2014 marks the 25th Anniversary of the 1989 NBA Champion for the Detroit Pistons Bad Boys Team. ESPN is commemorating the anniversary with a documentary in their 30for30 series, which will air on April 17th at 8pm est. The team and the Pistons organization reunited in Detroit to celebrate the anniversary by hosting a weekend of events that raised over $300,000 for local Detroit nonprofit organizations.
“The Bad Boys mean so much to our franchise, our fans and the City of Detroit,” said Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores. “They played with toughness, passion and heart. They are champions. They reflect the spirit of the people of Michigan in so many ways. It is an honor to celebrate their legacy in a way that continues to inspire and give back to the community.”
Learn more about Isiah’s great work in the Detroit community over the past three decades:
- Chosen by then-Michigan Attorney General Jennifer M. Granholm to be a primary leader of 2000 for 2000: Michigan’s Mentoring Initiative, a program to recruit and train 2000 mentors for 2000 at-risk youth and teens. Isiah was proud to help, “my own life was touched by people who cared enough to open my heart and soul to hope and my eyes to opportunity. Offering resources from the Isiah Thomas Foundation to this Initiative and serving as a leadership partner are only the first steps in my commitment to this mentoring program. It is my hope that many others will join in this worthwhile endeavor.”
- Created Steps to Success Job Shadow and Youth Forum for Detroit Public Schools.
- Created MotorCity Revival, a progressive dinner fundraiser in Detroit. The unique event celebrated the revitalization of Detroit and served as a rally to recommit to youth and raised over $135,000 with celebrities like Aretha Franklin, Mayor Archer, Attorney General Jennifer Granholm, Herman Moore, Robert Porcher and more in attendance.
- In 1989, when the city of Detroit announced plans to cancel all sports programs in public high schools as part of a budgetary-crisis cutback, The Pistons helped raise $373,000 to save the programs (a great campaign launched by teammate Dave Bing).
- While playing for the Pistons, Isiah helped with the national and local anti-drug campaigns (he was even featured in a video for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that was used in schools across the country). Watch the PSA he did for Detroit.
- At the young age 25, Isiah devised Detroit’s “No Crime Day”, which was a powerful plea from him and Mayor Coleman Young to curb the violence in the community. Praised for the “novel idea” and for his ability to connect with the community, Isiah took the first step in what would become a larger anti-violence campaign with the business and civic community.