Cityscape

Detroit Youth Choir gets $1 million from local foundations, others

September 20, 2019, 11:04 PM


Detroit's stars at this week's nationally televised finals. (Photo: America's Got Talent)

The Detroit Youth Choir placed second in NBC's "America's Got Talent" competition, but the singers are winners at home.

The nonprofit choir was awarded $1 million by a group of local foundations and others Friday — the amount it lost out on when it fell short of the top spot Wednesday. The donation, which will support the choir's activities, was annouced during a homecoming celebration in Campus Martius, where the group was also awarded a key to the city.

Seven grantmakers and four companies pitched in on the prize, a release says:

“We are incredibly proud of what the Detroit Youth Choir achieved during their time on America’s Got Talent and we look forward to what’s next for them,” said Tonya Allen, president and CEO of The Skillman Foundation. “This fund is a way for Detroiters to celebrate and grow the genius of our children.”   

The fund, which will be established at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, will provide support to the Detroit Youth Choir in perpetuity. As the endowment grows, grants will allow the organization to serve youth to further its purpose to provide positive youth development including training in vocal performance arts along with mentorship and building life and social skills.  

“The Detroit Youth Choir brought our entire region together to support Detroit’s kids,” said Wendy Lewis Jackson, Kresge Foundation, Detroit Program managing director. “They represented the city with class and soul, and their success will continue to inspire children in Detroit for years to come. For that, we hope they feel profound pride.”

“The Detroit Youth Choir has shown the world the tremendous impact it is having on the lives of young people in our city and this extraordinary financial commitment is the best recognition possible of that," said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Thanks to these generous funding partners, the Detroit Youth Choir and the rest of America can see just how Detroit shows its support for its young people."

Other donors are:

  • W.K. Kellogg Foundation
  • Ballmer Group
  • Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation
  • DTE Energy Foundation
  • Bank of America
  • Huntington Bank
  • Dakkota Integrated Systems



Leave a Comment:

Photo Of The Day