America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit will have 3 new floats
Over 500 preschoolers from Detroit public schools visited the sprawling studio of The Parade Company for a half day of fun and to see how the floats — which are stars of the iconic America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White — are made.
That field trip in December 2022 was sponsored by PNC’s $500 million Grow Up Great program, a multiyear effort to help children in Detroit and other cities achieve success in school and life by exposing them to the arts.
There’s a reason STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) is a growing anthem among leaders looking to give young people a boost as they step into their future tied to technology but also the creative side, including arts, music and more.
“PNC supports arts education programs because we know that art changes perspectives and helps open young minds to thinking more creatively,” said Michael Bickers, PNC regional president for Detroit and southeast Michigan. "Similarly, the PNC Foundation has always believed that engagement in the arts enriches lives and builds stronger, more vibrant communities.”
A new building to do more
Bickers has lots of like-minded company, too, in talking about the importance of art education, including Tony Michaels, president and CEO of The Parade Company. He, too, is focused on exposing more people to arts and celebrating culture and holidays at the current facility in downtown Detroit, which the organization has outgrown. That is why Michaels is trying to raise $45 million to build a new multipurpose facility for the floats, art classes and more at the idled Brodhead Armory along Jefferson Avenue on Detroit’s riverfront.
He’s raised $13.5 million so far and is optimistic supporters will hit their target by June 2024. Organizers launched a campaign in June 2022 to raise awareness of it and the nonprofit’s goal with the tagline, “Be a Heart of History.”
“We are hoping to land a naming rights sponsor for $15 million to $20 million, which will keep that name on the building for 60 years,” Michaels told me.
“This is about building a very special building for our city, The Parade Company, the neighborhood, kids and families. In addition, the Brodhead Armory has been empty and decaying for 20-plus years and is now an eyesore along Jefferson Avenue. Our plan is to salvage all (the) art that can be salvaged before levelling the back building. The front building will remain standing and (be) brought back to its original exterior.”
He added the new facility will also house a veterans office for vets to come and go for their meetings.
“There will be huge summer camps for Detroit public school kids featuring arts and crafts, along with art internships, too,” he added.
Michaels said the facility will “be a tourist destination for local and national visitors. This building will be a game changer for the riverfront in that area, as the RiverWalk goes directly behind, allowing The Parade Company to offer activities to kids and families, not only from the RiverWalk, but also in Gabriel Richard Park.“
A favorite parade
The nation gave a collective thumbs-up to America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Gardner White as the best holiday parade in America in 2022, according to USA Today, which ran a contest. USA Today, owned by Gannett, which also owns the Detroit Free Press, just launched its 2023 contest this week, asking the public to vote again on the best parade in the nation. Detroit is again among the finalists. The public can vote online at: https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-holiday-parade-2023/.
The upcoming parade continues its tradition of keeping it fresh: This Thanksgiving there will be three new floats. A float from Barton Malow was set to be unveiled Friday; others from Corewell Health and Skillman Foundation will be unveiled in coming days. The holiday season was to get its official kickoff Friday at The Parade Company’s annual breakfast, where business and political leaders were to gather to see the new Barton Malow float and others — and watch luminaries flip a few flapjacks.
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Contact Carol Cain: 248-355-7126 or clcain@cbs.com. She is senior producer/host of “Michigan Matters,” which airs 5:30 a.m. Sunday on CBS Detroit and noon Sunday on Detroit 50 WKBD. It is also streamed 8 p.m. weeknights on CBSdetroit.com and CBSdetroit app. See Denise Ilitch, Mark Hackel, Dave Coulter, Tammy Carnrike and Alissa Roath on this Sunday’s show.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit will have 3 new floats
