Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today a list of grantees for 2025 who will receive funding generated by the team’s social justice initiative, Detroit Lions Inspire Change.
Launched by Lions players and ownership following the conclusion of the 2018 NFL season, Detroit Lions Inspire Change will invest $395,650 in financial support through grants to five Metro Detroit organizations this year.
“It means a lot to my teammates and me to give love and support back to the Detroit community,” said DT Alim McNeill. “Inspire Change has been a cool way for our team to invest in some organizations whose missions we believe in as they work daily to make positive change in this city. We are excited about continuing to do our part this upcoming year to make an impact through these various avenues.”
The five organizations selected this year – Alternatives for Girls, Downtown Boxing Gym, Life Remodeled, Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation and The Yunion – were identified by current Lions players as leaders in making a positive impact in the city of Detroit and surrounding areas.
See below for more information on the 2025 grantees.
Alternatives For Girls
Alternatives For Girls is dedicated to helping girls and young women experiencing homelessness and other risks avoid violence, early pregnancy and exploitation. The organization helps these individuals explore and access the support, resources and opportunities necessary to be safe, to grow strong and to make positive choices for their lives.
The organization will plan to use the Inspire Change grant funds for sustaining and enhancing the Alternatives For Girls’ Shelter and Transitional Living project. The program provides longer-term shelter and support, including acquiring life skills, obtaining employment, continuing their education and obtaining safe permanent housing.
Downtown Boxing Gym
Downtown Boxing Gym (DBG) teaches valuable life lessons to students by providing mentorship, tutoring, enrichment programs, college and career readiness, socio-emotional skills and basic needs support (e.g. transportation, food).
DBG plans to use the grant funds from Inspire Change for costs associated with their Student Enrichment Activities rotational series, a program that exposes students to various careers opportunities through exploratory, hands-on workshops.
Life Remodeled
Life Remodeled repurposes properties into one-stop hubs of opportunity for entire families to thrive. They fill these buildings with nonprofit organizations who are providing youth programs, workforce development, and human services to tens of thousands of students and community members each year. They help nonprofit tenant partners collaborate and create far greater life transformation together than was previously possible alone.
Life Remodeled plans to use their Inspire Change grant to fund and enhance their youth programming and community engagement at both of their Opportunity Hubs in Detroit.
Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation
Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation provides college-bound high school students with postsecondary scholarships and financial aid. Through educational and physical conditioning enhancement camps, the foundation has been able to strengthen students’ academic skill sets, physical abilities, life skills and career awareness.
With the grant received from the Inspire Change initiative, Lomas Brown Jr. Foundation plans to fund and enhance their LEAP Camp programs – DRONE 2025 Summer Workshops and the LEAP Camp Winter Reading Wonderland.
The Yunion
The Yunion [pronounced “union”] serves youth and families by offering life-changing programs that help them thrive in the Metro Detroit area. Their mission is to counter negative cultural influences that misdirect the lives of youth by raising awareness and strengthening families through innovative prevention programming, education, parental engagement, mentoring and counseling.
With Inspire Change grant funds, The Yunion plans to sustain and expand the Cave of Adullam Transformational Training Academy (CATTA) – which focuses on personalized mentorship, skill development and fostering resilience among middle and high school-aged boys – by investing in program expansion, piloting a summer camp opportunity and media-based project, and continuing to support peer mentorship.
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