DETROIT -

Habitat for Humanity Detroit has gotten the ball rolling on a $25 million city revitalization project thanks in large part to the generosity of a Big 3 chief executive.

Donating a $1 million personal gift to the “Leaders to ReBuild Detroit” initiative was the top boss of General Motors, Dan Akerson.

The aim of the three-year initiative launched Tuesday is to bring corporate leaders into the fold and work towards rejuvenating the Motor City. The focus of their efforts will be the Morningside Commons neighborhood in Detroit.

Through these efforts, organizers hope to lend a hand to at least 500 families by 2014. The Leaders to ReBuild Detroit initiative includes house construction, rehabilitation, critical repairs and energy-efficiency upgrades and weatherization projects.

Partnering organizations will also offer these families financial literacy training, homeownership workshops and community security initiatives.

Leaders to ReBuild Detroit is just one part of Habitat’s $225 million ReBuild Michigan efforts tackling affordable housing needs throughout the state.

Habitat’s Detroit chapter hopes that the foundational donation from Akerson will prompt other leaders to join in on the effort. The donation from the GM CEO, in particular, will be used to help 20 families with house rehabilitation, construction and repairs, while helping 12 families with weatherization projects.

"A strong America is built on strong communities, and building them starts with one hammer, one nail and one person who cares — from there, it’s contagious," Akerson said. "My wife, Karin, and I want to see this effort to rebuild Detroit catch on, spread out and draw scores more volunteers and millions more in contributions."

Vincent Tilford, executive director of Habitat for Humanity Detroit, added: “Habitat’s mission is to create affordable housing, but the broader strategy behind ‘Leaders to ReBuild Detroit’ is to integrate affordable housing work with community development and improvement, providing a holistic approach to problems caused by financial insecurity, foreclosures and unemployment.

“This initiative will nearly triple the impact Habitat Detroit has had in the city to-date and leverage resources to rebuild Detroit communities,” Tilford continued.

Explaining more about Leaders to ReBuild Detroit, officials noted that Habitat for Humanity Detroit, Habitat for Humanity Michigan and partnering organization collaborated for the project.

The organizations helping out include: the City of Detroit, Detroit Public Schools, Michigan State Housing Development Agency, Wayne County, the Detroit Land Bank Authority and Detroit Local Initiative Support Corporation.

"Having several schools in the Morningside Commons and immediately adjacent neighborhoods, Detroit Public Schools has a strong commitment to stabilizing and revitalizing this community,” stated Roy Roberts, DPS emergency manager.

“We recently announced a comprehensive transformation aimed at improving academics and creating a more efficient system of high-performing schools,” he added. “Included in that transformation plan is opening a new $46.5 million high school within this very community this fall."

Those interested in taking part or making financial contributions can visit  www.habitatdetroit.org or call 313-521-6691.

"It will take a community-wide effort to ensure the success of Leaders to ReBuild Detroit," Tilford said. "It can be another major step in the collective effort to rebuild this great city — one neighborhood at a time."