Thompson is a 20-year veteran of the Royal Oak Fire Department, where he has attained the rank of acting lieutenant. In addition to founding several of the department’s community involvement programs, including the Royal Oak Firefighters’ Safety Town, he also teaches at the Eastern Michigan University Fire Staff & Command School.

Thompson is a 1991 graduate of Life Chiropractic College (Marietta, Ga.) where he earned a degree of Doctor of Chiropractic. He is also a 2016 graduate of EMU, where he earned certification in Fire Staff & Command (Class 18).

In his role, Thompson will be responsible for managing all fundraising and development activities to create greater visibility of Detroit PAL in the community, and cultivate philanthropic support that will extend the organization’s mission of building character in young people through athletic, academic and leadership development programs.

With 15 years in fundraising, grant writing and grant management, Thompson has served in key fund development roles for a variety of community development initiatives for police departments, fire departments, cities, government agencies and nonprofits across the country.

As a grant consultant for the Detroit Public Safety Foundation, Thompson was instrumental in helping the Detroit Fire Department secure approximately $96 million in grants, including the two largest Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants that have been awarded in the United States.

Contact Cary: cthompson@detroitpal.org