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Regional Leaders Team Up In Fight Against Hunger; Eastern Market Gears Up For Busy Season

Hunger is a huge problem across our region for too many children and families which is why Gleaners Community Food Bank of Southeastern Michigan is stepping up in April with two mega events to help raise dollars.

Ric DeVore, PNC regional president for Detroit and Southeast Michigan , and Katy Locker, director of Knight Foundation's Detroit programs and chair of Gleaners, appeared with "Michigan Matters" Senior Producer/Host Carol Cain to talk about the Million Meal Match campaign taking place in April via two events to raise money to provide one million meals.

The Gleaners' campaign includes two events: the Third Annual Women's Power Happy Hour held April 7 from 5:30-7:30pm at the MGM Grand Detroit; and the Women's Power Breakfast on April 21 from 7-9 am at Eastern Market Shed #3.

PNC Bank, DTE Energy, Michigan.com, GM Foundation and other corporations are pitching in to help. The two events feature some high-powered women lending their support to the cause.

Locker said funds raised will be matched by the corporations which is how they will hope to arrive at the ambitious million meal mark.

Seeing the needs of the community, DeVore added that PNC has been a staunch supporter of Gleaners for years.
On other issues, Locker talked about the upcoming 2016 Knight Arts Challenge Detroit which runs April 4 to May 2.

This is the fourth year of the challenge where anyone can apply for a share of $3 million in matching grants for arts ideas that enrich the Detroit community. Over 170 individuals or groups in Detroit have won Knight Arts Challenge grants since 2013.

There is an online application that requires no more than 150 words and has to meet three criterion: the idea must be about the arts, the project must take place in or benefit Detroit, and the grant recipient must find funds to match Knight's commitment. Go to knightarts.org starting April 4 for more.

Dan Carmody, who runs Eastern Market, also appears on the show to talk about the busy season for the iconic market in downtown Detroit.

Carmody discussed upcoming events there including the highly touted May Flower Day May 15 where hundreds of thousands gather to buy some of the most incredible flowers and plants in the region at great prices.

Carmody talked about the historic market's impact on Detroit and efforts to help attract more millennials to the Motor City.

You can hear the conversation by watching "Michigan Matters" 11:30 am Sunday only on CBS 62.

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