MSLC press releases
MICHIGAN SPORTS LEGACY CONSERVANCY ANNOUNCES NEW CHAIRMAN/BOARD MEMBER ADDITION
The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy (MSLC) announced that Vincent Kirkwood was elected Chairman of the organization’s Board of Directors and Ian Iler was elected a new At-Large Board member.
Mr. Kirkwood is a resident of West Bloomfield (MI), a B.A and M.S. graduate of Wayne State (MI) University, and a member of the West Bloomfield Parks & Recreation Commission. Kirkwood is Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Madison Heights, (MI)-based MRA Experiential. He is also an associate professor of Sports Management & Promotion at both Cleary University in Howell, MI and Wayne State University.
Also joining the MSLC Board of Directors as an At-Large member is Ian Andre Iler. Mr. Iler Iler is currently the Behavior Intervention Coordinator and Varsity Head Football Coach at Redford (MI) High School. Ian became Head Football Coach at Redford Union in 2018 and brings a considerable amount of experience in both athletics and education to the MSLC and will serve as a member of the MSLC Education Committee with Committee Chair George Heitsch and Executive Director Jim Stark. A Redford, MI native, Ian holds Bachelors in Sports Management and Education and Master’s in Education degrees from Urbana (OH) University.
The MSLC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) entity founded with the mission to use the rich history of Michigan sports to promote character building, life lessons, leadership skills and athletic participation.
Returning as MSLC Board Treasurer is George Heitsch, a long-time local school administrator and current interim superintendent of Birmingham (MI) Public Schools.
Dana Wakiji (Right) with Al Kaline (Left)
MSLC Supports Local High School Athletic Participation With Much-Needed Grants
By Dana Wakiji, MSCL Digital Content Producer
High schools in Michigan have limited budgets as it is so it’s no surprise that the COVID-19 pandemic provided a real challenge for them.
Enter the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy, a non-profit that was founded to educate and inspire Michigan youth through the preservation, interpretation and sharing the rich history of Michigan sports legacy through stories, anecdotes and memories of the state’s sports legends.
The MSLC started its Foundation Fund grant program in 2019 with the goal of supporting students’ participation in sports.
When COVID-19 began impacting the United States in March of 2020, the MSLC quickly pivoted to assisting Michigan schools with pandemic-related needs.
The first round of grants focused on helping public high schools in Southeastern Michigan pay for new and non-budgeted costs for athletes to be able to play sports safely, such as personal protection equipment (PPE) and signage in athletic facilities and locker rooms.
The MSLC gave grants of $500 each to Chippewa Valley, Grosse Ile and Ferndale high schools to support safe play during the 2020 MSHAA fall season.
“Our budget for athletics at Ferndale High School is extremely limited and the grant from the MSLC will allow for the purchase of personal protection equipment, especially masks,” said Shaun Butler, Ferndale High School athletic director, after receiving the grant. “We find that some of our students are bringing ill-fitting masks that are also not laundered as necessary. Clean, properly fitting masks will allow our students to compete in sports as safely as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Jim Okler, Grosse Ile high school athletic director, echoed his counterpart’s words.
“We are very honored and thankful to receive the Michigan Sports Legacy grant,” Okler said. “The funds will be used to purchase needed and unbudgeted personal protection equipment for our student-athletes as we continue to face the unforeseen COVID-19 pandemic.”
After the successful first round of funding, the MSLC offered a second round to Catholic schools that are members of the Catholic High School League for the 2021 MSHAA winter sports season.
Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard, Austin Catholic, Detroit Cristo Rey, Loyola Detroit, Royal Oak Shrine and St. Catherine Siena high schools all received “So Everyone Can Play” grants.
“I personally want to thank the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy for this opportunity,” said Mickey Redmond, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard High School athletic director. “This grant will continue to provide PPE to our coaches, athletes and spectators.”
Like many schools, Redmond said in addition to these items not being in the budget, Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard has also lost income from gate admissions due to limiting spectators and not charging for events.
The funding also helps take some of the burden off of coaches and athletic department staff.
“This grant will be used to help support our student-athletes here at Loyola Detroit High School with much-need PPE supplies such as masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes,” said Dennis Morey II, Loyola Detroit High School athletic director. “Our coaches have been buying disposable masks to have them with them, so when a player forgets his at home, or when the mask gets soaked with sweat or even just breaks, they will be able to participate in practice and games.”
