Matthew and Kelly Stafford, former Detroit Lions quarterback and his spouse, had an affecting homecoming yesterday, marking a new chapter in their long-standing connection with Detroit. The couple was present for the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new "Kelly and Matthew Stafford & Friends Education Center," a $4 million facility situated on the city's east side at the SAY Detroit Play Center at Lipke Park. According to a report from the Detroit Free Press, the Staffords generously covered about half the cost of the construction, despite their relocation to Los Angeles.
During their visit, akin to children returning to a nurtured home, the Staffords reflected on their growth and connection with the community. While speaking at the dedication, Matthew shared a poignant moment, telling the attendees about a conversation with a local diner, "I guess this is the house we have here," as recounted by WXYZ. Kelly Stafford added that Michigan "raised us to be the people we are." The new arena promises to enhance the center's capacity to 200 children a day and extend its outreach to include adult programming.
These expansive educational and recreational facilities, including a $1 million NFL-class football field, come nearly two years after their groundbreaking. Mitch Albom, founder of SAY Detroit and celebrated author, admitted the staff were "stunned" by the Staffords' commitment to a city they were departing from, as mentioned in a Detroit News statement.
The ceremony not only celebrated the structural addition but also the spirit it fostered. Mayor Mike Duggan highlighted the Staffords never really left Detroit at heart, contributing greatly to the neighborhood's upliftment. Meanwhile, serving popcorn and Detroit Water Ice Factory scoops, Stafford engaged with the community, signing autographs. Invigorated by the structure's completion, Jeremiyah Jackson, who has been bolstered since the facility's inception, and Allison Woodard, an aspiring psychiatrist, appear to be among the many who embodiment the center's transformative effect. Woodard, to the Free Press expressed, "It's no joke how special today is."
