Detroit (WWJ)  -- In August, Ilitch Charities will host its first golf classic at Oakland Hills and local non-profit agencies will benefit.  Non profits that would like to be considered have until April 23rd to submit a proposal to Ilitch Charities, according to chairman Chris Ilitch.

"We have now opened up to take proposals from any non-profit organization which is helping to make our community a better place," Ilitch told WWJ Newsradio 950's Pat Sweeting.  We will be granting up to three organizations up to $300-thousand dollars potentially," he said.

Ilitch Tuesday announced a total of $50,000 in grants to the Detroit Renaissance Foundation ($25,000) and the United Way of Southeastern Michigan ($25,000) for innovative community programs.

In addition, Ilitch announced that effective immediately the 501(c)(3) organization is renamed "Ilitch Charities" in recognition of its expanded mission.  

"We believe that broadening the Ilitch Charities mission to include a focus on economic development will allow us to address not only short-term needs, but support longer-term efforts that will result in increased jobs and an improved economy, which we believe attacks many social issues at the root," explained Ilitch. "This approach, we believe, has the potential to cure problems, versus temporarily fixing them," he said.

For more information, visit the Ilitch Charities web site at this link.