Detroit Christo Rey planned to use its grant for a variety of needs.
“The grant will be used to purchase masks and cleaning supplies for the gym and wrestling room, hand sanitizer for fans and signage for the locker rooms and bathrooms,” said Brandon Peoples, Detroit Christo Rey High School athletic director. “The wrestling team is in its second year of competition and COVID-19 has many challenges.”
Thorough cleaning is a major focus for all schools and represents an additional cost beyond the usual.
“We purchased a Clorox 360 machine that can kill bacteria in our Fieldhouse between games; as our weekend play increases we will be using this device on the hour,” said James Mio, Royal Oak Shrine Catholic High School and Academy principal. “We use the spray between all of our games to sanitize and keep it clean for our athletes, coaches and referees. What we certainly have trouble purchasing is the spray needed to continually replenish its use. A case of four gallons runs about $129 and would hopefully last us a month to ensure a safe, clean facility.”
In addition to needing PPE and cleaning supplies, Austin Catholic needed the extra money for staffing and equipment.
“We have increased the hours of our cleaning staff, and the grant can help offset a portion of those additional costs as well,” said James Baker, Austin Catholic High School assistant principal and athletic director. “The athletic department would also the funds toward the purchase of a portable fogging machine to improve the efficiency of our current cleaning protocols.”
In total, the MSLC Foundation Fund has provided grants of more than $5,000 to 10 high schools in nine Michigan counties.
Future MSLC grant cycles will continue to focus on high schools in Southeast Michigan but will also include both rural and urban schools in outstate Michigan in the lower and upper peninsulas.
The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy (MSLC) is extremely pleased to welcome veteran local sports journalist Dana Wakiji as MSLC Digital Content Producer.
Dana has been a consistent and compelling voice on the local sports scene for more than 20 years, most recently covering the team beat for the Detroit Red Wings as Senior Content Producer following her work as the Internet Writer for Fox Sports Detroit (now Bally Sports Detroit) and a wide array of professional sports franchise and collegiate team coverage as Sports Writer/Sports Producer for the Detroit News.
A graduate of Dartmouth College, Wakiji has been a trailblazing journalist as the only Asian-American female reporter covering professional sports in metro Detroit. Dana has a wealth of sports reporting experience coupled with unique, multiple-language (English, French and Spanish) communication skills and is well-respected by both team officials and the athletes and coaches she covers.
In her new role, Dana will develop digital content for the MSLC website and social media channels tied to the organization’s Mission to Preserve, Interpret and Educate. Her stories will compare and contrast current state of Michigan sports happenings with the past highlighting tales, trends, tumult and triumph tied to the rich sports legacy in the great state of Michigan.
MICHIGAN SPORTS LEGACY CONSERVANCY AWARDS GRANTS THROUGH ATHLETIC GRANT PROGRAM
The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy (MSLC) distributed $500 grants during the week of November 9 to Chippewa Valley High School (Macomb County), Grosse Ile High School (Wayne County) and Ferndale High School (Oakland County). The grants were awarded based on written submissions from the schools describing how the funds would be used to purchase needed personal protection equipment (PPE) to support safe participation in high school athletics during the fall MHSAA season.
MICHIGAN SPORTS LEGACY CONSERVANCY LAUNCHES HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC GRANT PROGRAM
DETROIT (September 23, 2020) – The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy (MSLC) has expanded its Foundation Fund grant program to help support safe athletic participation in public high schools in Southeastern Michigan.
“The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy mission is to preserve a proud heritage of athletic excellence and the lessons it teaches,” said Steve Barnaby, MSLC Chairman.
The not-for-profit MSLC launched its pilot grant program in 2019 resulting in an award to Vestaburg High School in Chippewa County. The school used the funds to help upgrade its weight room for use by all students.
In the wake of COVID-19, the MSLC redirected its grant program to provide grants to eight local high schools to help defray new and non-budgeted costs for safe play needs ranging from personal protection equipment (PPE) to signage at athletic facilities and in locker rooms and for other safety measures implemented by school administrators.
