The Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) held its 41st annual Detroit Aglow on Monday, November 24, at MGM Grand Detroit, with more than 500 guests in attendance. This annual fundraiser, which has become the must-attend event of the season, was presented by Amazon and supported by Verizon.
The evening kicked off with a networking reception with holiday-themed signature cocktails. After an interactive hour of networking with regional leaders in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, guests took their seats for a short presentation and the main event.
DDP Chief Administrative Officer Lisa Assante-Appiah opened the program and introduced Ian Conyers, head of Community Engagement for Amazon in the Midwest. Conyers shared that Amazon is excited to partner with the DDP and support its mission. With 1,200 employees in the city (and 22,000 across the state), the company has a vested interest in the city’s future. Next, DDP CEO Eric Larson welcomed the guests and delivered a heartfelt tribute to retiring staff member Maryann Listman, director of Governance and Policy. Board Chair Cindy Pasky, founder, president, and CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions, recognized the Board of Directors, veterans, first responders, and the DDP team, and then welcomed Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield to the podium for her inaugural Detroit Aglow appearance.
DDP Executive Committee Member Bishop Edgar Vann II, senior pastor of Second Ebenezer Church made the invocation, and it was time for the ceremonial toast with Larson, Pasky, Sheffield, Vann, and Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison.
As is Detroit Aglow tradition, in addition to the standard Thanksgiving fare guests enjoy, each table designated one person to serve as the Master Chef to carve their turkey tableside. The carvers donned an official DDP-branded chef coat, sponsored by Bosch, which they could keep as a commemorative keepsake to impress family and friends on Thanksgiving.
The evening included live entertainment by Kalkaska Quartet.
A special thanks to the sponsors for helping to make this event possible: Amazon, Verizon, Bosch, MGM Grand Detroit, DTE Foundation, Comcast, and GM.
Check out more photos from the 41st annual Detroit Aglow presented by Amazon below and make plans to attend next year’s Detroit Aglow on November 23, 2026.
