Community is everything to us at DBG and nothing makes us happier than to celebrate our partners, supporters, and friends. That’s why we gathered a big crowd together at Lumen Detroit for our recent Partner Appreciation Celebration. It was a night of mixing and mingling, drinks, appetizers, live music, prizes, and the chance to honor our amazing community partners who contribute to DBG every day in more ways than one.
During the event, we honored the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, H.T. Ewald Foundation, Skillman Foundation, Sachse Construction, and the Gilbane Foundation with the Sustainable Supporter Award.
“This award recognizes loyal partners who have shown exceptional commitment to long-term, sustainable support of our mission,” said DBG Executive Director Jessica Hauser. “This group of recipients has been with us since we moved into our current building on E. Vernor Highway eight years ago.”
Sustainable supporters have given consistently year over year, have a deep understanding of our long-term goals and challenges, and have invested in initiatives that help ensure the lasting impact of our work.
DBG board member Cliff Brown was presented with the The SLP Award, named for our late mentor, supporter and dear friend Stephen Luigi Piazza. SLP was there for DBG daily and moved mountains to propel our mission forward. To honor his legacy, we identify someone each year that carries similar characteristics and pitches in, no matter the need.
Kurt Schwarz received the Trust-Based Trailblazer award for his commitment to building strong, equitable relationships, providing flexible, unrestricted funding, offering support beyond financial contributions, actively listening and learning from DBG, championing our work, and connecting us with other resources. Kurt’s approach fosters mutual respect, transparency, and shared goals, allowing us to focus on our mission and maximize our impact.
KLA Foundation was honored with the Collective Impact award. This award recognizes an organization that has made exceptional contributions to fostering collaboration and achieving shared goals within our community. The Collective Impact recipient demonstrates leadership in bringing diverse stakeholders together, facilitating effective communication and coordination among partners, promoting a shared vision, supporting data-driven decision-making and more.
Board member Michael Perkins was named our Enduring Ally for his loyalty and dedication which has been crucial to our sustained success and growth. His ongoing presence provides stability, allowing us to plan for the future with confidence. This award celebrates not just the duration of his support, but the depth of his commitment.
Arzelia Williams received our Spirit of Service award for reminding us of the power of human kindness and the profound impact one person can have on the lives of many. And the inaugural Coach T Award, named for our founder and CEO Khali Sweeney’s beloved brother who sadly passed way this year, was presented to Debra Beal, grandmother of DBG graduate and alum DeShawn Beal.
“Ms. Beal supports her grandson every step of the way,” Khali said as he presented the award. “She does everything to give him opportunities to be successful.”
“I thank God for the boxing gym,” Ms. Beal said. “Those are the people who helped me to make it through. The boxing gym is not a boxing gym. It’s a place for families. It’s an educational tool that kids would not get if they weren’t there. They learn to love, to care, and to support each other.”
We’d like to thank each and every one of our partners for their dedication and support. You have truly made an impact not only on our students but the entire community. Thank you to everyone who attended and made this event so special.
We also want to give a huge shout out to our sponsors: Demand Detroit, Michigan First Credit Union, Sporcle, Milk Means More, Varsity Tutors, and Detroit Golden Gloves.