Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational Raises $1.5 Million for Children’s Programs

Jay Feldman and Donnie Wahlberg

Photo Courtesy of Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational

Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation hosted the fourth annual Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational on Aug. 26, 2024. The event raised $1.5 million through sponsorship support, a live auction, and on-site donations. Funding supports Children’s Miracle Network programming at Corewell Health Children’s and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation.

“We are delighted with the incredible success of this event”, Corewell Health in Southeast Michigan President Lamont Yoder, RN, said. “Our gratitude goes out to the many sponsors and celebrities that are the backbone of this one-of-a kind invitational. Funds raised will be used to help the children in our communities when they need it the most.”

The Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational is Metro Detroit’s largest celebrity golf event,

where every foursome enjoys an up-close and personal celebrity pairing. This year’s event featured more than 50 national and local celebrities, including actors Donnie Wahlberg, Kevin Chapman, Jamie Denton, Marion “Pooch” Hall, Jamie Hector, and Jesse Spencer. From the world of sports, Kenny Anderson, Joique Bell, Lomas Brown, Johnny Damon, Braylon Edwards, Calvin Johnson, Pepper Johnson, Frank Zombo, and dozens of others took part in the day’s activities.

The morning began with Donnie Wahlberg

accepting a “putting challenge” from three Corewell Health Children’s “Miracle” children who represented the more than 200,000 children treated at Corewell Health Children’s each year.

After golf, a spirited live auction and course contests raised approx. $300,000 from bids on items including a private tour of Rick Hendrick’s Automotive Heritage Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, hosted and donated by Jay Feldman and Rick Hendrick; a 2025 Formula 1, Monaco package donated by Nino Cutraro; an Italian villa vacation, donated by the Rugiero Family; an electric guitar signed by Taylor Swift, donated by Bob and Connie Skandalaris; dinner in the Celani Wine Cellar, donated by Tom and Vicki Celani; and other experiences.

“It was inspiring to see so many people lending their support and contributing to our cause. We are helping so many children and families with the money raised. We are already planning for next year’s event and aiming to raise even more money to continue to provide support for those families in need.”, Jay Feldman, Chairman/CEO for the Feldman Automotive Group.

This fundraising event would not have been possible

without the exceptional support of the title sponsor, the Feldman Automotive Group; lead presenting sponsor Quantum Ventures of Michigan; presenting sponsors Shift Digital and Vesco Oil Corporation; and supporting sponsors including the Celani Family Foundation, CIBC, Corewell Health, The Fourth Tri Sanctuary, Aaron and Carolynn Frankel Family Foundation, Mechanical Services, NativeWahl, and Terra Capital Industries and more than 50 other generous sponsors.

“Through the generosity of our donors, the community and corporate leaders,” said Ryan Daly, president, Corewell Health Foundation Southeast Michigan, “Corewell Health Children’s will receive support to provide life-saving services, vital pediatric equipment, and funds for patient scholarships for families unable to afford needed care and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation will utilize funds to improve the quality of life for youth across the country by providing financial resources and community support to youth services.”

A dedicated committee of community members worked alongside the foundations to develop this fundraising event: Tom Celani, Nino Cutraro, Jay Feldman, Ken Noonan, Bob Skandalaris, and Sam Yamin.

About Corewell Health Children’s and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

Corewell Health’s Children’s team of more than 80 pediatric subspecialists and more than 400 board-certified pediatricians provide comprehensive health care. Specialty pediatric services including emergency care, hematology-oncology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, cardiology, newborn and pediatric intensive care, pediatric surgery and craniofacial surgery are available at outpatient locations throughout Metro Detroit. Corewell Health Children’s is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals affiliate in Southeast Michigan. Find out more at //corewellhealth.org/childrens  or call 855-480-KIDS (5437). Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay within the community where the funds were raised. CMNHospitals.org

About Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation

The mission of the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation is to improve the quality of life for inner city youth through a working partnership with other youth organizations. The foundation provides financial and community support to assist in making the dreams and ultimate potential of inner-city youth become a reality.  Find out more at markwahlbergyouthfoundation.org

About Feldman Automotive Group

Feldman Automotive Group is headquartered in New Hudson, Michigan. Chairman/CEO, Jay Feldman opened his first Chevrolet dealership in 1996, and today the automotive group is Michigan’s #1 Chevy dealer. The Feldman Automotive Group has evolved over the years to currently owning and operating twenty car and Airstream dealerships with fourteen car brands and 33 brands in Michigan, Ohio, and recently added All-American Chevrolet Cadillac in Muncie, Indiana to their portfolio. Feldman and actor Mark Wahlberg are partners in the six car and RV dealerships in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. The Feldman Automotive Group is driven to provide fast, convenient, and first-class buying and customer experience. The team is also very philanthropic with the “Feldman Cares” program where their mission is to give back to communities throughout the U.S. They have donated millions to help pediatric patients with critical treatments, medical services and equipment, families in need, those with special needs, food insecurities, wounded veterans, animal rescues and more.  For more information, please visit FeldmanAuto.com