Dan Campbell and his wife, Holly, have been strong supporters of the Detroit Lions since he became head coach in 2021. Their dedication to Detroit, however, extends far beyond football. Recently, they made a generous $25,000 donation to a local nonprofit, demonstrating their commitment to the community.
Together with Starbucks, the Campbells donated the $25,000 to the Downtown Boxing Gym (DBG), a Detroit-based 501(c)(3) organization that has become deeply involved with local youth. DBG offers mentorship, tutoring, health and wellness resources, and intervention programs focusing on math and literacy, among other services.
Holly Campbell first learned about DBG’s community work months ago when she attended a coat drive at their facility at 6445 East Vernor. She was invited to the event by Fox 2 Detroit’s Jennifer Hammond.
At the event, Holly was immediately drawn to DBG’s authenticity and the positive energy around the organization.
“She was struck by how every young person she encountered seemed excited to be there and engaged in the activities. The adults were genuinely involved with the kids,” explained DBG Executive Director Jessica Hauser to MLive. “As Holly learned more about our work, including our efforts to meet every need of families in the community, it made perfect sense to support us.”
Since then, Holly has been actively involved with DBG, working to support its growth and future plans. As their relationship developed, Holly realized she could help further DBG’s mission through a partnership with Starbucks. She approached them about doing an ad campaign and wanted to highlight DBG’s work as part of the campaign.
For the ad, which appeared on her Instagram story, she chose to film it at DBG’s gym. During the shoot, she surprised DBG leaders with a special announcement.
“We thought Holly was just filming a commercial, so we were shocked when she handed us a Starbucks cup with a note about a donation,” said Hauser. “We were completely stunned—never expected that kind of surprise. It was such an honor and humbling to see Holly connect with our mission so deeply, and then to have Starbucks come on board to support us.”
Along with this donation, Campbell and Kathy Agnew, wife of Lions assistant general manager Ray Agnew, contributed 12 tickets to the Lions’ divisional round playoff game against the Washington Commanders. DBG auctioned the tickets, raising $15,350, and also gave two sets of tickets to families and students within the program at no cost.
DBG is currently facing a significant waiting list, with more than 2,000 children hoping to join their program. With plans to expand by building a second location, exposure and donations are crucial to their success. The Campbells’ generosity, along with the support from the Agnews, is deeply appreciated.
“It’s always humbling when people believe in your work and find ways to contribute,” Hauser said. “Holly really advocated for us, and Starbucks responded by rallying support internally. That sense of community and teamwork is vital to our success, and it’s deeply humbling to experience it.”