There was a surprise announcement before the start of the recent Jalen Rose Leadership Academy golfing fundraiser.

With JRLA co-founder Jalen Rose, Platinum Equity and Detroit Pistons representatives standing nearby at the Detroit Golf Club, Henry Ford Health VP Jerry Darby announced the healthcare system would donate a now-closed hospital to allow the public charter school to move into a larger space to further the educational mission of the longtime Platinum Equity partner.

“We are donating 70,000 square feet of space so Jalen can provide a new gym, and a space that will allow JRLA to educate more kids while doing more exciting things for the community of Detroit,” Darby said to cheers.

“We’re just so excited about it. For us, it’s about partnerships. Along with our partners, Platinum Equity and the Detroit Pistons, we’re building housing, we’re doing those types of things in the community, and now we’re able to provide the educational services which could lead to these students, we hope, coming to work with us at Henry Ford Health in the future.”

Darby made his announcement at the JRLA Celebrity Golf Classic, which serves as the school’s largest fundraiser. Platinum Equity Founder and CEO Tom Gores and the firm served as presenting sponsors for the 12th consecutive year.

 

HFH_FACILITY
The former Henry Ford Health Kingswood Hospital, a 70,000 square-foot facility located in Royal Oak Township.

 

With the donation, JRLA is planning to relocate the school approximately two miles away into the former Henry Ford Health Kingswood Hospital, which is located in Royal Oak Township.

The former hospital, which provided behavioral healthcare for decades, was shuttered earlier this year when Henry Ford Health opened a new facility. The existing JRLA space, located in northwest Detroit, and serves more than 400 9th-12th grade students, will eventually be converted into a middle school, allowing JRLA to serve 6th-8th grade students for the first time.

JRLA plans to launch a $20 million capital campaign to help fund renovations. The school previously raised $6 million – which includes a $1 million donation from Gores – from a previous capital raise that can be used for the project. Platinum Equity has also sponsored a mentorship program for JRLA students and awarded $50,000 in scholarships through the program recently.

Darby referenced the healthcare system’s partnerships with Platinum Equity and the Detroit Pistons, which are owned by Gores. Henry Ford, Gores, the Pistons and Michigan State announced the $3 billion Future of Health development in 2023, which promises to transform the New Center neighborhood of Detroit with a new state-of-the-art hospital along with residential, commercial, retail, recreational and research components.

Platinum Equity and the Detroit Pistons helped to facilitate the relationship between JRLA and Henry Ford, bringing the two sides together to help the school with its infrastructure issue. A routine part of Rose’s advocacy is a not-so-subtle reminder that the school’s basketball teams have never played a home game in 15 years of existence. 

 

JR HFH Meeting 1
Henry Ford Health VP of planning, development and design Jerry Darby, Rose and Pistons Chief Operating Officer Rich Haddad in 2023 discussing potential options for a new school location.

 

The Henry Ford donation is a needed step.

“This type of collaboration is exactly what Tom envisions when he calls the Pistons a community asset,” said Platinum Equity Principal Dan Whelan, who participated in the golf outing that raised at least $150,000.

“We can start to address problems, find solutions for the community when we talk to each other and not work in silos, and the Pistons provide a great platform to spark teamwork between like-minded institutions.”

Rose said he values the support.

“My Platinum Equity family, I’m forever grateful,” said Rose. “Tom Gores, the Detroit Pistons, Henry Ford have done a great job of not only talking the talk but walking the walk.”

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