The MSLC Newsletter 2022

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 the Chairman 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. He is currently completing his Doctoral degree in the Sports Management program at Concordia (IL) University. Also joining the MSLC Board of Directors is Ian Andre Iler. Mr. Iler is currently the Behavior Intervention Coordinator and Varsity Head Football Coach at Redford (MI) High School. Ian 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 provided a So Everyone Can Play grant to Lansing Catholic High School to support continued participation in high school athletics during the on-going pandemic. The grant was presented by MSLC Executive Director Jim Stark and Board member Kurt Kosmowski to Lansing Catholic H.S. Athletic Director on The Drive with Jack live radio show on Spotlight Media in Lansing.

MSLC 2022 BLACK HISTORY MONTH PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

In recognition of the 2022 Black History Month (BHM), the MSLC, in partnership with our long-time partner Burke Video of Royal Oak, produced four original 30 second public service announcements for broadcast on local on-air radio outlets. Released one per week throughout the BHM, the four PSA’s featured inspirational stories of athletes making a profund impact on social justice. Featured were inspirational stories of current Detroit Red Wing Givani Smith; former Detroit Tiger Gates Brown; former Detroit Lions’ Lem Barney and Mel Farr and the 1963 “Game of Change” NCAA Basketball Tournament game at Jenison Field house.

Second Round of Foundation Fund Grants Presented

In February, the MSLC Foundation Fund  provided ‘So Everyone Can Play” grants to six local high schools to support safe athletic participation in MHSAA 2021 winter season sports during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanks to a generous donation from of an anonymous donor, the MSLC awarded grants to Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard H.S; Austin Catholic H.S; Detroit Cristo Rey H.S; Detroit Loyola H.S.; Royal Oak Shrine H.S and St. Catherine Siena H.S.  The grants will be used by the athletic departments of each school for various non-budgeted COVID-19 related expenses from PPE items such as masks and hand sanitizer to temperature devices and gymnasium and locker room cleansing products. 

The not-for-profit MSLC launched its pilot Foundation Fund grant program in 2019 resulting in an $500 award to Vestaburg High School in Montcalm County addressing the school’s stated need to enhance their weight room facilities with the goal of supporting participation in sports for students.

In total, the MSLC Foundation Fund has provided grants of more than $5,000 to 10 high schools in nine Michigan counties since the inaugural pilot grant in 2019.

In the wake of the onset of COVID-19 and with the advice and counsel of the MSLC Education Committee led by veteran school superintendents’ Mike Flanagan and George Heitsch, the MSLC redirected its grant program to pandemic-related needs. The new grant focus shifted to provide grants to public high schools in Southeastern Mich. 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. 

The latest grant cycle focused on the Catholic High School League during the MHSAA Winter season continuing a priority of inclusion that to date has targeted rural and urban public schools and now parochial schools.  Future MSLC grant cycles will continue to focus on high schools in Southeast Mich. and will also include both rural and urban schools in outstate Michigan in both the lower and upper peninsulas. 

The MSLC Foundation Fund grant program is a Board of Directors-led initiative targeting business and private donations.  Those interested in helping the MSLC support high school athletics can visit the donate section of the MSLC website at www.mislc.org/donate. 

Foundation Fund 2021 Drive Kicks-off

Since the MSLC expanded its Foundation Fund grant program to help support safe athletic participation in Michigan high schools in in 2020, raising these critical funds has become a top priority.  To help address this need the MSLC has launched their 2021 Foundation Fund “So Kids Can Play Safely” Development Drive.  Led the by the Board of Directors, the drive’s goal is to solicit financial support from individuals and corporations and will run from April 1 through September 30.

The not-for-profit MSLC launched its pilot grant program in 2019 resulting in an award to Vestaburg High School in Montcalm 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.  Since its inception, the MSLC Foundation Fund has provided grants of more than $5,000 to 10 high schools in nine Michigan counties.

“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 Chairman. Harris is also a member of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Michigan Amateur Youth Sports Advisory Committee. 

The MSLC founded the Foundation Fund to promote wellness and healthy lifestyle choices, ensure everyone receives an opportunity to safely play sports, create a sense of belonging and develop teamwork and preserve the legacy of high school sports.  Your financial support of this drive is important for many reasons – but chief among them are that schools do not have additional money budgeted for new and extensive safety protocols in athletics,  Michigan school budgets will be cut by as much as 25% due to statewide COVID-19 economic stress, safety improvement will help ease concerns of parents/guardians regarding participation and since social distancing in sports is extremely challenging, increased safety is critical to rebuilding participation.

“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.” 

Those interested in helping support the MSLC 2021 Foundation Fund “So Kids Can Play Safely” Development Drive can find complete details and donation information at www.mislc.org/donate.  

MSLC Produces Black History Month Public Service Announcements

In honor of the 2021 Black History Month, the MSLC, in partnership with Burke Video of Royal Oak, produced four original 30 second PSAs for broadcast on local on-air media outlets.  Designed to be released one per week throughout the month, the four PSAs featured inspirational stories of athletes breaking the social justice restrictions throughout the world.  Featured were Willie Horton going to the site of the 1967 Detroit riots still in his uniform, Jessie Owens breaking four world records in 45 minutes at Ferry Field in Ann Arbor, the Mississippi State- Loyola of Chicago NCAA tournament game at Jenison Field House and the MSU leadership in recruiting  legendary black football players.