Grandparents spark a quiet life of giving big

William Davidson

Age: 79
Residence: Bloomfield Hills
Occupation: Majority owner, Detroit Pistons and Palace Sports & Entertainment; president and chief executive officer, Guardian Industries Corp.
Honored: For his generosity to educational, recreational and musical endeavors

ill Davidson says little. He does a lot.
In an era of press conference donations and hey-look-at-me professional sports ownership, Davidson is barely on the radar screen. Many people don’t know he’s the majority owner of the Detroit Pistons. He’s seldom quoted or interviewed by the media. Still, he sits in his same seat at every Pistons game at The Palace and roots. Internally, of course.

    His day job keeps him busy as chairman of the Auburn Hills-based Guardian Industries Corp. In 1957, he took over a failing windshield business and turned it into a global manufacturer of products for automotive and construction industries, with sales approaching $3 billion.

    That business acumen is matched by his generosity. He donated more than $80 million during the 1990s. His first major gift was $30 million to his alma mater, the University of Michigan, to endow the William Davidson Institute, a think tank that studies business issues in developing economies.

    Then in 1997, Guardian gave the Detroit Symphony Orchestra $1 million, funding its 1998 European tour. The monthlong trip produced 18 concerts in nine countries — Davidson caught the concert in the Czech Republic. He continues to contribute to DSO touring programs.

    Davidson’s gift to give came from his maternal grandparents. They, he said, influenced him to help others.

    “I was taught to always share my good fortune with others,” Davidson said, “and never to forget where I came from, my family roots.”

    The importance of Davidson’s Jewish heritage spurs his donations to the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit.

    “He never seeks attention. He avoids public recognition,” said Robert Aronson, the federation’s chief executive officer. “But he is one of the most visionary givers on a large scale on both the state and national levels.”

    Education continues to be a priority. In 1999, he gave $20 million to establish the Davidson Institute of Science Education at the Weizmann Institute in Rehovot, Israel. His scholarship fund for children of employees at Guardian has awarded more than 350 scholarships, totaling $2 million, since 1986.

    Davidson’s Pistons-Palace Foundation raised more than $8.5 million for park restorations in Detroit and set up a fund for maintenance. Disappointed that high ticket costs to NBA games were squeezing families out of the arena, Davidson lowered some prices to $10, unheard of in the NBA today.

    His generosity may go unheard — but not unnoticed.

— Rob Parker and Susan Carney