Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan and Detroit Auto Dealers Association Announce Largest Round of Grantmaking in DADA Chartiable Foundation Fund’s History

More than $534,000 Granted to 15 Nonprofits

DETROIT, MI – The Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan awarded grants totaling $534,000, from the Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) Charitable Foundation Fund to a diverse group of 15 nonprofit organizations that provide services to children and youth in the region. This is the largest round of grantmaking in the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund’s 17-year history, more than double previous years. Grants range from $15,000 and $50,000 each.

Programs and organizations that received grants are:

• Autism Alliance of Michigan (autismallianceofmichigan.org) – Southfield, $50,000 for support to provide resources for low-income families to help them successfully navigate Michigan’s special education system
• buildOn (buildon.org) – Detroit, $20,000 for support for an after-school, anti-violence program for high school students in Detroit Care House of Oakland County Inc. (carehouse.org) – Pontiac, $35,000 for support for the expansion of child abuse prevention trainings for education professionals and others who are obligated by law to report suspected abuse
• Downtown Boxing Gym Youth Program (downtownyouthboxing.org) – Detroit, $20,000 for support for an after-school coding program for youth in Detroit
• Fraser First Booster Club (fraserfirst.com) – Fraser, $42,000 for support for a universally-designed recreational park in Macomb County, accessible for all abilities
• Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan (gshom.org) – Ypsilanti, $30,450 for support for implementing Healthy Futures, a program that improves the physical, mental and emotional health of girls in low-income communities in Washtenaw County
• Give Merit Inc.(givemerit.org) – Detroit, $15,000 for support for the expansion of a mentoring and career preparation program for Detroit youth
• JVS (jvsdet.org) – Southfield, $36,400 for support for Pathways to Careers, a program that helps individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities obtain and maintain integrated competitive employment
• Macomb Community College Foundation (macomb.edu/alumni-donors/about-the-foundation/index.html) – Clinton Township, $45,450 for support over two years for an intensive reading and writing coaching program for high school students in Macomb County
• Michigan Science Center (mi-sci.org) – Detroit, $40,000 for support for a hands-on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum enrichment program for all fourth-grade students in Detroit Public Schools
• Oakland Family Services (oaklandfamilyservices.org) – Pontiac, $50,000 for support for the Before 3 to Succeed awareness campaign to increase the number of children screened for developmental delays
• Project Healthy Community (projecthealthycommunity.org) – Detroit, $50,000 for support over two years for building organizational capacity to better serve children and families in northwest Detroit
• St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (stjoesoakland.org) – Pontiac, $40,000 for support for preventive dental health care education and expanded access to pediatric dental services for special needs children
• Starr Commonwealth (starr.org) – Albion, $30,500 for support for the expansion of training that holistically responds to the effects of trauma on children and adults in Macomb County
• Wild Swan Theater (wildswantheater.org) – Ann Arbor, $29,200 for support for an original main stage and touring production for elementary school audiences, inspired by folktales from Arab culture

“This year grants are the largest in the DADA Charitable Foundation Fund’s history because of the increased support received from the DADA,” said Mariam C. Noland, president of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. “Thousands of children throughout metro Detroit will benefit from the services provided by these 15 organizations.”

“The Detroit Auto Dealers Association is whole-heartedly committed to making a positive impact in our local communities and supporting nonprofit organizations that enrich the lives of children,” said Rod Alberts, Executive Director, DADA.

More than $5 million in grants have been awarded to 138 organizations and the funds have created a $2.4 million endowment.

The DADA Charitable Foundation Fund was established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan in 1998 by the DADA, a trade association composed of more than 200 automobile dealers in metropolitan Detroit. The Fund represents a lasting legacy of the DADA’s charitable commitment to southeast Michigan.

Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan is a full-service philanthropic organization leading the way to positive change in our region. As a permanent community endowment built by gifts from thousands of individuals and organizations, the Foundation supports a wide variety of activities benefiting education, arts and culture, health, human services, community development and civic affairs.  Since its inception, the Foundation has distributed more than $870 million through more than 58,000 grants to nonprofit organizations throughout Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair and Livingston counties.  For more information, please visit www.cfsem.org.      

Detroit Auto Dealers Association (DADA) was founded in 1907 by 17 local car dealers, and has grown to more than 220-member car and truck dealers who donate their time and resources to a host of community activities. Currently, the DADA members collectively employ more than 16,500 people. Many members participate in the NAIAS, LLC, which is responsible for the production of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS). To find out more about Detroit Auto Dealers Association, visit dada.org. To find out more about the NAIAS, visit naias.com.