September 2, 2025

Detroit Lions Collaborate to Support High School Athletics

News Summary

The Detroit Lions have partnered with United Dairy of Michigan and Planet Fitness to provide grants to high school football and cheerleading programs in Mid-Michigan. This initiative, part of the Touchdown in Your Town Grant program, aims to equip teams with necessary resources. The Lions’ efforts underline their commitment to supporting youth athletics, while local venues prepare to host watch parties for fans during the playoffs. The Lions also shared their 2025 regular season schedule, marking historic matchups, including games on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Detroit – The Detroit Lions have announced a collaboration with United Dairy of Michigan (UDIM) and Planet Fitness to award grants to high school football and cheer programs in Mid-Michigan. This partnership is part of the Touchdown in Your Town Grant initiative, which aims to equip teams with necessary materials such as equipment, technology, and apparel.

The grants will benefit three high school programs specifically located in Mid-Michigan. The funding for these grants is made possible through the Detroit Lions Foundation, which has invested more than $800,000 into similar initiatives since the program’s inception in 2019.

Five high school football programs and five cheer programs across Michigan were selected to receive this grant, underlining the Lions’ commitment to supporting youth athletics. This collaboration emphasizes not only the importance of sports in community development but also the need for adequate resources to foster talent and teamwork among young athletes.

In addition to the announcement of the grants, the Detroit Lions will host the Washington Commanders in an NFC divisional playoff matchup on Saturday, January 18 at 8 p.m. for fans who are eager to support the team. A free watch party will take place at the FIM Capitol Theatre in Flint, allowing attendees to enjoy the game on a giant screen with high-quality sound. Located at 140 E. Second St. in downtown Flint, the Capitol Theatre has previously held watch parties for the Lions’ playoff games against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Francisco 49ers.

Local venues are preparing to celebrate the Lions’ postseason appearance with exciting offerings. Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Saginaw County, known for its award-winning wings in various flavors, will air the game. Grand Blanc Tap Bar and Grill is also set to broadcast the event, featuring game-day specials such as 75¢ wings and $2 domestic bottles. Jake’s Corner Lounge in Bay City is a popular destination for NFL fans and will welcome supporters of the team. The White Horse Tavern in Flint will cater to fans with specialty items, including pizza and wings, during the game.

In addition to these establishments, Kickers Sports Bar & Grill in Grand Blanc Township will host a watch party with a TV giveaway for attendees and a variety of food and drink specials. Pierce Road Bar & Grill will feature 15 TVs showing the game along with special drink deals, providing multiple locations for fans to enjoy the competitive atmosphere.

Looking ahead, the Detroit Lions have released their full regular season schedule for 2025, which includes an exciting Christmas Day matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. For the first time since 1999, the Lions will play on both Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day, with their Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers marking their 86th Thanksgiving Day Classic.

The Lions will also open their season at Lambeau Field against the Packers, a first since 2001. Week 2 will feature a home opener against the Chicago Bears, followed by a Week 3 road game against the Baltimore Ravens, marking their first-ever Monday Night Football game at Baltimore.

Making strides in supporting local high school athletics while providing fans with ample opportunities for community engagement, the Detroit Lions continue to make a positive impact both on and off the field.

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Author: STAFF HERE DETROITMI WRITER

DETROIT STAFF WRITER The DETROIT STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREDetroitMI.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Detroit, Wayne County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Movement Electronic Music Festival, Detroit Grand Prix, and America's Thanksgiving Parade. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Detroit Regional Chamber and Focus HOPE, plus leading businesses in automotive and healthcare that power the local economy such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company, and Henry Ford Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREGrandRapids.com, HERENorthville.com, HERENovi.com, and HEREPlymouth.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Michigan's dynamic landscape.

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