CommunityAlong with Michigan K.I.D.S. and the Detroit Free Press Newspapers in Education, the Tigers have created an education supplement to battle illiteracy in Michigan. Detroit Tigers centerfielder, Curtis Granderson and front office personnel visited local elementary schools where they read "The ABC's of Detroit Tigers Baseball," a book that covers the game of baseball from A to Z written by the Tiger Wives. Since 2007 the program delivered materials to more than 227,000 students in more than 2,830 classrooms. The Michigan K.I.D.S. not-for-profit works year-round to combat illiteracy by providing special educational units and newspapers in classrooms.
In 2005 when outfielder Magglio Ordoñez signed with the Tigers he and his family made a financial commitment to the Detroit community by investing in the Detroit Tigers Foundation. In 2008, that investment resulted in the establishment of the Ordoñez Family Scholarship, an endowed scholarship awarded to a high school graduate from southwest Detroit.
Each year, through the generosity of the Ordoñez family and in partnership with the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, one scholarship of $2,500 will be awarded to an eligible high school graduate. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years, meaning each scholarship winner could receive up to $10,000 over his or her college career.
On July 6, the second Ordoñez Family Scholarship was presented to Yanet Plascencia. Plascencia graduated from Western International High School in southwest Detroit with a 3.9 GPA - one of the top students in her class. She was a pitcher on the Western International High School softball team for four years. Plascencia will attend the University of Detroit Mercy in 2009 and will study engineering.
Previous Scholarship Recipients include:
2008 - Emma Aviles, Madonna University
In 2000 the Detroit Tigers Willie Horton Scholarship was created to honor hometown hero and former Tiger, Willie Horton. Funded by the Detroit Tigers Foundation and administered by the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan a $5,000 scholarship is awarded to a senior from Detroit's Northwestern High School, Horton's alma mater, each year. This year's deserving recipient was Jazmine Gaymon. Gaymon, a class valedictorian planning to attend Michigan State University, served as the editor for her high school's year book, vice president of the National Honors Society, president of Close Up Club and was recognized for her community service by the Black United Fund of Michigan. Gaymon hopes to major in engineering with an emphasis on computer information systems. Scholarship recipients are students who display high levels of commitment to academics, leadership, character development and volunteer involvement. Jazmine Gaymon is the ninth winner of the Willie Horton Scholarship.
Previous scholarship recipients include:
2001 - William Hamption, Engineer with General Motors, Tuskegee University Graduate
2002 - LaSalle McKenzie, Graduate of Wayne State University
2003 - Shauntae Richardson, Senior at Eastern Michigan University, Business
2004 - Brittany Motley, Senior at Kentucky State University, Math; member of the track team, 3.8 GPA
2005 - Mahogany Reed, Sophomore at Virginia Union University, Forensics
2006 - Adrienne Carter, Freshman at Tuskegee University, Accounting; 3.8 GPA
2007 - Alonzo King, Freshman at Eastern Michigan University
2008 - Cierra Bell, Central State University, Biology
To celebrate Jackie Robinson Day at Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers honored the winners of the Detroit 13th Annual Jackie Robinson Art, Essay and Poetry Contest, four Jackie Robinson Foundation scholars and two Jackie Robinson Foundation alumni. During an on-field ceremony prior to the April 15 game against the Chicago White Sox, Tigers centerfielder, Curtis Granderson, met all the participants. Winners in each category included middle school students from Detroit, West Bloomfield and Walled Lake and high school students from Detroit and Macomb. The foundation scholars included four college students from University of Michigan, with degrees in business administration, chemical engineering, psychology and finance.
In addition Jackie Robinson was also honored throughout the league as his number 42 jersey was worn by all MLB players, coaches and umpires celebrating the 62nd year anniversary of his breaking the color barrier in baseball. The Jackie Robinson Art, Essay and Poetry Contest and the Jackie Robinson Foundation scholar program remains an important priority for youth around the Detroit area. Not only do both provide tremendous opportunity, they also represent the courage, bravery and importance of Jackie Robinson's achievements towards baseball and racial equality.
Contest Winners:
Kendall Duams, Langston Hughs Middle School, Detroit
Sanjay Redd, West Bloomfield Middle School, West Bloomfield
Alex Knight, Sarah Banks Middle School, Walled Lake
Rand Asahak, Mohegan High School, Macomb
Andrew Biter, Riverview High School, Detroit
Raphael Tramble, Loyola High School, Detroit
Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars:
Alex Cater, University of Michigan, Urbana, Illinois
Lauren Fladger, University of Michigan, Detroit
David Holliday, University of Michigan, Dallas, Texas
Karmyn Wedlow, University of Michigan, Detroit
Photo gallery of artwork submitted in the Jackie Robinson Art, Essay and Poetry Contest »
In 1992, the Detroit Tigers became the first professional sports team to partner with the Gang Resistance Education and Training program (G.R.E.A.T.). Since then, one game every season has been dedicated to G.R.E.A.T.'s cause.
To continue the tradition, Tigers manager, Jim Leyland spoke with a select group of G.R.E.A.T. graduates alongside top Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) officers, state and local dignitaries to continue pushing G.R.E.A.T.'s message of preventing delinquency, violence and gang membership among America's youth.
In addition the Tigers provided 1,500 complimentary tickets for G.R.E.A.T. graduates as part of the Detroit Tigers ticket donation program.
Detroit has one of the highest illiteracy rates in the United States and to combat this problem Tigers shortstop Adam Everett partnered with Gardner White and FOX 2 to spread the importance of reading. At a Gardner White in Canton, Everett read the "ABC's of Detroit Tigers Baseball" to children who were present at the event. In addition, families who attended were encouraged to donate new or gently used books to the Salvation Army, which in turn will be distributed to many children around the Detroit Area.
