Our inaugural gala celebrated 47 years of social impact and service to more than 10,000 people throughout Detroit annually. The gala was an extraordinary success, raising about $600,000, thanks to the generosity of over 70 different sponsors. About 500 people attended the sold-out event, which was emceed by Evrod Cassimy, Morning Anchor at WDIV Local 4.

At the event, we announced a $2.5M gift from the Sam L. and Judith G. Yaker Fund that will serve to revitalize and promote affordable homeownership in the Newberry neighborhood in southwest Detroit.

In addition, we presented our inaugural Clement Kern Awards for Social Impact to:

 

John Van Camp

President and CEO of Southwest Solutions, Retired

 

 

 

Nancy Schlichting

CEO of Henry Ford Health System, Retired

 

 

 

To view the Celebration of Impact program booklet, click here.

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Photos from the Celebration of Impact

There are three albums of photos from our Celebration of Impact event on our Flickr site:

• Step and repeat “red-carpet” photos

• Program photos

• Reception and after-party photos

In addition, two publications featured photo galleries about the event:

• Hour Detroit gallery

• DBusiness gallery

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Media about the event and Yaker Fund announcement

Verion Walker lives in one of the rental homes in the Newberry neighborhood that is being transitioned
to affordable homeownership. Verion is looking forward to owning the home.

Articles

• Detroit Free Press: Southwest Detroit program aims to turn renters into homeowners

• Crain’s Detroit Business: $2.5 million donation fuels affordable-homeownership project in Southwest Detroit

• Curbed Detroit: New program to turn renters into homeowners in Chadsey-Condon

• D Business: Southwest Solutions Receives $2.5M Gift to Renovate Homes in Detroit’s Newberry Neighborhood

• The Hub Detroit: $2.5 million gift from Yaker family will help revitalize Southwest Detroit neighborhood

• Detroit Free Press: Detroit’s neighborhoods need more help. But here’s the problem.

Videos

• The Impact of Southwest Solutions (produced by Quicken Loans)

• Messages from Mayor Duggan and Governor Snyder

 

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Our Sponsors

Founding Event Sponsor
Edward C. and Linda Dresner Levy Foundation

 

Neighborhood Entrepreneur Sponsor
Fifth Third Bank
Lear Corporation

 

Veterans’ Service and Honor Sponsor
MGM Grand Detroit

 

Homecoming Sponsor
Sam L. and Judith G. Yaker Fund

 

Community Wellness Sponsor
Walgreens Boots Alliance

 

Community Impact Sponsor
Behavioral Health Professionals, Inc.
JPMorgan Chase

 

VIP Table Sponsor
Beaumont
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Bridgewater Interiors
Marge Byington and LoPatin & Co.
Byzantine Holdings
Comcast
Corporate F.A.C.T.S.
Dickinson Wright PLLC
DTE Energy Foundation
Dykema
Flagstar Bank
Henry Ford Health System & Health Alliance Plan
Huntington National Bank
Terry and Seth Lloyd
Marsh & McLennan Agency
Masco Corporation Foundation
Mark Ryan McCarthy
PCE Systems
PNC Bank
Nancy Schlichting
Sophie Fierro-Share and Daniel Share
The Skillman Foundation
St. Mary Mercy Hospital Livonia

 

Table Sponsor
Arrow Office Supply
Brown & Brown of Detroit
Cinnaire
Comerica
Deloitte
Delta Dental
Detroit LISC
Lenhard Financial Services
Liberty Construction
Alice Mason and Bob O’Brien
Michigan State Housing Development Authority
O’Brien Construction
Plante Moran
Kate and Randy Safford
Shelter Design Studio
John Van Camp
Neal F. and Esther Zalenko

 

Friend of SWS Sponsor
American Legion Post 372
Lori and Brad Critchfield
Corktown Community Development Fund
Development Centers
Lorna Dieter
Droste Group
Linda Forte
Genoa Healthcare
The Guidance Center
Leeb Partners
Levine Benjamin Law Firm
Jeanne and Eugene F. LoVasco
Marathon Petroleum Company
Judges Laura and Milton Mack
Molina Healthcare
Mulder & Horan PLLC
Northeast Guidance Center
O’Connor Real Estate Development
Presbyterian Villages of Michigan
Prince Valley
Stephen C. Ragan
Martha and David Smydra
Thomas Group Consulting
The Waverly Group