Ilitch Sports + Entertainment Celebrates Four Game Changers for Hispanic Heritage Month

Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, in partnership with Comerica Bank, honored four community leaders as Game Changers for Hispanic Heritage Month in September. The honorees were celebrated during a pregame reception at Comerica Park, where their contributions to their communities and respective fields were highlighted.

The Game Changers program, sponsored by Comerica Bank, acknowledges and supports individuals who have made a significant impact on local families, businesses, and communities. Each honoree receives a $1,000 donation to the charity of their choice, allowing them to further their philanthropic efforts and continue making a difference. Each honoree is highlighted with an editorial, published weekly throughout September and shared on Tigers.com/Equality.

JoAnn Chávez, Founder, President & CEO, Michigan Hispanic Collaborative: JoAnn Chávez is a 6th-generation Mexican American, born and raised in Detroit. The Michigan Hispanic Collaborative serves 1,000 kids and families, helping them create an economic pathway out of poverty through a bachelor’s degree.

Jorge Chinea, Director, Wayne State University Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies: Jorge Chinea is a distinguished service professor of history and the director of the Wayne State University Center for Latino/a and Latin American Studies. Chinea’s published works have focused on immigration, race relations, labor systems, and plantation-based agriculture in the colonial Caribbean. He has been a visiting scholar at the Library of Congress, and currently serves on the Community Advisory Board of WXYZ TV and on the Advisory Board of the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan.

Raymond Lozano, Executive Director, Mexicantown Community Development Corporation, Inc.: Lozano has served in numerous roles that benefited the Hispanic community including, Executive Director of LA SED, Executive Director of the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Director of Race Relations for New Detroit, and he serves as chairman of the board of directors for SER Metro Detroit. As Executive Director of the Mexicantown CDC, Lozano has greatly contributed to their mission of preserving and bringing Latino culture, history and art to Southwest Detroit’s Mexicantown area.

Frank Venegas Jr., Founder & Chair, The Ideal Group, Inc.: Venegas launched his first company in 1979 and today the Ideal Group, a family-owned company, has evolved into seven nationally recognized companies employing approximately 550 people. The government of Mexico recognized Frank Venegas with its Ohtli Award, its highest award to a foreign citizen, a tribute to Ideal’s corporate advocacy, mentoring, and philanthropic contributions to community schools and organizations that provide pathways to educational and job opportunities.

These Game Changers embody the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month, showcasing the diverse talents and contributions of individuals within the community. Through their leadership, advocacy, and philanthropy, they continue to inspire positive change and create a more inclusive and equitable society for all.

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