Pistons, Voices for Children partner to give 175+ Flint children Christmas gifts
FLINT, MI -- More than 175 Flint kids got Christmas gifts early this year at Voices for Children. Funded by Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and his wife Holly, Voices for Children and the Pistons hosted a Christmas event and gift distribution at the Flint headquarters Thursday night. Kids were treated to photos with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus, Little Caesars pizza, hot chocolate, Pistons-branded duffel bags, Christmas gifts and more alongside the Pistons’ Entertainment Team. This was the second year that the Pistons partnered with Voices for Children through the United Way of Genesee County. These are not just gifts, but they are really gifts of joy and love.”Duncan Murdock, Tom Gores’ brother-in-law, represented the Gores family at the event on Thursday.
mlive.comPistons owner Tom Gores donates 10,000 toys to Michigan families
DETROIT -- When Tom Gores bought the Detroit Pistons in 2011, he vowed that the organization would be impactful in the Detroit community -- a promise he’s kept. Gores’ philanthropic efforts continued Tuesday at Detroit’s Eastern Market during the first of two holiday giveback events.
mlive.comTroy Weaver’s aggressiveness at draft leads to ‘incredible night’ for Pistons
“It was an incredible night.”The Pistons are being universally lauded for a great night after adding the 6-4 lightning-quick Ivey out of Purdue with the No. Incredible work by the staff, kept grinding and coming away with ideas and thoughts that resulted into this. Casey called Ivey and Duren two of the most dynamic players in college basketball this season. “These two guys add something we didn’t have -- size and speed,” Casey said. More:Pistons envision dynamic backcourt with Cunningham and IveyDraft capital allows Pistons to acquire second lottery pick in Duren
mlive.comNew basketball courts at Windiate Park in Flint unveiled by FlintNOW Foundation
FLINT, MI – There’s a new first-choice pickup basketball spot in town. Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores’ FlintNOW Foundation, a private sector charitable organization that supports Flint residents, unveiled new basketball courts at Windiate Park during a Juneteenth event on Sunday, June 19. The colorful mural reads “Where there is unity, there is strength.”6 New basketball courts at Windiate Park in Flint unveiled by FlintNOW FoundationThe artist recalled stories of playing basketball in Flint growing up. “They taught me how to be resilient and taught me how not to be afraid.”Howard, who runs the family-owned nonprofit organization that adopted Windiate Park to rehabilitate it in 2014, called it Flint’s best mural. Courts at William Durant Park and Riverside West Park will also be refitted over the next 18 months.
mlive.comPistons owner to fund $20 million community center in Detroit’s Rouge Park
Tom Gores, owner of the Detroit Pistons and CEO of Platinum Equity, announced his plans to build a $20 million community center in Rouge Park on the city’s west side. This announcement is the first in a series of initiatives Gores envisions for his foundation, the Tom Gores Family Foundation.
Pistons, Gores family distribute Christmas gifts to 214 Flint children
FLINT, MI -- Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and his family provided 214 children in Flint with Christmas gifts Thursday afternoon with a $50,000 donation through Voices For Children. Voices for Children, an advocacy center that works with victims of child abuse, distributed the gifts Thursday, Dec. 16 at its downtown Flint location. Children got free pizza, met with Santa and made TikToks with Pistons mascot Hooper before receiving their gifts. “We launched this effort 15 years ago to spread happiness to kids and families in Michigan during the holiday season. “... Children here, at Voices (for Children), are probably some of the most hurt children.
mlive.comFlint families will see free Detroit Pistons games at ‘Be Impactful Flint Nights’
FLINT, MI – The Detroit Pistons are starting a new tradition in Flint. Over the next six months, the organization will partner with different Flint groups to bus children and families to Little Caesars Arena for a free Pistons game, including food vouchers, tickets and free T-shirts. Pistons owner Tom Gores originally pitched the idea – to create a formalized partnership with area children and families and take them to games. The Pistons organization has partnered with United Way of Genesee County to organize the events. Flint-based spoken word artist Mama Sol was dubbed as the voice of the new Detroit Pistons brand campaign for the 2021-2022 season.
mlive.comPistons set to extend coach Dwane Casey through 2023-24 season
The Detroit Pistons are finalizing a deal to extend the contract of head coach Dwane Casey. The team will make a formal announcement soon, but the extension will give Casey another year on his original five-year deal. In three seasons, Casey is 81-137, but the team has pivoted toward a full rebuild. The Pistons are 20-50 this season but have seen the emergence of rookies Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart, Saben Lee and more recently Killian Hayes. That has been a driving force of the culture they have been building this season and general manager Troy Weaver has applauded Casey.
