DTE Foundation unveils new float, “Serving With Energy” to debut in America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van

DETROIT - The DTE Foundation and The Parade Company unveiled an illuminating new float, “Serving With Energy” today at the Parade Company. The float design, which highlights DTE Foundation’s commitment to the community, the environment and the importance of renewable energy, was inspired by the winning entry in the DTE Foundation’s statewide float design competition, submitted by Carter McCalister, an 8^th grader from Jefferson Middle School in Monroe, Mich.  The float is set to debut in the 93^rd America’s Thanksgiving Parade^® presented by Art Van. Photos are available here.

The float, built by The Parade Company, features more than 30 sculpted LED lightbulbs, painted with special iridescent paint to give the bulbs a special glow.  The largest bulb is 25 feet high and nine feet wide; if it was an actual bulb it would be an estimated 1,260 watts and emit 161,280 lumens. Other features include spinning wind turbines and an LED lightbulb band rocking out in Beacon Park.  During the parade, costumed marchers accompanying the float will be dressed as bees and flowers.

Tony Michaels, President & CEO of The Parade Company, was joined by Nancy Moody, Chair of the DTE Foundation and Vice-President, Public Affairs, DTE, at the unveiling today at The Parade Company.

Voted as America’s Number One Holiday Parade by the 2018 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards and recognized as one of the best Thanksgiving parades in the country by U.S. News & World Report Travel, the 93^rd America’s Thanksgiving Parade presented by Art Van takes place on storied Woodward Avenue on Thursday, Nov. 28.

About The Parade Company

Founded in 1984, The Parade Company is a not-for-profit organization governed by the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation whose board of directors is comprised of key civic and corporate leaders in the greater Detroit region. The Parade Company is celebrating more than 90 years of Parade tradition in Detroit and is committed to funding, creating and executing the best family events in Michigan. The Parade Company staff, board of directors and thousands of parade volunteers work year-round to bring a wide variety of magnificent events to the City of Detroit and the region including the Ford Fireworks, Strategic Staffing Solutions Turkey Trot, and America's Thanksgiving Parade^® presented by Art Van. Follow The Parade Company on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About the DTE Foundation

The DTE Foundation is the philanthropic arm of DTE Energy, continuing the legacy of community support and involvement of its electric and natural gas utilities, which serves 2.2 million electric customers in Southeast Michigan and 1.3 million natural gas customers in Michigan. In 2018, the DTE Energy Foundation provided $18 million in grant support to nonprofits throughout the company's service territories. As one of Michigan's leading corporate citizens, DTE Energy is a force for growth and prosperity in communities across Michigan in a variety of ways, including philanthropy, volunteerism and economic progress. Visit DTEFoundation.com to learn more.