Palmer Woods Association President Craig Vanderburg, standing top, and Home Tour Chair Dale Morgan, seated center,  present checks to Robyn Smith (seated left), Director, Community Relations & Events for COTS (Coalition on Temporary Shelter) and Greening of Detroit representative Ashley Atkinson (seated right). Each year a portion of the proceeds from the Holiday Home Tour and Music in Homes concerts is donated back to the community.

Almost two decades ago, the Palmer Woods Association held its first Holiday Home Tour. It laid the groundwork for an event in our neighborhood — a tradition held almost annually since 1990. In 2007, Palmer Woods partnered with the Creative Arts Collective to present an annual series of concerts in our historic homes.

Following tradition, the benefits of this wonderful neighborhood fundraisers are shared with the community. A portion of the proceeds from the 2008 Home Tour and concerts was donated to two important Detroit organizations: Greening of Detroit received $500 to assist with its work of urban reforestation and urban agriculture, and to COTS (Coalition on Temporary Shelter) received $1,000 to help the homeless. The remaining funds are used for neighborhood improvements. A donation was made the the Woodward Avenue Action Association from the proceeds from 2009, and Greening of Detroit, NEXT Detroit and COTS received donations from 2010 events.