Since taking over as head coach of the Detroit Lions in 2021, Dan Campbell and his wife, Holly, have made it clear that their dedication to Detroit goes far beyond football. Their commitment to the city was recently showcased in a generous partnership with Starbucks, resulting in a $25,000 donation to the Downtown Boxing Gym (DBG), a nonprofit organization in Detroit that focuses on mentorship, tutoring, health and wellness, and various educational resources for local youth.
Holly Campbell first learned about DBG several months ago during a coat drive at their facility on East Vernor in Detroit. Invited by Fox 2 Detroit’s Jennifer Hammond, Holly immediately formed a connection with the organization, impressed by the authenticity of its mission and the genuine engagement between the staff and the youth they serve.
As DBG Executive Director Jessica Hauser explained to MLive, “She really just fell in love with the fact that she said she walked around and could tell every young person was happy to be there, engaged with what they were doing. Adults were genuinely engaging with the kids.”
Holly’s deep connection to DBG grew as she learned more about their comprehensive efforts to support local families and children. From there, she began collaborating with the organization to explore ways to support its future growth.
DBG has had a longstanding relationship with the Lions, serving as one of the team’s Inspire Change partners since 2019, a branch of the NFL’s social justice and philanthropic initiative. However, Holly’s personal involvement took the partnership to new heights. She informed DBG that Starbucks wanted her to feature something meaningful to her in an ad campaign. She chose DBG’s mission, and as part of the filming, she wanted to capture footage at the gym.
Unbeknownst to DBG Founder and CEO Khali Sweeney and Hauser, Holly had a surprise in store. During the filming, as the team stood by, they were told to appear in the commercial. That’s when Holly revealed a Starbucks cup with a note about the $25,000 donation. “We were stunned,” Hauser recalled. “Never in a million years did that cross our minds.”
The surprise donation left DBG’s team feeling honored and humbled. “We’re just really grateful that she connected with our mission in such a deep way,” Hauser added. “The fact that she communicated that to Starbucks, and now we have that trifecta of support, is huge.”
The Campbells’ charitable efforts didn’t stop there. In another show of support, Holly and Kathy Agnew, wife of Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew, donated 12 tickets to the Lions’ NFL divisional round playoff game against the Washington Commanders at Ford Field. DBG was able to auction off the tickets, raising $15,350, and also gave two sets of tickets to DBG families and students for free.
DBG continues to see overwhelming demand, with more than 2,000 kids currently on their waiting list. The organization is looking to expand with a second location, and donations like those from the Campbells and Agnews are crucial to making that a reality.
As Hauser put it, “It’s truly humbling when somebody believes in the work and takes it upon themselves to find ways to support. Holly really went to bat for us. Starbucks resonated with that, and they went to bat internally to provide support.”
For DBG, this experience felt like a true community effort—a sentiment that is reflected in the words Hauser shared after the surprise donation: “That’s what we need to succeed, and it’s just very humbling when those moments happen.”
