THE PARADE COMPANY RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE SKILLMAN FOUNDATION

DETROIT – Joan A. LeMahieu, President, The Parade Company and Matthew P. Cullen, Chair, Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation, are pleased to announce that The Parade Company was recently awarded an $110,000 grant from The Skillman Foundation.

The Skillman Foundation sponsors the Annual Skillman Foundation’s Float and Balloon Design Contest for America’s Thanksgiving Parade®. The two winning students watch their creations brought to life in the form of a giant balloon and an enchanting float. The winners escort their creations down Woodward Avenue in America’s Thanksgiving Parade®.

“The opportunity to encourage children to explore their creativity and imagination is made possible through our continued partnership with The Skillman Foundation,” said Matthew P. Cullen, Chair, Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation. “We are delighted to continue this annual tradition and we continue to be awed by the great number of students who participate in the contest.”

The contest is open to students in grades K-8, living in The Skillman Foundation-designated “Good Neighborhoods”: Brightmoor, Cody/Rouge, Osborn, Northend, Chadsey/Condon and Vernor areas. The Good Neighborhoods program encourages the creation of safe, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods where children – with the support of caring adults, programs, and experiences – can develop fully. Applications will be posted on www.theparade.org in mid-August.

“We’re pleased to collaborate with The Parade Company to showcase some incredibly talented Detroit kids, and to bring a little bit of holiday joy to the millions of people who attend the parade or watch at home,” said Carol Goss, President & CEO of The Skillman Foundation.

About The Skillman Foundation
Created in 1960, The Skillman Foundation is a private philanthropy whose chief aim is to help develop good schools and good neighborhoods for children. Though grants are made throughout Southeast Michigan, most grants are directed at six Detroit neighborhoods – Southwest Detroit (Vernor and Chadsey/Condon), Brightmoor, Osborn, Central and Cody/Rouge – and toward innovative and successful schools throughout the city of Detroit.

About The Parade Company
Founded in 1984, The Parade Company is a not-for-profit organization governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation whose board of directors is comprised of key civic and corporate leaders in the greater Detroit region. The Parade Company is celebrating 82 years of Parade tradition in Detroit. The mission is to fund, create and execute the best family events in metro Detroit. The Parade Company staff, the board of directors and thousands of parade volunteers work year-round to bring a wide variety of magnificent events to the City of Detroit each year including the Target Fireworks, GM River Days and America's Thanksgiving Parade®.