The Salvation Army Honors Metro Detroiters for ‘Doing the Most Good’
The Salvation Army Honors Metro Detroiters for ‘Doing the Most Good’
Red Wings’ Ken Holland Receives Top Award
SOUTHFIELD, Mich., (Oct. 20, 2016)— The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit honored six community partners as outstanding examples of “Doing the Most Good” in metro Detroit at its Ninth Annual Metro Detroit Advisory Board Civic Awards Dinner on October 19.
Ken Holland, General Manager of the Detroit Red Wings, received The Salvation Army’s highest honor, the William Booth Award, which is named after the non-profit’s founder. Recipients are chosen for their dedication to The Salvation Army’s goal of service - to the community through donation of time, expertise and energy; outstanding humanitarian effort within the community; and substantial contributions to the work of The Salvation Army.
Ken was honored for his personal support and for involving Detroit’s beloved hockey team for the past 11 years in the Red Kettle campaign which is the lifeblood of fundraising efforts for the Salvation Army.
Each season, Ken engaged players and the entire organization in campaign endorsements to the business community, online promotion to Hockeytown fans, in-arena fundraising and the ever popular Detroit Red Wings bell ringing competition. Through these efforts, tens of thousands of dollars have been raised that go directly to addressing needs in the community.
This year’s Others Award, presented tothose who live selflessly, was given to Ken Rogulski, of News/Talk 760 WJR. Ken has developed a passion for the work of The Salvation Army over the years. He uses his veteran news reporter skills to convey that passion through his reporting of the plight of our neighbors in need and in showcasing The Salvation Army’s efforts to Do the Most Good.
Ken’s man-on-the-street cut-ins throughout the Bed & Bread Annual Radiothon bring the program to life for WJR listeners – from interviews with the volunteers and drivers prepping the day’s meals to the grateful recipients, both young and old, at each stop.
But The Salvation Army owes the biggest thanks to Ken for the Bed & Bread documentary A Truck Stops Here, a labor of love he spearheaded with Jim McCardell, a news photographer/editor with WDIV. At their own initiative and on their own time, Ken and Jim created, interviewed and filmed a powerful look at the effort it takes to prepare more than 4,200 meals 365 days each year and an unvarnished look at the lives of those who wait along the city’s streets to receive them.
The Salvation Army also presented four Doing the Most Good Awards, given to individuals and organizations that exemplify an extraordinary spirit of service and collaboration with The Salvation Army in times of need. Doing the Most Good Awards were presented to:
- Errol Service - A longtime advisory board member and owner of several McDonald’s restaurants in Detroit, Errol is a forward-thinking businessman and a tireless cheerleader for the city’s eastside neighborhoods. He brings innovative concepts employed in his successful franchise operation to his work with The Salvation Army. He was instrumental in The Army’s search for the ideal spot to relocate the Detroit Harding Corps that led to establishing the Detroit Conner Creek Corps Community Center this year. This center is already infusing new life into that neighborhood. In addition, Errol recently agreed to serve as the first Chair of the Detroit Connor Creek Corps Community Center Advisory Council.
- The London Chop House and Diane and Tom Schoenith - A mainstay on the Detroit dining scene, the London Chop House, and a powerhouse local couple, Diane and Tom Schoenith, revived a beloved fundraising tradition dating back to the 1970s – the London Chop House Sing-a-Long luncheon. Four years ago, the Schoeniths teamed up with current Chop House owners, the Gatzaros family, to re-introduce the popular annual event to support the Red Kettle campaign. Benefiting from an extensive network of Detroit movers and shakers and the legendary menu and atmosphere of the London Chop House, the sing-a-long has generated more than $170,000 since 2012.
- Two Men and a Truck - Ashley Allen, general manager of the Two Men and a Truck franchise in Dearborn, was looking for a new way to give back to the community and The Salvation Army is thankful that she was inspired to call them. Those early conversations resulted in her deploying a team of trucks and staff to pick up more than 8,000 Bountiful Boxes each year and, with military precision, deliver the holiday meals to each of the 13 Detroit area corps community centers to help make the waiting families’ holiday celebrations a bit brighter. Two Men and a Truck has not only saved The Salvation Army money, but has eased a logistical burden during an extremely busy time of year.
- LaBelle Electric –For nearly a decade, LaBelle Electric has managed to keep The Salvation Army’s giant red kettle aglow in Campus Martius Park each Christmas season. At 56 feet tall and with 25,000 red LED lights, the giant kettle is an iconic symbol throughout our campaign. It requires tender loving care in anticipation of each season and a few SOS maintenance calls during the holiday campaign, which LaBelle generously handles, along with providing all the equipment and manpower to install and remove it. With the giant kettle’s highly visible spot in downtown Detroit, just outside the windows of longtime sponsor Quicken Loans and the watchful eye of Dan Gilbert, we are indebted to LaBelle Electric for keeping it lit 24/7 – even responding on Christmas Day when the kettle has dimmed!
To make a tax deductible contribution to The Salvation Army:
- o Visit www.salmich.org
- o Text “SALMICH” to 41444
- o Call 877-SAL-MICH
- o Send a check or money order, made payable to The Salvation Army, to: 16130 Northland Dr., Southfield, MI 48075
About The Salvation Army
Founded by William and Catherine Booth in London, England in 1865, The Salvation Army is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving people in need without discrimination. This past year, The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit was involved in providing 2,724,152 meals and 652,786 nights of shelter for the homeless. The Salvation Army uses $.87 of every dollar raised to provide direct services to people in need each and every day of the year. For more information about The Salvation Army, please call 877-SAL-MICH, or visit us at www.salmich.org.