December 20, 2024 | Articles Homepage News Philanthropy The Pistons
Tom and Holly Gores sponsor Salvation Army Downriver Corp’s holiday giveback event: ‘We appreciate it’
WYANDOTTE, Mich – Martha Hammond wasn’t planning to attend the annual Salvation Army holiday gift drive provided by Detroit Pistons Owner and Platinum Equity Founder Tom Gores and his wife, Holly, like previous years.
But her husband’s disability and a recent back injury that caused her to miss work forced her to change her mind, and she decided to go find presents for her three young children.
“This helps out because we wouldn’t have been able to have a Christmas for our kids if this wasn’t available, so we appreciate it,” Hammond said while wheeling a grocery cart filled with presents to her vehicle.
Hammond had just left The Salvation Army Downriver Corps Community Center where more than 800 families experienced holiday joy and presents under a Christmas tree.
“Downriver a lot of times gets overlooked with the big picture but it’s great to have people like Holly and Tom that recognize that and make a strong impact during the holiday season here,” Gores family representative and Holly’s brother Duncan Murdock said.
For the fourth consecutive year, Holly, who grew up in nearby Grosse Ile where her brother served as fire chief for years, and Tom have partnered with the Salvation Army to provide help to the community during the holiday season. The Gores family donated $25,000 to the giveback event.
“Holly knew there was a need Downriver and so I met with a few organizations and the Salvation Army was the best fit for what she was trying to accomplish,” Murdock said.
For the giveback, which went on for several days, the center was turned into a space for a shopping spree. Toys were separated by age range and families could select two large items per child including additional small gifts and stocking stuffers. Families also went home with food and a gift card. The event is similar to the Toys for Tots event that happened earlier this month.
Pistons Senior Advisor and former coach Dwane Casey volunteered for both events.
“It’s a different vibe here,” he said. “The difference here is this one goes on for multiple days but we’re still affecting just as many people.”
In total more than 10,000 toys, bicycles, scooters and headphones were distributed to Michigan families.
“Our goal is to help make sure every kid has a present,” Salvation Army Lieutenant Shawn Sutter Sr. said at the event.