For 40 years the Downtown Detroit Partnership (DDP) has gathered with key leaders in the civic, corporate, and non-profit sectors on the Monday after Tree Lighting to look back on a successful year and ahead to new opportunities. In honor of the four decades of this cherished tradition, the event theme was Aglow for 40 Years: Celebrating Connections.
This year, DDP hosted more than 500 guests at MGM Grand Detroit for Detroit Aglow presented by Amazon, a benefit to support the Downtown Detroit Partnership, which sold out within two weeks of the event date. It was a unique time to celebrate DDP’s mission to cultivate social and economic impact in Downtown Detroit with its champions – from board members and funders to partners and teammates.
The evening kicked off with a networking reception, as guests enjoyed holiday-themed signature cocktails by Casamigos. After an interactive hour of networking, the doors of the highly anticipated event opened.
We heard from presenting sponsor Amazon’s head of community affairs, Ian Conyers; DDP Board Chair Cindy Pasky; retiring Executive Committee Chair and president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Daniel J. Loepp; Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and Executive Committee Member Bishop Edgar Vann II.
DDP leadership honored and recognized Daniel J. Loepp, thanking him for not only his leadership at the DDP but throughout the entire Downtown and city. He also shared heartfelt words about his time serving on DDP’s Board.
Each guest received a lapel pin created in partnership with Detroit-based business, Rebel Nell. These pins were crafted, in the shape of the Spirit of Detroit, from a unique art pieces collectively created by individuals — many of whom were in attendance — during Draft Day in the D, DDP-led activations that were curated as part of the 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit.
Mayor Duggan led the traditional Aglow Toast, and was joined by Pasky, Larson; Loepp, Conyers, and Vann, who closed out the program with an invocation.
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 were able to have as a commemorative keepsake.
The evening included live entertainment by The Next Generation Funk Brothers.
A special thanks to the sponsors for helping to make this event possible: Amazon, Bedrock, Bosch, Casamigos, Comcast, DTE Foundation, MGM Grand Detroit, and Verizon.
Check out more photos from the 40th annual Detroit Aglow presented by Amazon below, and make plans to attend next year’s Detroit Aglow on November 24, 2025.
Mark your calendars for our next signature event: 2025 Annual Meeting held on March 6, 2025 at Eastern Market.