“Our organization conducted thorough research of local high schools’ unanticipated COVID-19 related needs for athletics and the overwhelming response from school administrators is that new funding is paramount to getting student-athletes safely back in the game,” said Andrew Harris, a partner with the law firm Kitch, Drutchas, Wagner, Valitutti & Sherbrook in Detroit and MSLC Board Vice-Chairman. Harris is also a member of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Michigan Amateur Youth Sports Advisory Committee.
The MSLC has provided public high schools in the seven-county Southeastern Michigan area and the City of Detroit with the opportunity to apply for one of eight grants that will be awarded in the fall 2020 MHSAA sport season.
“High school athletic administrators are facing unprecedented budget challenges due to COVID-19,” said George Heitsch, MSLC Education Committee Chair and long-time local school district superintendent. “The grants provided by the MSLC will help athletic directors keep high school athletes on the field which is an important element of the overall educational experience.”
MICHIGAN SPORTS LEGACY CONSERVANCY LAUNCHES FALL FUND DEVELOPMENT DRIVE, LEGENDARY BROADCASTER JIM BRANDSTATTER NAMED FUND DRIVE HONORARY CHAIRMAN
LANSING (Oct. 15, 2019) -- The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy has launched a Fall Fund Development Drive with legendary sports broadcaster Jim Brandstatter as Honorary Chairman to support the organization’s mission to preserve and interpret the history of sports in Michigan and use the platform of sports to provide education for youth.
The MSLC as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 entity, was founded to fill a gap that existed in which there was no statewide organization dedicated as the repository for sports history, collections and artifacts. To support this is important mission, the MSLC has developed a strategic collaboration with the Michigan History Center/Archives of Michigan to serve as the preeminent historical repository, educational tool and inspirational vehicle for youth and sports fans of all ages in the state of Michigan.
“The mission of the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy is vital in preserving the rich history of sports that we are blessed with here in Michigan,” said Jim Brandstatter. “I support their efforts to not only preserve this legacy, but also to use it to educate and inspire our youth.”
The MSLC Fall Fund Development Drive begins today and will run through December 31, 2019. Those seeking to support the important mission of the MSLC can donate directly at www.mislc.org at the following levels: Home Run $1,000; Touchdown $500; Medalist $250; Hat Trick $100; Free Throw $50 and leadoff $25.
“The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy Fall Fund Development Drive was developed to generate necessary funds to further the MSLC mission and to provide educational opportunities for youth including conflict resolution, role-modeling and life-lessons,” said Steve Barnaby, Chairman, Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy. “If you care about preserving the rich history of sports in Michigan and helping our youth, the MSLC Fall Fund Development Drive is your opportunity to show your support”
THE MICHIGAN SPORTS LEGACY CONSERVANCY FOUNDATION FUND DISTRIBUTES INAUGURAL GRANT AWARD VESTABURG (MI) COMMUNITY SCHOOL TO RECEIVE $500 TO SUPPORT WEIGHT-ROOM ENHANCEMENTS FOR STUDENT BODY USE
Vestaburg, MI (April 11, 2019) – The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy Foundation Fund today presented the organization’s inaugural grant award of $500 to Vestaburg Community School to support physical activity in organized sports and enhanced fitness opportunities for all students district-wide.
The grant award was presented today by MSLC Chairman Steve Barnaby, Executive Director James Stark and Board member Kurt Kosmowski at Vestaburg High School to Dean of Students/Athletic Director Matt Walderzak and a group of school students. The funds will be used to purchase new weight room equipment as part of a school fundraising initiative to outfit the weight room.
“The Michigan Sports Legacy Foundation Fund is pleased to present this inaugural grant award to Vestaburg High School,” said Steve Barnaby, Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy Chairman. “A key element of the Michigan Sport Legacy Conservancy is to support participation in organized sports and physical activity, and this grant award will offer youth from the Vestaburg community additional fitness opportunities.”
DETROIT PAL AND THE MICHIGAN SPORTS LEGACY CONSERVANCY TO HOST OPENING DAY ACTIVITIES AT THE CORNER BALLPARK PRESENTED BY ADIENT AT THE SITE OF THE FORMER TIGER STADIUM
DETROIT (April 2, 2019) – Fans of Opening Day baseball in Detroit will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of fun and interactive baseball-themed activities at the site of the former Tiger Stadium now the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) Corner Ballpark Presented by Adient on Thursday, April 4.
