Danialle Karmanos is an American philanthropist, humanitarian, activist, and social entrepreneur.

Early life and education

Karmos grew up in Michigan in the Dearborn area. She graduated from Dearborn High School in 1991. She received her undergraduate degree from

Wayne State University Wayne State University (WSU) is a public research university in Detroit, Michigan. It is Michigan's third-largest university. Founded in 1868, Wayne State consists of 13 schools and colleges offering approximately 350 programs to nearly 25,000 ...

in 1998.

Career

Karmanos' early work was first as a spokesperson for the auto industry. From 2002 to 2005, Karmanos produced and directed concept car reveals for

North American International Auto Show The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. ...

. In 2006, she wrote, co-produced, and directed the award-winning "I Am Detroit" for

Compuware Corporation Compuware Corporation was an American software company based in Detroit, Michigan. The company offers products aimed at the information technology (IT) departments of large businesses, and its services also include testing, development, automation ...

. She is primarily known for her work helping people in the Detroit area. In 2009, she told the ''New York Times'' that she woke up each day asking how she can help the area. In 2005, Karmanos founded Danialle Karmanos Work It Out (DKWIO), and ten years later she talked about how the program was reducing bullying in schools. In 2015, Karmanos and her husband,

Peter Karmanos Jr. Peter Karmanos Jr. (born March 11, 1943) is an American businessman who was most recently the minority owner and alternate governor of the Carolina Hurricanes franchise until June 30, 2021. He served as their principal owner from 1994 (when the Hu ...

, established the Karmanos Center for Natural Birth at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. That same year, she donated funds to

to establish a journalism program. In 2017, Karmanos founded The Cuddlers, a volunteer-based movement started at

Children's Hospital of Michigan Children's Hospital of Michigan (CHM) is a for-profit, pediatric acute care hospital located in Detroit, Michigan. The hospital has 227 beds and is affiliated with both the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Michigan State Universit ...

to cuddle and comfort hospitalized infants and children. Karmanos has been a columnist for ''Styleline Magazine'' and a guest blogger for Metromodemedia.com. She is the author of the hardcover book about her husband entitled, ''Pete Karmanos – A Life in Progress''. Karmanos was elected to the

Board of Governors and served from 2011 to 2013. She was named by Michigan Governor

Jennifer Granholm Jennifer Mulhern Granholm (born February 5, 1959) is a Canadian-American lawyer, educator, author, political commentator, and politician serving as the 16th United States secretary of energy since 2021. A member of the Democratic Party, she pre ...

to serve on the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council in 2008. Karmanos currently serves on the board of trustees for the

College for Creative Studies College for Creative Studies (CCS) is a private art school in Detroit, Michigan. It enrolls more than 1,400 students and focuses on arts education. The college is also active in offering art education to children through its Community Arts Part ...

, the Board of Directors for the

Michigan Opera Theatre Detroit Opera is the principal opera company in Michigan, USA. The company is based in Detroit, where it performs in the Detroit Opera House. Prior to February 28, 2022, the company was named the Michigan Opera Theatre. Each year it presents an ope ...

and is a founding member, board member and former Chair of the

Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MOCAD) is a non-collecting contemporary art museum located in Detroit. MOCAD is housed in a building, a converted former auto dealership designed by architect Andrew Zago. The architecture of the building ...

. Karmanos is also a member of the Leadership Advisory Board of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the

University of Michigan , mottoeng = "Arts, Knowledge, Truth" , former_names = Catholepistemiad, or University of Michigania (1817–1821) , budget = $10.3 billion (2021) , endowment = $17 billion (2021)As o ...

and serves on the Board Development Committee of the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan.

Awards and honors

In 2018, Karmanos received an honorary

Doctor of Humane Letters The degree of Doctor of Humane Letters (; DHumLitt; DHL; or LHD) is an honorary degree awarded to those who have distinguished themselves through humanitarian and philanthropic contributions to society. The criteria for awarding the degree differ ...

degree from

Hellenic American University The Hellenic American University was founded in 2004 in Manchester, New Hampshire, United States as a private degree-granting institution of higher education by an act of the New Hampshire State Legislature. The university has instructional loc ...

. Karmanos has also received numerous awards for her community service, philanthropy and contributions to the metropolitan Detroit community. She received the American Heart Association's "Cor Vitae Award" for community service; The Matilda R. Wilson Award from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan; the MBPA Women and Leadership's "Distinguished Leadership Award for Philanthropy;" and the Greater Wayne County Chapter of

The Links The Links is an American invitation-only social and service organization of prominent Black women in the United States. Founded in 1946, it is the largest nationwide organization of Black women in the USA. Members include multiple prominent wome ...

' "Innovator in Health and Wellness" award. In 2007, Karmanos was named to Crain's Detroit Business' "40 Under 40" list of young achievers in recognition of her career achievements.

Philanthropy

In addition to DKWIO and the Karmanos Center for Natural Childbirth, Karmanos and her husband have provided significant financial support to the

Karmanos Cancer Institute The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, headquartered in Detroit, is the largest cancer research and provider network in Michigan and has 16 treatment locations. It is one of 51 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer treatme ...

in Detroit, Wayne State University's journalism program, the College for Creative Studies, the

Detroit Zoo The Detroit Zoo is a zoo located in Royal Oak, Michigan, spanning 125 acres and housing more than 2,000 animals and more than 245 different species. It was the first U.S. zoo to feature bar-less habitats, and is regarded to be an international ...

Alzheimer's Association The Alzheimer's Association was founded by Jerome H. Stone with the help of several family members in Chicago, Illinois, and incorporated on April 10, 1980, as the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association, Inc. It is a non-profit Ame ...

Michigan Humane Society The Michigan Humane is a private, non-profit organization providing animal welfare and sheltering services to the metropolitan Detroit area. Events at Michigan Humane are featured in the Animal Planet channel's reality television series '' Animal ...

, Dutch Symphony Orchestra, Grace Centers of Hope,

Girl Scouts of the USA Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA), commonly referred to as simply Girl Scouts, is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. Founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, it was organized a ...

and the Greek America Foundation.

References

External links

Bloomberg: Executive Profile & Biography
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Karmanos, Danialle 1973 births Living people 21st-century American journalists American corporate directors Journalists from Michigan Philanthropists from Michigan Wayne State University alumni 21st-century American women