mlive.comFlint Promise scholarship program to host virtual informational meeting for families
FLINT, MI -- The Flint Promise Scholarship Program is hosting a virtual informational session this weekend for graduating seniors, parents, school counselors and interested community members. “The Flint Promise scholarship is an investment in the future of Flint,” said James Avery, director of Education & Training at the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce, which administers the scholarship program. The virtual meeting will cover basics including eligibility requirements, how the scholarship can be used and what kind of wraparound supports are available. Currently, there are about 140 students enrolled in the scholarship program, which is available at Kettering University, Mott Community College and the University of Michigan-Flint. Read more on MLive:Tom Gores, Consumers Energy pledge $2 million to send Flint kids to collegeFlint Promise scholarship expanded to Kettering University, University of Michigan-FlintEligibility requirements outlined for Flint Promise scholarship program
mlive.comPistons’ Tom Gores responds to calls to divest from prison telecom company
DETROIT -- For years, criminal justice reform groups have been pushing Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores to either sell the team or sell his prison telecommunication company, Securus Technologies. Then they wrote an open letter to the NBA and took out a full-page ad in the New York Times. Ahead of the Pistons’ home opener on Saturday Gores shared his response. THREAD — Bianca (@BiancaTylek) December 23, 2020In response, Gores shared that Platinum Equity had aligned itself with influential people in the industry and activists to make the necessary changes. Related: Pistons’ owner Tom Gores steps down from Los Angeles museum’s board amid protests over inmate phone call companyHe realized that his brush with negative judgment was incomparable to what Weaver and Casey have gone through and it snapped things into perspective.
mlive.comDetroit rapper Big Sean named Pistons’ new creative director of innovation
DETROIT -- There will be a new face helping to steer the Detroit Pistons off-the-court creative vision. Detroit rapper Big Sean has joined the team as its new Creative Director of Innovation. On Wednesday, the Pistons and Big Sean announced the pairing. In a statement announcing the partnership, Pistons owner Tom Gores called Big Sean an accomplished artist, philanthropist and entrepreneur. Expect the unexpected – Big Sean X Detroit Pistons!#WhatUpDoe | #DonLife | #DetroitRising pic.twitter.com/kGmkMq9ltS — Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) December 23, 2020“It’s a dream come true and a real honor to get to work with the iconic Detroit Pistons,” Big Sean said in the team’s announcement.
mlive.comCheck out these holiday toy and food giveaways in Flint, Genesee County
Several organizations and businesses in Flint and Genesee County are inviting the community to take part in giveaways for free toys and boxes of food. FISH is holding the giveaway for those families who are not receiving Christmas assistance from an area organization. The event, organized by local Muslims, takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23 in the parking lot of the Insight Institute of Neurosurgery & Neuroscience, 4800 S. Saginaw St., in Flint. Spectacular SpuzSpectacular Spudz is hosting a “Reach Back Pull Forward Holiday Gift Back” event at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23 at Berston Field House, 3300 N. Saginaw St., in Flint. Related news:Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, Toys for Tots give Christmas gifts to 200 families in Flint areaFlint dispensary, community center to hold turkey giveaways
mlive.comDetroit Pistons finalize 15-man roster ahead of regular season
Sekou Doumbouya and Josh Jackson were bright spots for the Detroit Pistons during the 2020 preseason. DETROIT – By our count, the Detroit Pistons have made 27 transactions in the last month, including trades, free agent signings, draft picks and cuts. Derrick Rose #25 of the Detroit Pistons dribbles with the ball against Gary Trent Jr. #2 of the Portland Trail Blazers. Wayne Ellington of the Detroit Pistons looks on while playing the Washington Wizards during the second half at Little Caesars Arena on Feb. 11, 2019 in Detroit. Lee can spend up to 45 days on the Pistons’ roster while also playing in the G League.
