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Sports fans will get a fresh way to flash team loyalty year-round if state House members do what senators did a few months ago -- vote to let the secretary of state offer fund-raising license plates for charitable foundations linked to Detroit's pro teams and Michigan International Speedway (MIS).
A House committee last Wednesday sent legislation to the full chamber for final approval, which could come before a holiday recess starts Thursday.
Passage and Gov. Rick Snyder's signature would authorize specialty logo plates costing $25, plus a $10 service charge. They'd become available in March 2018.
The $25 would be a donation to one of five nonprofits -- the Detroit Red Wings Foundation, the Detroit Tigers Foundation, the Detroit Lions Charities, the Come Together Foundation or MIS Cares, depending on each driver's choice.
Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland, introduced the license plate bill last February and his colleagues approved it Sept. 18. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee cleared its version Dec. 6.
Michigan fundraising plates currently support agriculture education, Boy Scouts of America, the Children's Trust Fund, lighthouse preservation, water quality, wildlife habitat, other causes and each of the 15 state-supported universities.
Backers of the new "collector's plates" say many vehicle owners don't know that the teams and MIS have charities to help support and improve their communities. Senate legislative analyst Drew Krogulecki writes this in a four-page background report for members and the public:
Fund-raising license plates have been shown to be an effective means of generating donations for charitable causes. The plates are popular with motorists as a way of supporting a cause while publicly displaying that support. Because the license plates feature a logo or design representing the cause or charitable organization, they also serve to raise its profile, potentially generating additional donations beyond the money raised directly.
The logos of the professional Detroit sports teams could be particularly popular, because they are widely recognized nationwide and are a source of pride for many Michigan residents. The MIS logo also could spur robust sales due to the facility's reputation as the site of high-profile NASCAR races, concerts and other entertainment events.
The analysis also describes each of the five sports charities:
- The Detroit Red Wings Foundation, an affiliate of Ilitch Charities, supports nonprofit charitable organizations that provide athletic and educational programs for children and young people in the Detroit area. The foundation offers grants for nonprofit organizations that promote hockey, health and nutrition, education and recreation.
- The Detroit Tigers Foundation was created in 2005, "to enhance lives through the game of baseball with a focus on youth, education and recreation." It has awarded over $19 million in grants. The foundation funds field renovations and other projects to benefit baseball programs for youths in the Detroit area, and also donates game tickets to be distributed to low-income children. Additionally, the foundation partners with a number of organizations for the promotion of health.
- The Detroit Lions Charities supports charitable causes across Michigan since 1990. Its five-year-old Living for the City program is focused on supporting "transformational efforts that improve the well-being of metro Detroit's underserved communities". Many of the initiatives funded by the Detroit Lions Charities focus on community development, health and wellness.
- The Come Together Foundation (formerly known as the Pistons-Palace Foundation) works to "raise awareness and provide financial support statewide in the areas of volunteerism, youth leadership and NBA-sponsored programs". The foundation awards grants to Michigan nonprofit organizations whose activities emphasize leadership development, community service, mentoring and education.
- MIS Cares, a fund of the NASCAR Foundation, seeks to "assist and inspire youth within our community." Its fundraising events in 2016 benefited public and private schools, food pantries, and the Boys and Girls Club of Lenawee, among others.
