Local officials and the operators of Royal Oak’s largest city festival handed out some big checks Tuesday.
Nonprofit leaders gathered at Flagstar Bank Regional Headquarters in Troy to receive their share of proceeds from the 28th annual Arts, Beats and Eats held during Labor Day weekend in the city’s downtown.
City and county officials, along with ABE Festival producer Jon Witz and his wife, Lori, President of the Arts, Beats and Eats Foundation, handed out a record-breaking $400,076.87 to charities. The event has raised over $8.2 million since 1998. The three-day festival attracted more than 345,000 attendees – a 15 percent increase from 2024.
“This year’s Arts, Beats and Eats exceeded expectations on every level,” Witz said. “With increased attendance, record-setting contributions to local nonprofits and the Michigan Lottery joining as our new title sponsor, 2025 marked a standout chapter in the festival’s history. These results were made possible by the collective energy of our community, from the patrons who attended, to our partners, nonprofits, volunteers and guests who continue to make this event so impactful.”
Of this year’s contributions, $150,004.58 goes directly to Royal Oak–based charities, bringing total donations to over $1.8 million since 2010. Funds were generated through multiple sources, including gate admission fees, beverage proceeds, festival-sponsored community initiatives and more.
There were plenty of smiling faces from high school sports to food banks and the Royal Oak American Legion, which picked up checks that help bolster their nonprofit’s mission.
Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter, Oakland County Commission Board Chair Dave Woodward and Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier helped give out the proceeds to each nonprofit. Royal Oak commissioners Brandon Kolo and Sharlan Douglass were also on hand for the event.
“Not only does the Arts, Beats and Eats include great music, food, and art. But it gives back to the community, and always has from the very beginning,” Coulter said. “Today’s gathering is really an important, complete, and honoring of what this is all about. It wouldn’t be the same if we weren’t gathered here celebrating the organizations in our community. And for 28 years, non-profits and worthy groups in Oakland County have benefited.”
“I was fortunate to be at the very first one, and I have been to every Arts Beats and Eats since. It is the most constant thing in my life and it just gets better and better,” Woodward, a Royal Oak native, said. “One thing I want to first recognize is all of you, the volunteers, who mobilize to make possible the experience for 345,000 people during the longest day festival in the entire state of Michigan. It is the people in this room that are doing the work day in and day out to make our community stronger. You brought that energy to this event. It is an incredible showcase of our community, the culinary experience, the art and culture.”
Fournier was appreciative of the hard work and dedication of each nonprofit that band together to make the downtown experience an incredible one.
“Arts, Beats and Eats is an incredible four days in Labor Day weekend. And today, to me, personally, I think this is one of the most exciting days,” he said. “We get recognition of so many non-profits, all the hard-working people and volunteers at these non-profits. And to see the community, give back to the community, is really inspiring.”
Michigan Lottery Arts, Beats and Eats partnered with Corewell Health for the 12th annual Family Days. In collaboration with the Judson Center and the Ted Lindsey Foundation Hope Center, support was provided to 1,500 children on the autism spectrum and their family members with two free days of fun and entertainment, which included parking, lunch, and unlimited carnival rides. Proceeds from the festival were distributed among many entities, including:
Donation funds totaling $99,00 were awarded to core charities including:
• Children’s Center of Wayne Co.
• Children’s Miracle Network
• COTS
• Detroit Public Theatre
• Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
• Dutton Farm
• Forgotten Harvest
• Lighthouse MI
• Metro Detroit Youth Clubs
• Stagecrafters
• The Rainbow Connection
• Volunteers of America Michigan
Proceeds from beverage sales of $172,702.87 went to 19 participating charitable and community groups including:
• Almost Home Animal Rescue
• American Legion Post 253 Frank Wendland Post
• Berkley Bears Football Boosters
• BuildOn International Academy
• Clawson Athletic Boosters
• Clawson Chamber of Commerce
• Daniziah T Crawford Foundation
• Detroit Roller Derby
• Ferndale Schools Fine Arts Boosters
• Griffins High School Hockey Boosters Inc.
• Muscular Dystrophy Association
• Ray and Phyllis Foundation
• ReLeaf Michigan, Inc.
• ROHS Model UN
• Royal Oak Football Team, Inc.
• Royal Oak High School cheer
• Royal Oak High School PTSA-SANP
• St. Paul Lutheran Church and School
• Team Happy Feet
A total of $11,560 was donated by the festival to First Presbyterian Church of Royal Oak, Royal Oak First United Methodist Church and St. Mary Catholic Church for parking lots.
Cultural entertainment organizations received $22,075. Recipients in this category
included:
• ArtLabJ
• Detroit School of Rock & Pop / Live The Music Foundation
• Michigan Science Center
• Michigan Taiwanese American Organization
• Mosaic Youth Theatre
• Motor City Street Dance Academy
• Motown Museum
Donations to Open Hands Pantry in Royal Oak totaled $2,000 thanks to collaborations with Baker College and Kroger. More than two dozen charitable organizations and community groups also received contributions totaling $92,739.00 including:
• ABE on 5th-Royal Oak Civic Foundation Event
• American Cancer Society
• American Legion Post 253 Frank Wendland Post
• Autism Alliance
• BHW Foundation
• Detroit Riverfront Conservancy
• Fern Care
• Gilda’s Club
• Judson Center
• Lighthouse MI
• Make A Wish
• Metro Detroit Youth Clubs (Royal Oak Campus)
• Metro Detroit Youth Clubs (Holiday Baskets)
• Motown Historical Museum
• Oakland Schools PTA
• Outreach on 7th
• Royal Oak Athletic Boosters
• Royal Oak Civic Foundation
• Royal Oak Fire Department Charities
• Royal Oak First United Methodist Church
• Royal Oak Titans Football
• Royal Oak Historical Society
• Royal Oak Local 431
• Royal Oak Peer to Peer Programs
• Royal Oak Schools
• Royal Oak Schools Athletic Boosters
• Royal Oak Symphony
• Royal Oak Woman’s Club
• Royal Oak Youth Assistance
• Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Youth Council
• South Oakland Citizens for the Homeless
• Stagecrafters
• Sunflowers Christian Preschool
• Take One
• Tiger Lily
• Transportation Riders United
• United Way for Southeastern Michigan
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.dailytribune.com ’
