[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 98 (Tuesday, June 11, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E610-E611]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CELEBRATING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE KRESGE FOUNDATION

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                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 11, 2024

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Kresge 
Foundation on the occasion of the centennial of its founding. The 
growth of the Kresge Foundation over the last 100 years and the 
contributions it has made to Southeastern Michigan and the Nation is 
worthy of commendation.
  When Sebastian S. Kresge's first company turned 25 in 1924, he 
established the Kresge Foundation in the City of Detroit. The 
foundation was created to promote the ideas of philanthropy and charity 
while advancing human progress. The Kresge Foundation's first donation 
was to the Salvation Army of Detroit and was soon followed by grants to 
important institutions such as the Detroit YMCA and the Methodist 
Children's Home.
  The Kresge Foundation continues to uphold its stated values of 
creativity, partnership, equity, respect, opportunity, and stewardship, 
all of which have guided the foundation to continue its impactful work 
throughout the last 100 years. The foundation has produced 16,500 
grants and disbursed more than $5.1 billion dollars, $1 billion of 
which have supported the Metro Detroit region. The Kresge Foundation 
has leveraged these grants to invest in our arts, education, 
environment, health, and community development. Additionally, The FUEL 
and ProInspire programs offered by the foundation to grantees show that 
The Kresge Foundation is committed to fully equipping communities with 
the tools needed to make lasting change in their cities. By employing a 
socially and historically conscious strategy to their work, The Kresge 
Foundation has centered racial equality, diversity, and prosperity for 
all members of the community in its work over the past century. While 
the foundation has expanded nationally to Memphis, New Orleans, and 
Fresno, its continued dedication to its work in Detroit remains clear 
and impactful.
  When Detroit became the largest U.S. city to file for bankruptcy 
protection in 2013, the Kresge Foundation contributed $100 million to 
ensure the city met its pension, which then played a considerable role 
in allowing Detroit to exit bankruptcy quickly and successfully. In 
recent years, the foundation contributed $17 million in grants and $2 
million in social investments to assist in relief from the COVID-19 
pandemic. Other projects such as The School at Marymount and 
fellowships for local artists show a continual investment and 
commitment to Detroit and the community.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring the 
Kresge Foundation for the contributions it has made to our communities 
over the last 100 years. We thank the foundation for its century of 
service, as well as the opportunities that it has made possible for the 
City of Detroit and beyond.

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