December 18, 2024 | Articles Homepage News Philanthropy The Pistons
Tom and Holly Gores continue providing holiday cheer with annual Toys for Tots, Voices for Children giveaway events
FLINT, Mich. – James Turnbull and his family members excitedly filled their vehicle with big red bags and wrapped presents, filling the trunk to capacity on a cold Wednesday night in early December.
The family had just left the Voices for Children Child Advocacy Center annual holiday giveback event where more than 140 children received a holiday experience sponsored by Detroit Pistons Owner and Platinum Equity Founder Tom Gores and his wife Holly.
“This was definitely a great fun night for the kids to be out, we enjoyed all of it and I just want to say thank you to everyone that was a part of it,” Turnbull said.
For the fourth consecutive year, the Gores, who both grew up in Michigan, partnered with Voices for Children to provide a holiday experience for the children the agency serves. The agency, which is a Flint-based organization dedicated to serving and protecting child survivors of abuse and their families, has served families in Genesee and Shiawassee counties through treatment, education and increasing community awareness since 2018.
“We recognize that therapy is not easy, but these kids come here every single week to do the hard work and get healed from what has happened to them that was not their fault,” Voices for Children President and CEO Claudnyse Holloman said at the event. “But today, it’s just all about fun. Not only do they get jackets and presents, but they also get to have pizza and dance with a Pistons dancer.”
For the event, the center was transformed into a holiday wonderland as kids enjoyed a pizza party with a D.J., a photobooth and danced with Pistons mascot Hooper and members of the Pistons dance team. Each child received gifts from wish lists and was able to open one at the event and save the other presents for later.
“Often when we ask the kids what they want for Christmas the first thing they say is sheets or socks,” United Way Vice President Jamie-Lee Venable said. “We’ll still get them those things, but we get to give them their dream toys as well.”
The holiday event was the second of several holiday events sponsored by Gores who partnered once again with several organizations to provide a little holiday cheer to underserved families in Michigan.
More than 10,000 toys, bicycles, scooters and headphones were distributed to families in Detroit, Flint and surrounding neighborhoods. U.S. Marines and volunteers of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program hosted a gift event for families and children in Detroit on Dec. 4. Gores also supported The Salvation Army Downriver Corps with an additional $25,000 donation.
“It’s nice to know that Tom and Holly and organizations like this are helping children — that they’re making a difference in each of these children’s lives,” Gores family representative Duncan Murdock said. “We’re seeing smiles on these kids’ faces today that they otherwise might have not had during the holidays.”
The Gores family supports a number of Detroit-area causes focused on improving the quality of life for families in need. Tom and Holly have supported holiday toy distributions across the state since 2006 and have delivered more than 165,000 gifts to families.
“The holiday season is a special time filled with hope and cheer,” Gores said in a release. “No one deserves the wonder and excitement the holidays bring more than children, who light up with joy when they open something that makes them smile.
“Since beginning this initiative 18 years ago, the impact and reach of these distributions continues to grow thanks to the dedication of our amazing partners. We are grateful for their support.”
‘I want to get her a bike’
Jasmine Troy anxiously waited in line on a chilly morning outside of Shed 5 at Detroit’s historic Eastern Market with the holiday season fast approaching.
After a recent weight loss journey, she was excited to teach her 4-year-old daughter how to ride a bike and gift her one for Christmas.
“It broke my heart to have to tell her no when we were shopping recently, and she kept pulling on the handle, so I definitely want to get her a bike,” Troy said.
On the inside of the shed, holiday lights and giant gum drops hung from the ceiling while thousands of bikes and other toys for every age lined the building. Troy went home with a light blue bicycle with white-and-pink training wheels and a helmet just in time for Christmas morning.
“A lot of people do things for the city, but they don’t do it for the people in the city or around it,” Troy said. “But to give back where you started, where you made something, I think it’s awesome and I greatly appreciate (the Gores family) in every way imaginable.”
For the Detroit event, more than 2,000 children and their families were selected for the event. Pistons front office staff and other volunteers helped more than 750 families select toys.
Pistons Senior Advisor and former Head Coach Dwane Casey volunteered to help select and carry toys for families. He offered a testament to the impact such an event can bring.
“I was one of those kids who needed help at one time, so I understand the feelings they have,” Casey said. “It’s great that Tom can help parents provide for their children.
“It fills my heart with joy and hope for the future.”