The day’s festivities will begin at 9 a.m. with an opportunity for fans to tour the historic playing grounds where Opening Day was played annually from 1912 to 1999. A series of unique “selfie spots” will be available to the public including the rightfield area known as “Kaline’s Corner,” the iconic centerfield flag pole, and second base where Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker turned double plays for more than 20 years.
At 10 a.m., two local teams from the metro Detroit area chapter of the Men’s Senior Baseball League will take to the diamond for an informal game on the playing field that retains the original dimensions of Tiger Stadium.
At 11 a.m. a collection of accomplished former local collegiate players will stage a home run derby to see who can replicate past heroic long balls at the iconic site at Michigan and Trumbull.
From 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., fans can stop by the PAL location and try their skill in a home run derby competition on the Willie Horton Field Presented by Meijer. Would-be sluggers age 10 and over will see five tosses from a pitching machine and attempt to hit a home run. The field will be set-up with three zones for which batters will be awarded points on hits that either reach the outfield, travel to the deep outfield and of course, long balls that travel over the fence in fair territory.
“As a proud member of the Corktown community, Detroit PAL welcomes Opening Day fans to start their day at the Corner Ballpark Presented by Adient on the site of historic Tiger Stadium,” said Tim Richey, Detroit PAL C.E.O. “In partnership with the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy, we will host fun, baseball-themed activities that we believe fans of all ages will enjoy on Opening Day in Detroit and we encourage everyone to stop on by the corner.”
“The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy is pleased to partner with Detroit PAL on a fun day for baseball fans who will have the opportunity to enjoy Opening Day activities at the site of the former Tiger Stadium,” said Jim Stark, Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy executive director. “PAL has done a terrific job of preserving sports history in Michigan by bringing the site of Tiger Stadium back to life as a tremendous resource for not only PAL youth, but the entire community. Opening Day at PAL is intended offer the public a chance to share in the iconic Detroit institution of the first home game of the season.”
MICHIGAN SPORTS LEGACY CONSERVANCY PROVIDES HISTORIC IDEATION AT THE DETROIT POLICE ATHLETIC LEAGUE CORNER BALLPARK PRESENTED BY ADIENT
COMPELLING, INTERACTIVE DISPLAY SHOWCASES AND UNIQUE LOCALLY-DESIGNED DONOR WALL PROVIDE SITE VISITORS WITH ENHANCED EXPERIENCE
DETROIT, Mich. (April 12, 2018) -- The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy (MSLC) is pleased to announce the completion of the historic site commemoration and visitor experience and well as the donor recognition display at the Detroit Police Athletic League (PAL) Corner Ballpark presented by Aident.
The MSLC collaborated with Madison Heights, MI-based MRA Mobile Experiential to conceptualize and build-out two historical, interactive showcases located on the stadium concourse at the stadium to highlight the significance and heartfelt connection to the venerable Tiger Stadium site complete with photos, images, authentic stadium items and interactive video displays.
“The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy was pleased to partner with Detroit PAL to provide the historical commemoration of the site,” said Steve Barnaby, chairman, Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy. “Our mission at the MSLC is to preserve, interpret and educate on the history of sports in the state of Michigan and the PAL project provided a tremendous opportunity to do so in an engaging manner.”
The MSLC also sourced and advised local designers’ Erik and Israel Nordin, owners of The Detroit Design Center, to artistically develop and install a unique, larger-than-life outdoor baseball-themed donor wall to formally recognize the generous contributors who donated more than $20 million to the PAL fundraising campaign.
“The themes we at the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy in conjunction with MRA chose for the showcases and donor wall were carefully selected to convey both the colorful history of the stadium and its champions and resonate with the emotional connections shared by all who visited this memory-laden site over the years,” said Jim Stark, executive director, Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy.
THREE WINNINGEST PREP FOOTBALL COACHES IN MICHIGAN HISTORY
- HERRINGTON, FRACASSA AND MACH – TO HEADLINE
MHSFCA COACHING LEGACY CLINIC ON JAN. 18 IN LANSING
LANSING, MI (Jan. 15, 2018) – Michigan’s three winningest high school football coaches’ John Herrington, Al Fracassa and Tom Mach will headline a special Prep Football Legacy Forum panel discussion on Thursday, Jan. 18 at the Lansing Center.
