‘WJR Cares’ On-Air Panel Helps to Raise Funds for Detroit Goodfellows

The Old Newsboys’ Goodfellow Fund of Detroit was founded in 1914 to ensure no child goes without a Christmas. Each holiday season, the Goodfellows distribute holiday gift boxes to kids filled with warm clothes, toys, books, dental kits and more. The Detroit Goodfellows’ 2020 fundraising goal of $1 million will help provide 30,000 holiday gift packages for needy children in Detroit, Highland Park, Harper Woods, River Rouge, Hamtramck and Ecorse.

To help the Detroit Goodfellows reach their annual fundraising goal, Chris Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, joined a panel discussion during WJR Cares, an all-day radio special on Friday, Oct. 16, to talk about the importance of Detroit Goodfellow’s work in the community. The panel included City of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, former chairman and CEO of DTE Energy Gerry Anderson, and UAW president Rory Gamble.

“For us, being in business is really about taking care of the people in the community,” Ilitch said. “Goodfellows has been doing tremendous work for a very long time. For me personally, to be involved and affiliated with the Goodfellows is an honor and a privilege.”

The Detroit Goodfellows honored Ilitch with the Edward H. McNamara Goodfellow of the Year award in 2015, a prestigious designation given to those who have significantly contributed to the community. His parents, Mike and Marian, were also honored by the Detroit Goodfellows in 1992.

The full roundtable discussion can be viewed on YouTube.

Learn more about Detroit Goodfellows at DetroitGoodfellows.org.