FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MARCH 22, 2001

PONTIAC, MICH. -- Detroit Lions Charities has awarded 78 grants totaling a record $255,571.82 to non-profit agencies throughout Michigan. This year's awards bring Detroit Lions Charities, the football organization's philanthropic foundation, to more than $1.7 million in total donations in its 11-year history. MATT MILLEN, the Lions president and chief executive officer, made the award announcements today.

"The Lions are honored to be able to award these grants to agencies throughout the state," said Millen. "In my brief time here, it has become obvious to me that there are many outstanding non-profit agencies, corporations and private citizens in Michigan who are seeking to assist those in need. We hope our contributions can help make a difference."

Detroit Lions Charities was established in 1990 to assist all age groups in a diverse range of needs and programs in Michigan. Particular emphasis is placed on programs that benefit the children and youth of Detroit.

Primary among this year's grants is an award that sponsors an after-school and weekend youth football program directed by the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL). Grant monies will enable more than 3,200 Detroit children to compete in the Detroit Lions PAL Football League this fall culminating in the PAL championship games at the Pontiac Silverdome in November.

Additional youth recreational grants were awarded in a number of Michigan communities including Farmington Hills, Ferndale, Grand Rapids, Highland Park, Hillman, Hudson, Lake Orion, Lansing, Mayville, Oak Park and Pontiac. Geography students in elementary schools are helped through grants to Newspapers in Education programs in Flint, Pontiac, Saginaw and surrounding areas.

A Charities grant to Communities in Schools of Detroit helped to provide 16,000 books to Detroit Public School children through its First Book program. Another grant will help support a City Year team of young adults that will accomplish community projects in Detroit. The Salvation Army Pontiac Corps and Toys for Tots of Metro Detroit benefited from grants as did the annual "Zoo Boo" Halloween festival at the Detroit Zoo.

The Lions' School Assembly Program continued for the sixth year in Detroit elementary schools. Approximately 1,500 Detroit children attended the assemblies that featured Lions players, Detroit police officers and "The Blue Pigs" singing group who delivered messages challenging kids to stay off drugs, concentrate on education, and be good citizens.

Grants were awarded this year, as well, through a cooperate effort between Detroit Lions Charities and NFL Charities. They combined to support the William Clay Ford Community Quarterback Award. A total of $25,000 in grants was awarded to 10 organizations in the name of the Lions' owner to salute outstanding community volunteers. The overall award winner was JOHNNETTE WASHINGTON of Pontiac who volunteers for the Junior League of Birmingham.

Charities raises funds from several sources. Major support comes from corporate sponsors. The "Northwest Airlines Flies for Detroit Lions Charities" program donates $100 for every point the Lions score to Charities. Last year, Northwest donated $30,700 to bring its total to $383,600 since 1990. Among other corporate contributors is Visa U.S.A. which donated $25,000 through the NFL in 2000.

Fundraisers include the Lions’ Kickoff Luncheon, Lions' Grand Rapids Spring Luncheon and the Detroit Lions Invitational (DLI). This year’s DLI, a golf tournament open to the public and featuring several current and former Lions’ players, will be held at Indianwood Golf and Country Club (Lake Orion), June 11. The Kickoff Luncheon with The Economic Club of Detroit will be held in August. The Grand Rapids Rotary Club will host a Lions' Spring Luncheon at the Amway Grand Plaza on May 10.

For tax-exempt Michigan organizations interested in filing for future funding, grant requests will be accepted from October 1 through December 31, 2001. Further information on grant eligibility guidelines and application procedures is available by going to the Lions' web page DETROITLIONS.COM or by writing Detroit Lions Charities, 1200 Featherstone Road, Pontiac, MI, 48342.

