Meijer Joins As Premier Sponsor Of Mateen Cleaves' "1 Goal, 1 Passion: Hope For The Holidays" To Bring Joy To 1,000 Struggling Michigan Families

Michigan families in five cities will celebrate the holidays with help from Meijer, non-profit, sports, entertainment & business communities

News provided by

Meijer; Mateen Cleaves "1 Goal, 1 Passion"

Nov 22, 2013, 08:00 ET

FLINT, Mich., Nov. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer Meijer will join the Mateen Cleaves "1 Goal, 1 Passion: Hope for the Holidays" campaign, as its premier sponsor, it was announced today. As part of its commitment, the retailer will offer each of the 1,000 families selected to participate in the program a $100 Meijer gift card to help buy groceries and seasonal household items.

"Meijer recognizes that in these tough economic times, some of our customers may not have the ability to make holiday celebrations a reality," Meijer President J.K. Symancyk said. "Meijer is joining the '1 Goal, 1 Passion: Hope for the Holidays' project in an effort to help more of our customers and neighbors this holiday season, and we are very pleased to partner with Mateen to bring holiday hope and joy to those in need."

Families participating in the program are nominated by the United Way, Habitat for Humanity and the Boys & Girls Clubs, the non-profit partners of the "1 Goal, 1 Passion: Hope for the Holidays" project. Each family will receive comprehensive holiday gift packages to meet all of their needs for the holiday season and beyond. The gift packages will include payment of electric, gas and water utility bills, toys and gifts for each family member, healthcare assistance, personal finance recommendations for saving and budgeting, as well as United Way job counseling and placement services. All families considered for the program have been impacted by the continuing economic crisis in Michigan, and will be selected from the Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Detroit and Flint areas.

A series of "1 Goal, 1 Passion: Hope for the Holidays" fundraisers, including three high profile events; a bowling tournament, a tailgating event and a VIP holiday party and silent auction, plus donations from Michigan sports and business organizations will also help provide support for the designated families.

"We're excited that Meijer is again joining our efforts as our premier sponsor in this project," said Mateen Cleaves. "This summer, with their support, we served over 900 Michigan youth during our initial event, the '1 Goal, 1 Passion' summer basketball camps. During the holiday season, by teaming up with Meijer and joining forces with the Red Wings, Tigers, Pistons, Fox Sports Detroit, Fathead, our non-profit partners and other members of the sports and business community, we hope to make a difference and have an impact on the lives of families across Michigan."

In addition to the partners listed above, CBS Outdoor, Freakin' Unbelievable Burgers, Coca Cola Distributors, Dean Transportation and others have joined the initiative to raise awareness and provide in-kind goods and services in support of the designated Michigan families.

Community members interested in attending the MSU v. Minnesota Tailgate Party on Nov. 30 or the VIP Holiday Party on Dec. 6, and those wishing to make a charitable tax-deductible donation for the families are encouraged to visit www.1goal1passion.com.

All ticket proceeds and donations are tax deductible and will be used to meet the goal of $1,000 per family, or a total of $1.3 million in assistance for the 1,000 recipient families.

About the Mateen Cleaves "1 Goal, 1 Passion: Hope for the Holidays" Project

The Mateen Cleaves' "One Goal, One Passion: Hope for the Holidays" initiative is an effort to bring hope and immediate assistance to 1,000 families in the Michigan cities of Lansing, Grand Rapids, Saginaw, Flint and Detroit. Each family will receive a holiday package that will include holiday essentials, including basic household needs (electric, gas, water bills paid); holiday experience, including meals and gifts; and life sustainment programs, including counselling to help families find jobs, receive healthcare and learn budgeting and financial planning skills beyond the holidays. Sponsors and supporting organizations for the initiative include United Way, Habitat for Humanities, FlintPal, Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint, Whaleys Children, Old News Boys, FOX Sports Detroit, CBS Outdoors and Catholic Churches. Retailer Meijer is the premier sponsor of the initiative. More information can be found at: www.1goal1passion.com or 818-305-4117.

About Meijer

Meijer is a Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer that operates 204 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. As a pioneer of the "one-stop shopping" concept, Meijer stores have evolved through the years to include expanded fresh produce and meat departments, as well as pharmacies, comprehensive electronics departments, garden centers and apparel offerings. Additional information on Meijer and the ability to shop for more can be found at www.meijer.com . Follow Meijer on Twitter @twitter.com/Meijer and @twitter.com/MeijerPR or become a fan at www.facebook.com/meijer.

About Mateen Cleaves

A Flint, Mich., native, 2000 Michigan State NCAA Champion and former NBA Detroit Piston, Mateen Cleaves is currently a sports analyst and commentator for Fox Sports Detroit's coverage on "Pistons Live," and the CBS Sports Network's NCAA "Inside College Basketball" and Bracket Breakdown. In addition, he hosts SiriusXM Radio's weekly sports talk shows "College Sports Today" and "Off the Dribble." Cleaves, MSU's only three-time All-American, and a two–time Big 10 Player of the Year for the Spartans, was the 14^th overall selection in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. During his 7-year NBA career he also played for the Sacramento Kings, Seattle Supersonics and Cleveland Cavaliers. Inducted in the Michigan State University Sports Hall of Fame in 2010, Cleaves was also honored by the NCAA in 2013 as one of the top players in its 75-year history. He was officially inducted into the State of Michigan's Sports Hall of Fame. A recognized philanthropist, Cleaves founded the Mateen Cleaves Community Outreach Foundation with a mission to encourage adults and youth to use their talents, resources, and influence to give back to their communities. His good works were recently recognized with the "Community Hero Award" from the Boys & Girls Club of Flint. Follow Mateen Cleaves Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube .