100-Year-Old Local Family Business Supports Community Heroes and Youth

The James H. Cole Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that seeks to provide opportunities for economic empowerment, assist underserved youth and those in need, and support everyday people who serve their communities daily to make Detroit and its citizens better.

After spending 100 years in the community giving back through employing numerous employees from Detroit and providing affordable and quality service to residents during their most difficult time, the company formally established the James H. Cole Legacy Foundation at the end of 2019.

In the few short years since its inception the Legacy Foundation has served thousands of Detroiters through its endeavors, namely The Stevie Award-winning "Love Thy Neighbor" initiative, which was established as a way to thank frontline and essential workers for their sacrifices to keep the community going during the height of the pandemic in 2020. 

A secondary goal of the initiative was to help local businesses keep their doors open during this time so we contracted with Detroit based/minority-owned restaurants and caterers Buddy's Pizza, Bucharest Grill, Lonestar Catering, and Smokey G's Smokehouse to prepare and deliver much needed meals to Sinai Grace and Henry Ford Hospital staff, as well as Detroit Fire stations and Detroit Police precincts.

"Love Thy Neighbor" branded teddy bear. Photo Credit: James H. Cole Legacy Foundation

In its inaugural year the Legacy Foundation also supported youth by donating 500 backpacks filled with school and safety supplies, plus Grubhub gift cards to Detroit Collegiate Preparatory High School at Northwestern, and 50 teddy bears to the Pure Heart Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides services to children within the Metro-Detroit area whose parent/parents are incarcerated. And we didn’t forget about those that are quietly serving their neighbors during the holidays. Community members and non-profit organizations were nominated and chosen as  "Everyday Heroes" through our "12 Days of Giving" initiative, which was also executed in 2021 with a partnership with Beasley Media Group announcing winning honorees each day on the radio. A $100 gift card was provided as a thank you for their local efforts. The momentum continued in 2021. In February, the Legacy Foundation provided more than 150 meals to essential janitorial and administrative staff at Henry Ford Hospital. And in June the Foundation continued campaign efforts by celebrating frontline workers once again with donated dinners to two firehouses near the two James H. Cole Home for Funerals locations. 

Gregory Sims (Smokey G’s Smokehouse) and James Harris (Detroit Fire Department) at Squad 5 firehouse. Photo Credit: Carlotta Tutt Holloway

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We also expanded our partnerships to make an even bigger impact. The Legacy Foundation in partnership with the Youth Are Bigger Than Life organization hosted a relief effort where 500 food donation boxes were distributed to attendees and several organizations and neighbors such as Detroit Rescue Mission, Canine Companions Rescue Center, and residents of Young Manor. And continuing our work with the Pure Heart Foundation, we were proud to sponsor a space in their new Scholars Center, naming it the Cole Legacy Foundation Innovation Lab which offers scholars the space to create, design, and develop their own ideas, while exposing them to new learning techniques and opportunities. The Lab also assists with workforce development and entrepreneurial endeavors. 

Among all initiatives, the annual Heroes and Hope calendar is a favorite, as we feature community members that go above and beyond for their fellow community members. Each month is the celebration of a Hero. We honor them and unveil the calendar at our annual Calendar Reveal Reception at the end of the year. 

 2023 James H. Cole Heroes & Hope Calendar. Photo Credit: James H. Cole Legacy Foundation

If you are interested in making a financial contribution to The James H. Cole Legacy Foundation to help us continue our efforts in the Detroit community, please visit our website at www.jhcfoundation.org and click on the donate button.