Criminal justice reform group pens open letter to NBA encouraging Tom Gores sale of Pistons
Ahead of the start of the 2020-21 NBA season, criminal justice reform groups continue their call for a change in ownership of the Detroit Pistons. That call was not addressed to them, but rather for NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s board of governors. Gores’ private equity firm, Platinum Equity, owns the prison telecommunications company. Two months ago, Worth Rises and another advocacy group, Color for Change, wrote a letter to the board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts, outlining similar concerns. “Worth Rises has been invited to join in that collaboration, but has declined in favor of shouting from an isolated fringe.
mlive.comDetroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, Toys for Tots give Christmas gifts to 200 families in Flint area
Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and Toys for Tots teamed up to provide 200 gifts for families in Flint and surrounding neighborhoods at Toys for Tots Headquarters, 4425 Saginaw St., on Monday, Dec. 14. It’s an amazing organization and we are proud to support the important work they do.”Last week, Gores and Toys for Tots gave gifts to 500 families in Detroit. Gores and his family provided 10,000 toys, bicycles and Kindle tablets to families in Flint, Detroit and surrounding neighborhoods served by the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. The Gores family’s partnership with Toys for Tots began in 2009 and has delivered over 110,000 toys to more than 40,000 children. Gores’ support of local communities certainly aligns with what the Marine Corps has promoted for over 73 years through our Toys for Tots Program,” said Toys For Tots Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Ret), President and CEO, Marine Toys For Tots Foundation.
mlive.comFlint’s Dort Financial Center undergoing $2-million renovation
When the Dort Financial Center reopens – it’s currently closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic – patrons are going to see some big changes in the 51-year-old arena. LED boards are still be installed above the new seats at Flint's Dort Financial Center. Some of the old seats have already spoken for as Firebirds’ season ticket holders received one free as a perk for supporting the team. Normally, the Firebirds’ season would be well under way by now but these are uncertain times with the coronavirus impacting everything. MORE:Firebirds 2020-21 season pushed back to February‘Future is bright’ for Flint FirebirdsOHL cancels 2020 playoffsOHL cancels remainder of regular season
mlive.comDetroit Pistons owner called to divest from 'racist' prison phone company as NBA navigates Black Lives Matter
click to enlarge Courtesy of Detroit PistonsTom Gores. The company has been called "predatory," charging families of prisoners as much as $25 for a 15-minute phone call. "The NBA has shown support for Black Lives Matter by emblazoning the slogan on its courts and player jerseys. "We didn’t know when we acquired Securus that it would become a nexus for addressing the political, social, racial and economic issues roiling America today," he wrote. "But now that we are here, we will not shy away from the hard work ahead."
metrotimes.comPistons’ owner Tom Gores steps down from Los Angeles museum’s board amid protests over inmate phone call company
Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores resigned from his position on the board of the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts on Thursday night. The move came after activist groups demanded that Gores, whose investment firm owns the prison telecommunications company Securus, be removed. When contacted about Thursday’s resignation, a spokesperson for Platinum Equity shared a copy of the letter Gores sent to Govan and the museum’s board of trustees. In the letter, the Pistons owner stated that Platinum Equity was committed to reforming Securus from the inside. The pamphlet also shared that the goal of Platinum Equity is to turn Securus into a successful, responsible market leader, and then to divest it.
mlive.comFormer Detroit Pistons turf, Palace of Auburn Hills to be demolished Saturday
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. The remnants of the Detroit Pistons former hometown arena will be demolished Saturday morning. The Palace of Auburn Hills has been closed since 2017 and demolition began in December of last year. We promised the people of Auburn Hills and Oakland County that we would find a solution that would be good for the community and make a positive economic impact, Gores said. The final concert held at The Palace was Bob Seger in Sept. 2017 and the final event at the venue was the Taste of Auburn Hills in Oct. 2017. The Detroit Pistons home court now resides within the Little Caesars Arena in Downtown Detroit.
Rasheed Wallace upset with Pistons move from Palace, says ownership disconnected
DETROIT Former Detroit Pistons forward Rasheed Wallace says hes done with the team after they left the Palace of Auburn Hills for a new arena in Detroit. Wallace, who helped lead the Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship, posted a photo of himself laying on the floor at the Palace the night of Richard Hamiltons jersey retirement in 2017. Wallace is referring to the Pistons current home, Little Caesars Arena. The team left the Palace for the new arena in 2018. Wallace, 45, retired as a player in 2013, and was a Pistons assistant coach from 2013 to 2014.
