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As April came to a close, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment colleagues and leadership celebrated Arab American Heritage Month in a variety of ways throughout the month. With the  monthly Game Changers series, a visit to the Arab American National Museum, the NHL’s “United by Hockey” Mobile Museum Experience at Dearborn Ice Skating Center, the Fun At Bat Summer Tour, presented by Bally Sports Detroit at HYPE Athletics’ Facility in Dearborn Heights and an Arab American Heritage game at Comerica Park, colleagues had the opportunity to educate themselves, interact with Arab American leaders enacting change within their community and create opportunities for others to do the same. 

Game Changers
As a part of Ilitch Sports + Entertainment’s ongoing Game Changers Series, presented by Comerica Bank, four more community leaders were named Game Changers and celebrated pre-game and on field at Comerica Park. This was the inaugural Arab American Heritage Month Game Changers reception, and the honorees were: 

  • Ahmad Chebbani – President and Chairman, American Arab Chamber of Commerce 
  • Dr. Haifa Fakhouri – Founder, President & CEO, America’s Community Council 
  • Lina Hourani-Harajli – Chief Operating Officer, Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services 
  • Ali Sayed – Founder & CEO, HYPE Athletics Community 

After the pre-game ceremony, the Detroit Tigers celebrated Arab American Heritage Day as they played the Texas Rangers. The game had a special ticket package, which included game admission and an Arab American Heritage x Detroit Tigers baseball cap.

NHL “United by Hockey” Mobile Museum Experience
The NHL’s United by Hockey Museum, launched in 2019, made a stop in Detroit and Dearborn during its seven-month tour across all 32 NHL teams in North America and Ottawa. Last season’s tour covered 15,000 miles and hosted over 20,000 fans, highlighting diversity in hockey, with exhibits including exclusive artifacts and interactive displays. The museum, which features a range of hockey-related activities and events, has been anticipated by fans of all ages from year-to-year, especially metro Detroit fans. Fans got to experience the museum at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena and Dearborn’s Ice Skating Center. 

Fun At Bat Summer Tour
As an extension of the MLB and USA Baseball’s Fun at Bat program, the Detroit Tigers Fun at Bat Program (in partnership with Bally Sports Detroit) is a series of five free interactive clinics across metro Detroit for approximately 100 children aged 4-12 years old. The first program took place at HYPE Athletics in Dearborn Heights. Each clinic hosts stations for hitting, throwing, fielding, pitching, a baseball discussion and a wiffle ball game. Participants received a t-shirt, a Little Caesars pizza lunch and complimentary Tigers game tickets.

Arab American National Museum Visit
Ilitch Sports + Entertainment colleagues visited the Arab American National Museum (AANM) to delve into the rich history, culture and significant contributions of Arab Americans. Located in Dearborn, AANM is the first and only museum of its kind in the United States.