Community Members Join Henry Ford Hospital Team for Day-Long Celebration to Mark Historic Detroit Groundbreaking

DETROIT – Music and joy filled the air Thursday as neighbors, students, community leaders, hospital team members and more came together on the lawn next to Henry Ford Health’s Brigitte Harris Cancer Pavilion to celebrate the groundbreaking of Destination: Grand, the vast plan to reimagine and expand Henry Ford Hospital.

The day was marked with gratitude for those who make Henry Ford Hospital so special: its team and its community. Local food trucks lined the lawn as attendees were greeted with the upbeat sounds of DJ Don Mecca. Adults and children alike participated in free activities such as:

• “Silent Disco Yoga” hosted by Detroit-based City Glow Yoga,
• Painting a brand-new mural that will be displayed in the new hospital facility,
• Decorating a hard hat to take home as a keepsake,
• Stretching, dribbling and teamwork drills with the Detroit Pistons Academy staff,
• Physical rehabilitation equipment demonstrations with Shirley Ryan AbilityLab,
• Important health screenings,
• Meet & greet with Hooper and the Detroit Pistons dancers and drumline,
• And so much more!

“We are building these new hospital facilities for our community and for our team—so who better to celebrate this milestone in our history with than the people who mean the most to us?” said Mary Jane Vogt, Executive Vice President and Chief Development Officer. “We looked for meaningful, engaging ways to create a memorable day for everyone, and I truly believe that every time we walk by the mural in the new hospital—the mural that was created today by our hospital community—we will be reminded of how special this venture is.”

Earlier in the day, health system leaders were joined by key partners and elected officials for the “official” groundbreaking ceremony, kicking off the years-long construction for Destination: Grand, the $2.2 billion plan to vastly expand Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. You can learn more about the groundbreaking ceremony here.

Photos and video from the day-long community celebration can be found here.