DETROIT, Sept. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Ilitch Charities, a non-profit organization affiliated with Detroit entrepreneurs Michael and Marian Ilitch, donated $150,000 in grants today to three prominent southeast Michigan charitable groups: the Detroit Historical Society, the Macomb-Oakland Regional Center and the Michigan Humane Society.

(Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130920/DE84080 )

The grant presentation led by Ilitch Charities Chairman and Ilitch Holdings President and CEO Christopher Ilitch took place during an on-field ceremony at Comerica Park prior to the Detroit Tigers versus the Chicago White Sox game. The $50,000 grants for each of the three benefiting organizations were raised in late August at the Sixth Annual Ilitch Charities Celebrity Golf Classic, the organization's annual signature fundraising event.

"The Ilitch companies are proud to be part of the fabric of our community, and giving back to the communities where we do business is very important to us," said Christopher Ilitch. "Among many other initiatives, our annual Ilitch Charities Celebrity Golf Classic is a great way for us to raise funds each and every year that go directly back into making our community a better place for all."

The Ilitch Charities Celebrity Golf Classic raises funds and awareness for deserving, reputable groups that make a lasting, positive impact on Michigan and Detroit. Past grant recipients include:

The scramble-style golf tournament fundraising event at Oakland Hills Country Club pairs local business and community leaders with current and former Detroit Red Wings and Tigers, other sports stars, local and national celebrities, and media personalities. The event premiered in 2008 and has since resulted in nearly $1 million in grants for excellent causes in the community.

More broadly, since 2005 Ilitch Charities and its affiliates, the Detroit Tigers Foundation and Detroit Red Wings Foundation, have awarded a total of $15 million to the community through grants to local charitable organizations, college scholarships, game tickets, youth sports programs, and in-kind donations.

About Ilitch CharitiesIlitch Charities is a non-profit organization that invests in our community's future by supporting innovative, collaborative and measurable programs in the areas of community development, human services, education and recreation through contributions from the Ilitch companies, their colleagues and the generosity of others. Affiliates of Ilitch Charities include the Detroit Tigers Foundation, the Detroit Red Wings Foundation and the Ilitch companies. For more information, visit IlitchCharities.org.

About the Detroit Historical SocietyThe Detroit Historical Society is a private, nonprofit organization located in Midtown, the heart of Detroit's cultural center. Founded in 1921, its mission is to educate and inspire our community and visitors by preserving and presenting our region's shared history through dynamic exhibits and experiences. Today, the Society operates the Detroit Historical Museum and the Dossin Great Lakes Museum. In addition, the Society is responsible for the conservation and preservation of more than 250,000 artifacts that represent three centuries of our region's rich history. Through its museum exhibits, school tour programs, community-based programs and history-themed outreach efforts, the Society serves a diverse audience of schoolchildren, families and adults of all ages from across metropolitan Detroit and beyond. For more information, visit DetroitHistorical.org.

About the Macomb-Oakland Regional CenterThe Macomb-Oakland Regional Center (MORC) has been supporting the dreams of people with disabilities and their right to make choices about their lives for over 37 years. As a private, nonprofit, human services agency, MORC provides services and supports for more than 5,000 children and adults with developmental disabilities. Utilizing a person-centered planning process, MORC promotes choice, and offers a wide array of services from clinical to recreational to vocational to community living support. For more information, visit MORCinc.org.

About the Michigan Humane SocietyThe Michigan Humane Society is the largest and oldest animal welfare organization in the state. MHS works to end companion animal homelessness, provide the highest quality service and compassion to the animals entrusted to its care, and to be a leader in promoting humane values. The organization's new capital campaign raises funds for a new Animal Welfare Campus in the North End neighborhood of Detroit. The campus will house 20,000 animals and bring 100 new jobs to the city. For more information, visit MichiganHumane.org.

SOURCE Ilitch Charities

RELATED LINKShttp://www.IlitchCharities.org