“Powerless kids need powerful friends,” is the motto of the Tarence Wheeler Foundation which aims to alleviate all non-academic barriers for Detroit’s children.
Tarence Wheeler and his foundation’s annual All-Star Giveback has donated more than 23,500 Thanksgiving turkeys to families in need throughout Wayne County since it first started almost three decades ago.
Wheeler often says that he is in the life-saving business, constantly giving back to the community that raised him.
“When I leave this earth,” said Wheeler, “I will leave empty because I will continually pour into the lives of people.”
Since the pandemic, Comerica Bank and Comerica Charitable Foundation has supported the Tarence Wheeler Foundation with $71,000 in charitable sponsorships and grants, which includes this year’s $20,000 in funding—the highest level of support since 2017.
Comerica’s financial assistance will provide resources to support the annual All-Star Giveback event in partnership with the Tarence Wheeler Foundation.
The Annual All-Star Giveback: Thanksgiving Edition will provide more than 3,000 turkeys and food baskets to Metro Detroit residents on a first come, first served basis.
Comerica Bank funding will also support youth development activities coordinated by the Diversified Community Services, Inc., and Tarence Wheeler Foundation partnership.
In recent years, the annual All-Star Giveback supported the community at River Rouge High School. This year, the annual community event will take place at Eastern Market in Detroit, a long-time food security hub in the city. The 2024 All-Star Giveback turkey drive will occur November 26 and start at 11 a.m.
Influencing the move was transportation as challenges prevented some families from traveling to the downriver area high school.
“It’s extremely important because we are able to serve our most vulnerable population and we are able to provide reprieve to people who are choosing between gas and food,” said Wheeler.
He adds, “If you have a position in life, it is about taking people across the finish line.”
Wheeler is a native of Detroit and a former all-state basketball player. He went on to play college hoops at Arizona State.
After playing professional basketball in South America, Wheeler returned to Detroit only to see, as he observed, children who lacked hope, deprived families and crime-ridden neighborhoods. He realized then that he had to do something to make a difference.
Co-founder of the event includes Detroit basketball legend, Derrick Coleman, a former star at Detroit Northern high school who would later play 15 years in the NBA and named an All-Star along with Rookie of the Year.
Coleman recently posted on LinkedIn that, “This event serves as a symbol of unity in addressing food insecurity, especially crucial during the Thanksgiving season. It emphasizes the importance of coming together to support vulnerable communities, showcasing the impact of solidarity in fighting hunger.”
He continued, “In a world where disparities exist, where abundance and scarcity coexist, collaborative efforts like the All-Star Giveback can bring about significant change. By joining forces with this initiative, we not only acknowledge food insecurity but actively work towards solutions, ensuring crucial assistance reaches those in need, particularly during critical times like the holidays.”
The foundation has several programs that benefit our community. They provide community outreach, housing and legal assistance, and a wide variety of community service programs. Some of their programs include a female hygiene campaign that provides necessary sanitary products. Their back-to-school backpack giveaway provides more than 1,000 backpacks to students in Metro Detroit.
“Comerica has been with us since Day 1. From when we had 200 turkeys to giveaway now to 2-3000 turkeys. We could not do this without that partnership,” Wheeler notes. “Comerica has their pulse on the community. They keep their eye on what’s going on in our community and that’s they cultivate great relationships in our community.”
One of Wheeler’s most successful programs is the Mobile Food Pantry, which has passed out over 12 million meals in the last three and a half years. The program is unique in that once a month it also provides pet food.
“The most desperate person is a dangerous person,” Wheeler told Rolling Out last year. “At the end of the day, how do we serve people with empathy and compassion, but more importantly, they leave us greater than when they came?”
Some of the stars who have come out to help out at the All-Star Giveback has included: multi-platinum & Emmy winning Grammy Nominee Rapper Big Sean/Sean Anderson Foundation, Willie Burton, Rick Mahorn, Grant Long, Tim Hardaway, James “Budda” Edwards, Actor/Author Hill Harper, Former NFL Players Herman Moore, Lomas Brown, Rob Sims, Calvin Johnson, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Wayne County Sheriff Ray Washington, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist.
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