Michigan-connected stars are coming to Detroit for The Coney

September 22, 2026

A three-day celebrity fundraising event called The Coney will take place in Detroit from Friday through Sunday, featuring a Saturday night variety show at the Detroit Opera House with Michigan-connected performers including Tim Meadows, Sam Richardson, J.K. Simmons, and "Full House" cast members. The event was conceived by actor Marc Evan Jackson and Children's Foundation CEO Andrew Stein to support youth arts education in Detroit by establishing an Endowed Fund for Youth Arts at the Children's Foundation of Michigan. Organizers have already raised over $2.

Who is affected

Youth arts education organizations in Detroit
Children served by Detroit arts organizations (ranging across various ages)
Small nonprofits in Detroit operating on limited budgets
The Children's Foundation of Michigan (managing the endowed fund)
Detroit residents and youth who will benefit from arts education grants
Celebrity performers with Michigan ties participating in the show
Ticket purchasers and donors supporting the cause

What action is being taken

The Coney three-day celebrity homecoming weekend is running Friday to Sunday
A variety show fundraiser is being held at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Detroit Opera House
Tickets are being sold on Ticketmaster starting at $69
Events throughout the weekend include a first pitch at a Detroit Tigers game and celebrity visits with youth
Funds are being raised for the Endowed Fund for Youth Arts at the Children's Foundation of Michigan
People can place bids or donate on The Coney website
The Children's Foundation is managing approximately $200 million in philanthropic assets

Why it matters

This event matters because it addresses the critical need for arts education funding in Detroit, particularly for youth organizations. The establishment of an endowed fund ensures sustainable, long-term support rather than one-time donations, allowing the Children's Foundation to distribute grants annually in perpetuity. The event is especially significant for smaller nonprofits where grants of $10,000 to $25,000 could represent their largest funding source for the year. Additionally, the event leverages celebrity connections to Detroit to create a replicable fundraising model that could become an annual tradition, while also engaging former Detroiters living elsewhere to reconnect with and support their hometown.

What's next

Shortly after The Coney, the Children's Foundation will post the application process on their website for organizations to submit brief inquiries for funding eligibility
The Foundation will enter into conversations with eligible organizations
A round of grants will be distributed over the next couple of months after the event
Organizers hope to make The Coney an annual fundraiser where arts organizations across the city receive grants every year

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com