A Legendary Thank You: Reflecting on Our Gala Success

May 18, 2024CEO Corner, News, Newsletters

Greetings! 

I hope this message finds you well and inspired. As I reflect on the extraordinary night we shared at the Tyrone E. Winfrey Hall of Fame Alumni Gala this past Saturday, I am overwhelmed with gratitude and pride. Thanks to your support and participation, the evening was not just a celebration of achievements but a profound showcase of the DPSCD spirit in action. 

A Celebration of Legacy and Excellence 

The Tyrone E. Winfrey Hall of Fame Alumni Gala was a beautiful testament to what we can achieve together. Over 90% of the event was produced by our incredibly talented DPSCD alumni, highlighting the breadth of skills and dedication within our community and the excellence that comes from DPSCD. The venue, transformed by the gifted Kori C. Fields and our amazing partners into a glamorous sports arena, left every attendee in awe—including me! 

Profound Acknowledgments 

This extraordinary evening was the culmination of a massive team effort. I extend my deepest gratitude to the internal team at the DPSCD Foundation for ensuring excellence throughout event planning, our DPSCD partners for lending talent and resources to amplify our efforts, and the brilliant event production team at The Allen Lewis Agency for executing our vision into a breathtaking experience. Together, your commitment and hard work were the backbone of this successful event.  
My heartfelt gratitude goes out to our top sponsors who have been pivotal in supporting student achievement and furthering our mission: the Grant Family Foundation, Barton Malow, Emily and Henry Ford III, Knight Foundation, Flagstar Bank, DTE Foundation, Ally Financial, and PNC Bank. 
I also wish to recognize the extraordinary efforts of our advisory committee—Denise Brooks-Williams, Darienne Hudson, Latrice McClendon, and Linda Littles. Their dedication to connecting us to new funding sources was instrumental in helping us shatter our fundraising goals. 
To our planning committee, sponsors, and activation partners such as Reva Constantine, Chef Dom, Good Times on the Ave, Good Vibes, Jessica Care Moore, Jeff Ponders, Sumptuous Spirits, Fancy Flash Photo Booth, Ty Mopkins, DJs Dr. Darrius and Lynda Carter, and many others—your individual talents and collaborative spirit made the gala a night to remember. 

Honoring Our Legends

One of my favorite moments of the evening was honoring legendary alumni by inducting them into the DPSCD Alumni Hall of Fame, forever enshrining their legacy within DPSCD. Special congratulations to our 2024 Hall of Fame inductees: Bishop Charles H. Ellis, III, Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony, and the Grant Family of the Grant Family Foundation. Your legacies inspire not just current students but all of us to strive for excellence and to make a meaningful impact.

Gratitude and Moving Forward

Thank you to each of you who attended and contributed to making this significant event a milestone. Your involvement goes beyond one night—it propels our mission to empower the next generation of leaders within the DPSCD community. Thanks to your generosity and profound support from our sponsors, we crushed our fundraising goals! We look forward to expanding our in-school health hubs, providing more scholarship funding, supporting dual enrollment, career pathways, professional development – and so much more!

As we look to the future, I’m thrilled by the impact the DPSCD Foundation has been empowered to make for our students. Yes, we have had tremendous success, but we’re just getting started! With your continued support, I am confident that the best is yet to come. I hope you join us, so stay connected!

See Photos

To keep the celebration going, please check out the first wave of photos from the gala now available online. Stay tuned for more updates and a special event recap coming soon. Let’s continue to celebrate and build on the momentum together.

With heartfelt appreciation,

Kerrie Mitchell

President and CEO
Detroit Public Schools Community District Foundation