Tom Gores, Detroit Pistons release statement on protests against police brutality
DETROIT Protests against police brutality have been held in Detroit and across the country in the name of George Floyd. Floyds death has been ruled a homicide by a medical examiner who said the Minnesota mans heart stopped while police restrained him and compressed his neck. Tom Gores and the Detroit Pistons have released a statement regarding the protests, calling Floyds death senseless.Read the entire statement below:"The protests that have unfolded across our country over the last week and the senseless deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor shine a piercing light on issues of racism, police brutality and inequitable justice that continue to divide our country. Beyond that, we will identify new ways to build civic engagement, rally 2020 Census participation and galvanize voter registration. We will do our part to contribute to that healing not only through words but action."
Demolition begins at The Palace of Auburn Hills
Demolition has begun at the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the Detroit Pistons for nearly three decades. The whole demolition process is expected to take six months. In June this year, a joint partnership between Pistons owner Tom Gores and Michigan-based Schostak Brothers & Company bought the 110-acre site for $22 million. The 22,076-seat Palace opened in 1988 and was one of the first generation of modern sports arenas, boasting 180 luxury box seats. When former Pistons owner Bill Davidson died in 2009, the franchise and arena was purchased by Gores for $325 million.
detroit.curbed.comPistons new training facility and HQ opens in New Center
The Detroit Pistons moved their home games from The Palace to Little Caesars Arena in 2017. This week, the professional basketball team officially opened their new Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, a $90-million training center and headquarters in New Center. The Pistons are calling the 185,000-square-foot, four-story facility the largest of its kind in the NBA. This facility is a huge winfor the community, our franchise, our fans, and our future, Pistons owner Tom Gores said. Its the best training facility in the league and will give our players and coaches an edge in maximizing their performance.Gores added more is planned for the Pistons in Detroit.
detroit.curbed.comDetroit Pistons Complete Move To Midtown
The Detroit Pistons today opened the Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center, a $90 million state-of-the-art training center and corporate headquarters in the New Center area of Detroit. Pistons owner Tom Gores lauded the Pistons homecoming and progressive alliance with Henry Ford Health System as beneficial for basketball, business, and the City of Detroit. The facility will serve as a hub for fitness, health, and nutrition programming through the Detroit Pistons Fit and annual NBA Fit Week programming. The Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center is the first NBA facility to introduce publicly accessible food and beverage and fitness retail areas. With the opening of their new corporate headquarters and practice facility, the Pistons move back to Detroit is now complete, said Mayor Mike Duggan.
detroit.cbslocal.comPistons Owner Tom Gores Says We Have To Do More
DETROIT (AP) On the day the Detroit Pistons opened their new training facility, owner Tom Gores discussed his hopes for the upcoming season. The Pistons are entering their third season playing their games at Little Caesars Arena downtown. Gores was asked about a possible contract extension for Drummond, the teams standout center. Keeping Griffin healthy is a big key this season, and the Pistons are also hopeful theyve improved their depth after adding Derrick Rose. I think right now we feel really good about where were at, Gores said.
detroit.cbslocal.comPistons open new practice facility in Detroit
DETROIT - The Detroit Pistons have completed their move to Detroit and their new home is a brand-new state-of-the-art performance facility near Little Caesars Arena. The Pistons will work out, train and interact with the community at the new facility. The new Henry Ford Pistons Performance Center is officially open but players won't begin to use it until Tuesday. Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan appreciates the team moving downtown and bringing jobs with it. It will be the first NBA practice facility to introduce publicly accessible food with the soon to open Plum Market.
Palace of Auburn Hills to be demolished this fall ahead of redevelopment project
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. The Palace of Auburn Hills is set to be demolished this fall as Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores works with a real estate company to redevelop the site, the team announced. "We promised the people of Auburn Hills and Oakland County that we would find a solution that would be good for the community and make a positive economic impact," Gores said. Detroit Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem said finding a partner with a strong local community presence was a priority. The Pistons are preparing to move their remaining team and business operations to the new Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center in Detroit. Auburn Hills Mayor Kevin McDaniel said the sale and partnership are a win-win for the city.
Economic development program for Flint gets $25 million boost
An effort to boost Flint amid the city's crisis with lead-tainted water is getting a $25 million commitment that includes loans and specialized mortgage financing from Huntington Bank. Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores, a Flint native, and Huntington Bank CEO Steve Steinour announced the economic development program Wednesday. Details of the FlintNOW and Huntington economic development program include the following:A $20 million commitment to make specialized Small Business Adminstration (SBA) working capital loans available to businesses in Flint. The $2 million commitment will mark an expansion of Huntington’s Pure Michigan Micro Lending Initiative collaboration with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC). A $1 million commitment to provide grants to small businesses in Flint that have been hurt by the water crisis.