Our Impact on Detroit
$605+ Million
Total Financial Impact
+31 New Business
Expansions & Relocations
+17 New Ventures
in Detroit & Metro area
Real Estate Deals
+$294 million in Investments
Pro-Bono Consulting
1739 donated hours to Detroit Orgs
21 Investments
in Local Companies
Ford Motor Company purchases the Michigan Central Train Station - $90 million investment project
In 2017, Mary Kramer and the Detroit Homecoming team envisioned an opening dinner at the Michigan Central Train station. Just months after the spectacular dinner and Homecoming, the Ford Motor Company announced a purchase of and $90 million investment into transforming the historic building. Matthew Moroun, the former owner of the historic building, cites Detroit Homecoming IV as the catalyst for this transaction.
Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center - $65 million project
This $65 million development of Henry Ford Detroit Pistons Performance Center on West Grand Boulevard stems from a relationship formed at Detroit Homecoming II between Arn Tellem, vice chairman of Palace Sports and Entertainment and Wright Lassiter, CEO of Henry Ford Health System.
Peter Cummings forms The Platform - Over $250 million in economic activity
Expat Peter Cummings attended Homecoming in 2014 and later created a Detroit-based real estate company, The Platform. He’s engaged in Midtown and in Detroit neighborhoods, including the Baltimore Station neighborhood where Homecoming III’s Sept. 16, 2016, program was held, the Livernois/6 Mile neighborhood where Homecoming IV will visit, and the iconic Fisher Building and Albert Kahn buildings in New Center. The planned construction/redevelopment projects represent at least $250 million in economic activity in Detroit.
The Ballmer Group invests $16 million into 18 local Detroit and Southeast Michigan nonprofits
Former Microsoft CEO and Homecoming III expat participant Steve Ballmer, and his wife Connie, create an office for the Ballmer Group in 2017 before committing $16 million towards 18 local nonprofits. This is just the start.
Expat Adam Levinson donates $10.8 million to the Detroit Children's Fund
Based in Singapore, Graticule Asset Management CIO/Managing Partner/Founder, Adam Levinson announced a major $10.8 million gift to the Detroit Children's Fund at the inaugural Detroit Homecoming in 2014. The fund provides strategic investment in Detroit neighborhood programs for kids that have shown proven results. The goal is to help those kids succeed so that they, too, will become a part of the city’s turnaround.
It's not a Conference. It's a Homecoming
The expats who attend Detroit Homecoming utilize their passion, relationships, expertise, and resources in order to improve the quality of life for Detroit residents. Through using their good fortune to give back to a city which helped make them who they are, Detroit Homecoming expat attendees have become a resource for scores of Detroit projects and initiatives in need of additional support.
Wendy Hilliard expands youth gymnastics program to Detroit
Wendy Hilliard, an expat and USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame member and former U.S. national team participant, launched her gymnastics program for children, expanding her NY-based training and programming to Detroit in 2016.
Robin McClary helps the City of Detroit to secure funding for Summer Youth Employment
In addition to general consulting services provided to the city of Detroit, Robin worked with Jeff Donofrio and his team to apply for a grant through Summer Jobs Connect, a program sponsored by the Citi Foundation and the Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund (CFE). Through this strong proposal, Detroit was awarded a grant for $50,000.
RecoveryPark Farms raises $1.3 million through Homecoming V's Motor City MashUp
RecoveryPark Farms founder, Gary Wozniak raised $1.4 million through an anonymous expat as part of a large fundraising campaign that will allow for the farm to rapidly expand its food growth and production center on Detroit’s Eastside and to scale their marketing and operations.
Justin Anderson's makes an important seed-stage investment into Alerje for Solidea Capital
Justin Anderson of Solidea Capital made a financial capital investment into Alerje, an allergy management app which participated in Homecoming IV’s Urban Entrepreneur Showcase. Prior to investing in Alerje, Justin provided strategic services to Detroit-based, Golfler and served as a strategic adviser to HiredKnives — a Detroit-based job portal for the hospitality industry.
Expat duo, Amelia Zamir and Rakesh Lala play pivotal role in redevelopment of Detroit real estate
Expats Amelia Zamir and Rakesh Lala made an investment of $1,800,000 into 6 residential units of 8000 square feet in Brush Park. This most recent investment in Detroit commercial real estate follows a 31 unit condominium project and a purchase of 10,000 sq ft of industrial space in Eastern Market after Homecoming 2016. Amelia also has also opened a fitness studio, The Bar Method Detroit in the heart of downtown Detroit.
Michael Scherer uses alumni relationship to help Minds Matter Detroit access office space
After attending Detroit Homecoming IV, Los Angeles-based expat Michael Scherer connected with Minds Matters Detroit, a local nonprofit that provides low-income high performing students with supplemental college prep tutoring and with an on-campus college immersion experience. Michael invested his time and social capital in order to secure office space at the University of Detroit Mercy, his alma mater.