As part of the Detroit Sports Commission Living Legacy Program, local non-profits and community organizations receive well in excess of $1 million dollars in both programming and direct grants from the Detroit Sports Commission and local partners, in conjunction with the 2024 NFL Draft Grants exceeding $200k will be awarded to grassroots, non-profit organizations across all seven districts of Detroit in collaboration with Detroit City Council Additional partners include the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, which is providing $290k in grants to 15 non-profit organizations in the Detroit region, and the Amazon Community Fund, which is providing $300k in grants to 12 local organizations GENYOUth, ALLTROO & NFL Flag-In-Schools will introduce programs in middle schools across Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties DETROIT, April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft presented by Bud Light, the Detroit Sports Commission (DSC) unveiled additional details and grant recipients as part of its unprecedented $1 million Living Legacy Initiative. In addition, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, Amazon, Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, the NFL, and other entities awarded grants to local community organizations. Announced in November 2023, the Detroit Sports Commission's $1 million Living Legacy Initiative is designed to promote youth literacy and sports, with a special emphasis on empowering girls in sports across Detroit and neighboring communities. This initiative was a pivotal component of the DSC's bid for the 2024 NFL Draft. The DSC has committed to integrating the Living Legacy Initiative into all future sporting events from the 2024 NFL Draft through the 2027 NCAA Men's Final Four at Ford Field, and beyond. Today, as a continuation of the Living Legacy Initiative, additional grants made possible by a host of generous donor partners were awarded to more than 30 local community organizations in a festive, draft-style format to announce the chosen "Draft Picks" or grant recipients. All recipients were presented with a specially branded Detroit Sports Commission 2024 jersey and hat, serving as a memento of their selection. All grant recipient organizations were afforded the opportunity to host a table in the event to showcase their mission and cause-related activities in the local community. "The Detroit Sports Commission – with support from Visit Detroit, Detroit City Council, and generous donors from the local civic, corporate and philanthropic community – is pleased to offer grants to organizations throughout Detroit's seven districts and the region," said Dave Beachnau, executive director of the Detroit Sports Commission. "Our Living Legacy Initiative was developed as a significant element of the successful bid for the NFL Draft, and today's announcements are the tangible delivery on the commitment made to the NFL and the Detroit community as we continue our efforts to infuse community support into locally-hosted sporting events beyond the NFL Draft." The Living Legacy Initiative would not be possible without donations from local civic, corporate and philanthropic community including: Visit Detroit; Michigan Economic Development Corporation; Rocket Mortgage; Flagstar Bank; General Motors; Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan; City of Windsor; Detroit Pistons; DTE Energy; Fifth Third Bank; Huntington National Bank; Ilitch Companies; Kaiser Enterprise; Knight Foundation; Meijer; Penske Corporation; PNC Bank; The Skillman Foundation; Tourism Windsor Essex; Walbridge and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. "Today's announcement by the Detroit Sports Commission is a culmination of nearly two years of extensive research and planning efforts by our Community Engagement Committee to identify local needs and gaps, define key pillars of support, identify local organizations that are doing great work in the area, and deliver a comprehensive grant distribution program focused on the seven districts of Detroit," said Faye Nelson, former Michigan director of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and co-chair of the Detroit Sports Commission Community Engagement Committee. The initiative's inaugural non-profit partners were selected by a committee of community leaders from ...