The Skillman Foundation

DETROIT – The Skillman Foundation’s Board of Trustees approved the appointment of three new members to champion Detroit children.

The Board welcomed Pastor Solomon Kinloch, Jr. of Triumph Church, Elizabeth Morales of Ice Miller, LLP, and Gary Torgow of TCF Financial and Chemical Financial Corporation as new members, bringing unique perspectives from their professional and personal experiences to advance the Foundation’s mission of improving the well-being of Detroit’s young people.

“I’m honored to serve alongside such committed pillars of the community,” said Bill Emerson, vice-chairman of Rock Holdings, Inc.—the parent company of Rocket Mortgage and Quicken Loans—who serves as chair for the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. “Their dedication to Detroit and its youth are vital as we continue to advocate for more opportunities to cultivate and nurture our city’s future leaders.”

Kinloch has served as the lead pastor of Detroit’s Triumph Church since 1998. Under his leadership, Triumph has expanded to eight campuses with a total of 35,000 members. Since 2008, Triumph has appeared on numerous lists of best and fastest-growing congregations in the U.S.

Morales is a recent graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, where she served as the executive editor of the Michigan Journal of Race and Law and was a board member of the Latino Law Students Association and First Generation Law Students. A Detroit native, Morales is the Foundation’s youngest-ever Board member, received The Skillman Foundation Legacy Scholars Award for her community activism, and interned as the Foundation’s executive student advisor in 2012.

Torgow is the executive chairman of TCF Financial and Chemical Financial Corporation and was founder and chairman of both Talmer Bank and the Sterling Group, a Michigan-based real estate, development, and investment company. He serves on several local boards, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and DTE Energy.

“We are excited to add such dedicated community leaders to our distinguished Board of Trustees,” said Tonya Allen, The Skillman Foundation’s president and CEO. “These new points of view—from the faith community, the financial sector, and Detroit’s young people—will allow us to find new and innovative ways to create an equitable future for Detroit kids.”

The Skillman Foundation embraces diversity and authentic inclusion in all areas of its work and considers it a prerequisite for positive social change. Both new and current Board members reflect the Foundation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as expressed by their work on and off The Skillman Foundation Board and their personal identities.

The new appointees will occupy positions left by Dr. Herman B. Gray and Eddie Munson, who will leave the Board when their terms expire at the end of the year. Gray—the chair of Wayne State University’s Department of Pediatrics—served on the board for 11 years while Munson—a certified public accountant—served for 15 years.

“It’s been a real privilege to serve with Herman and Eddie,” said Emerson. “The Board will honor their legacies and devotion to the Foundation in our work.”

“I sincerely thank Dr. Gray and Mr. Munson for their years of service to Detroit’s youth,” said Allen. “And I know that Pastor Kinloch, Ms. Morales, and Mr. Torgow will continue the Board’s passion for and work on behalf of our city and its young people.”