Gifts roundup: Homebuilders, pizza makers, and PepsiCo executive give millions
The Ilitch family, who founded the Little Caesars pizzeria chain, gave $40 million in property and cash to build a new home in downtown Detroit for Wayne State university’s business school. Of the total, $35 million will support construction costs and $5 million will go toward endowment. The business school is being renamed the Mike Ilitch School of Business. Ilitch, a former minor-league baseball player in the 1950s, and his wife, Marian, started the restaurant chain in 1959. Ilitch owns the Detroit Tigers baseball team and Red Wings, a professional hockey team. The family has been involved in the revival of downtown Detroit in recent years.
