people to appreciate and use artistic expression to enrich their lives and to improve the social and economic health of their greater community.
United Way
United Way for Southeastern Michigan’s mission is “to mobilize the caring power of Detroit and Southeastern Michigan to improve communities and individual lives in measurable and lasting ways.” In other words, we engage people, communities, and organizations focused on meeting the needs of children and their families and creating the conditions necessary for success.
Detroit Artists Market
Founded in 1932, the Detroit Artists Market fosters a vibrant and distinctive artistic community in Detroit and Michigan by promoting, exhibiting and selling the work of emerging and established artists, through educational programming and art exhibitions, and by serving as a resource to all who seek to expand their knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of art.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity Detroit (Habitat Detroit) is a non-profit, ecumenical Christian-based, housing ministry that provides low-income, working families the opportunity to purchase modest, affordable housing in which to raise their families.
D:hive
The D:hive is a physical storefront and welcome center in Detroit’s Central Business District where you will find help with anything Detroit: places to LIVE, great WORK opportunities, ways to ENGAGE, and how to BUILD your business in the city.
Greening of Detroit
The Greening of Detroit is a well-established, nonprofit resource agency that partners with federal, state and local agencies, corporations and foundations to assist neighborhood groups, churches and schools in their efforts to improve the ecosystem in Detroit through tree planting projects, environmental education, urban agriculture, open space reclamation, vacant land management, and workforce development programs.
Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation
The Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation’s mission is to make a difference by creating life-changing opportunities for youth and their families. We are committed to meeting the needs of our community by providing quality, innovative and culturally appropriate programs and services, primarily in the southwest Detroit community.
313 Certified
313certified is the most convenient and personalized way to fund Detroit causes. Certified cards can be found at an array of locations around the city. Each card is worth a $1.00 donation to a Detroit cause of your choice. To redeem your donation, enter the unique code from the card into the 313certified.com website. Yes, it’s that easy.
Parade Company
The Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation was founded in 1982 for the purpose of staging and perpetuating America’s Thanksgiving Parade®, Michigan’s grandest and most cherished civic event. It is governed by key civic and corporate leaders representing the primary industrial, retail, automotive and institutional organizations that define the greater Detroit community. Their active involvement ensures that America’s Thanksgiving Parade® remains a vital part of metropolitan Detroit’s cultural community.
City Year
City Year’s mission is to build democracy through citizen service, civic leadership and social entrepreneurship. It is through service that we can demonstrate the power and idealism of young people, engage citizens to benefit the common good, and develop young leaders of the next generation.
City Year is wholly focused on fighting the national dropout crisis. We have committed to leverage the talent, energy and idealism of corps members to serve as tutors, mentors and role models in schools to help students stay on track – and get back on track – to graduate.