The event to begin at 6 p.m. featuring the three legendary coaches will be hosted by the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy (MSLC) in partnership with the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) at the annual MHSFCA Winner’s Circle Clinic.
“The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy is extremely pleased to host this landmark event featuring three legendary coaches, John Herrington of Farmington Hills Harrison, Al Fracassa of Birmingham Brother Rice and Tom Mach of Novi Catholic Central who in total have won more than 1,200 games in their high school careers,” said Jim Stark, MSLC Conservancy executive director. “While the three legends are best known for winning games and championships, their legacy will be as champions on and off the field who helped mold boys into men.”
The event is the first in a series of Micgan sports legacy-themed activities and projects that MSLC is developing including the ideation, curation, and development of the historic commemoration of Tiger Stadium at the Detroit Police Athletic League’s Corner Ballpark Presented by Adient that will open in the Spring of 2018. The MSLC is also developing a variety of proprietary digital projects including a special video presentation on the historic 1958 Michigan Class A High School Basketball Championship game between Benton Harbor and Detroit Austin that featured future Chet Walker and Dave DeBusschere. Tickets to the event are $15 and available at www.facebook.com/michigansportslegacyconservancy.
“The Michigan High School Football Coaches Association is proud to provide a platform for the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy to spotlight the accomplishments of the winningest coaches in the history of high school football in Michigan,” said Jerry Rapideau Michigan High School Football Coaches Association 2018 Winner’s Circle Clinic chairman. “When the MSLC came to us with the idea for this event, we were elated to provide our MHSFCA member coaches with such a tremendous opportunity to listen and learn from these legendary coaches.”
MICHIGAN SPORTS LEGACY CONSERVANCY TO PRESERVE RICH ATHLETIC HISTORY AND PROMOTE STATEWIDE YOUTH EDUCATION AND PARTICIPATION
LANSING, MI (December 22, 2017) – A new organization, the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy, has emerged to preserve and tell the story of the rich history of athletics in Michigan and provide a platform to use the educational elements of sports to educate and motivate youth statewide.
The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy (MSLC) has evolved from the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy which was created to preserve the legacy of historic Tiger Stadium. Because of this evolution, the MSLC was formed as a statewide organization designed to fill the long-standing void of any organized initiative to preserve the history of athletics in Michigan.
“The Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy was honored to facilitate the transition from the important work of the Old Tiger Stadium Conservancy to a new statewide organization that will ensure the preservation of our treasured sports legacy,” said Jim Stark, MSLC executive director.
The MSLC mission will focus on storytelling and sharing the lessons athletics provide through an impactful platform offering a range of opportunities for our youth from enhanced athletic participation and fitness to sports-based curriculum and career development.
In addition, the MSLC will develop a dynamic sports legacy digital platform, present a themed event series, and initiate plans to ensure the preservation of digital and physical sports history properties through strategic collaborations with the Michigan History Center/Archives of Michigan and the Detroit Historical Society. The MSLC will also serve as the preeminent sports historical repository, educational tool and inspirational vehicle for fans of all ages in Michigan.
Initial projects of the MLSC include the ideation, curation, and development of the historic commemoration of Tiger Stadium at the Detroit Police Athletic League’s The Corner Ballpark Presented by Adient that will open in the Spring of 2018.
On Jan. 18, the MSLC, in partnership with the Michigan High School Football Coaches Association (MHSFCA) will present the Prep Football Legacy Forum – a legends panel discussion at the annual MHSFCA Winner’s Circle Clinic at the Lansing Center featuring the three winningest prep football coaches in Michigan: John Herrington, Al Fracassa and Tom Mach.
Finally, the MSLC is developing a variety of proprietary video projects and archives, including a special presentation on the historic 1958 Michigan Class A High School Basketball Championship game between Benton Harbor, which featured NBA All Star Chet Walker, and Detroit Austin, with future Hall of Famer Dave DeBusschere.
MSLC In The News
jim stark announces the mslc fall fund drive on The oct. 17, 2019 episode of "The Drive With Jack”
As heard On The Jan. 18, 2018 episode of "The Drive With Jack and Tom" Podcast
Local residents earn spots on the Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy
Andrew Harris, Chairman Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy
Vincent Kirkwood, Vice Chairman Michigan Sports Legacy Conservancy