1991        21     $59,200.00

1992        50     $93,494.44

1993        65         $103,458.50

1994        85         $110,877.10

1995         115       $133,187.22

1996        110       $146,565.28

1997        137       $180,247.83

1998         139       $192,303.16

1999        125       $210,678.07

2000        133       $225,628.76

2001         78         $255,571.82

78 Grants Totaling $255,571.82

Addison Area Junior Football League (Hudson)
Alternatives in Motion (Grand Rapids)
ARC of Western Wayne County (Wayne)
Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan (Rochester Hills)
Avondale Foundation (Auburn Hills)
Azteca Boxing Team (Pontiac)
Baldwin Church & Center (Pontiac)
B.A.R.R. Track Club (Detroit)
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit (Southfield)
Boys & Girls Club of North Oakland County (Pontiac)
Boys & Girls Club of Saginaw County (Saginaw)
Business United With Officers and Youth (Detroit)
Catholic Social Services of Lansing/St. Vincent Home (2 Grants) (Lansing)
Children's Home of Detroit (Grosse Pointe Woods)
City of Allen Park Fire Department (Allen Park)
City Year (Detroit)
Communities in Schools of Detroit (Detroit)
Community Resource Volunteers (St. Johns)
Detroit Public Schools/School Assembly Program (6 Grants) (Detroit)
.....Bates Academy
.....Boynton Middle School
.....Cooper Elementary
.....Greenfield Union School
.....Mann Elementary
.....Newberry Elementary
Detroit Recreation Department (Detroit)
Detroit Zoological Society (Royal Oak)
East Side Soup Kitchen (Saginaw)
Ferndale Youth Football Association (Ferndale)
Fowler Center for Outdoor Living (Mayville)
Grandmont/Rosedale Development Corporation (Detroit)
Grand Rapids Area Chamber Foundation (Grand Rapids)
Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (2 Grants) (Dearborn)
Hillman Area Little League (Hillman)
Interlochen Center for the Arts (Interlochen)
Junior Achievement of Michigan/Great Lakes (Grand Rapids)
Junior League of Birmingham (Birmingham)
The Kimberly Anne Gillary Foundation (Troy)
Lansing Blackhawks Youth Sports Organization (Lansing)
Lansing Youth and Recreation Fund (Lansing)
Last Hope Animal Preserve (Corunna)
Lighthouse of Oakland County (Pontiac)
Lions Visually Impaired Youth Camp (Lake Orion)
Macomb Literacy Partners (Clinton Township)
Maplegrove Community Education (West Bloomfield)
Michigan Association for Leadership Development (Pontiac)
Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (Trenton)
New Alternatives Youth Service Center (Saginaw)
Newspapers in Education/Flint Journal (Flint)
Newspapers in Education/The Oakland Press (Pontiac)
Newspapers in Education/Saginaw News (Saginaw)
On My Own of Michigan (Troy)
Penrickton Center for Blind Children (Taylor)
Police Athletic League/Detroit (3 Grants) (Detroit)
Police Athletic League/Pontiac (Pontiac)
Pontiac Rescue Mission (Pontiac)
Purple Rose Theater Co. (Chelsea)
The Rainbow Connection (Pontiac)
Reggie McKenzie Foundation (2 Grants) (Highland Park)
The Salvation Army/Pontiac Corps (Pontiac)
SCAMP - Clarkston (Clarkston)
School District of the City of Wyandotte (Wyandotte)
Southeast Michigan Pop Warner Football League (Oak Park)
Spaulding for Children (Southfield)
Special Olympics/Oakland County (Drayton Plains)
Spring Hill Initiatives (Evart)
St. John's Home (Grand Rapids)
St. Peter Claver Career Training Center (Detroit)
St. Peter's Home for Boys (Detroit)
Toys for Tots (Detroit)
Tri-County Cobras Sports Club (Farmington Hills)
Turning Point Outreach/Detroit Schools (Palm Bay, FL/Detroit)
Variety - The Children's Charity (Southfield)
YMCA/Grand Rapids Metropolitan (Grand Rapids) 

Matt Barnhart
The Detroit Lions, Inc.
1200 Featherstone Road
Pontiac, MI 48342
Mbarnhart@lions.nfl.com
www.detroitlions.com