Marian Bayoff Ilitch
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Marian Ilitch (née Bayoff) was born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, the daughter of Macedonian immigrants. She met her future husband Mike Ilitch in 1954 when the two went on a blind date arranged by his father. A year later, they were married. They have seven children. The Ilitch's founded Little Caesars Pizza in 1959 and have expanded their interests to include restaurants, entertainment, sports and gambling.
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[edit] Casinos and Indian gaming
One of the original investors in Detroit's MotorCity Casino, Marian Ilitch realized an opportunity to purchase total interest in the casino resort complex from various minor stakeholders and Mandalay Resort Group in 2005. Michigan gaming laws prohibit one company from owning more than one Detroit casino property. Kirk Kerkorian's MGM Mirage owns MGM Grand Detroit. Kerkorian sought to acquire Mandalay Resort Group. Before the acquisition could be completed, Mandalay Resort Group first had to divest any interest in MotorCity Casino([1]) and accepted Ilitch's $525 million offer in exchange for its outstanding interests.
IH Gaming, Inc. was formed as Ilitch Holding's gaming subsidiary and the surviving entity in the merger with Mandalay's Circus Circus Michigan, Inc. A second entity, CCM Merger, Inc. was formed to obtain what Forbes reported as more than $950 million -- a highly leveraged mix of fixed- and variable-rate bank debt as well as junk-bonds -- to finance the acquisition.
With Marian Ilitch as owner, MotorCity Casino is reportedly one of the largest independently owned casino enterprises in the United States -- likely the largest woman-owned casino in the U.S.[2]
Marian Ilitch and a partner, Michael J. Malik, Sr., pursue other casino gambling interests outside of Detroit, and from coast to coast. Among them: the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, MI; various off-reservation casino proposals with the Bay Mills Indian Community for downtown Detroit and Port Huron, MI; a failed attempt to legalize gambling in the State of Hawaii; Gateway Casinos Resorts, LLC partnered with the Shinnecock Indians in the Hamptons, NY; and Barwest, LLC partners with the Big Lagoon Rancheria Indians and the Los Coyotes Band of Cahuilla and Cupeno Indians to develop casinos in Barstow, California.
[edit] Ilitch Holdings, Inc.
Marian Ilitch is vice chairwoman of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. her family's parent company which includes Little Caesars Pizza, Blue Line Foodservice Distribution, Little Caesars Pizza Kit Fundraising Program, Champion Foods, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, Olympia Entertainment, Olympia Development, Uptown Entertainment and various food service and entertainment venues within these businesses.
The Detroit Red Wings have won 3 Stanley Cups under Ilitch family ownership. Marian Ilitch and three daughters are among only eight women in Stanley cup history to have had their names engraved on the trophy.
Mike Ilitch's Detroit Tigers have logged losing records in 12 out of 13 seasons but has turned the team around in 2006, making the playoffs for the first time since 1987. The Ilitch's successfully spearheaded a public/private partnership with the taxpayers of the greater Detroit area to build a new home for the Tigers in downtown Detroit. The $300 million plus Comerica Park opened in April 2000. Ilitch Holdings, Inc. manages the stadium and parking. In 2005, the Tigers hosted MLB's All-Star Game at Comerica Park.
National media controversy erupted following the All-Star Game when it was reported Ilitch's son and casino business partner hosted back to back $5,000 per person fundraisers in the Ilitch owner's suite to benefit Congressman Richard Pombo. Pombo is the powerful chairman of the House Resources Committee and oversees Indian Gaming and other related matters in the House. Days following the fundraiser, Pombo's Resources Committee was scheduled to take up a critical matter on an Ilitch casino project ([3]).
[edit] Civic & philanthropic activities
In 2001, Marian Ilitch was inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics ([4], [5]) reports required by the Federal Elections Commission and various state elections officials from 2002-2006 indicate Ilitch family members and business partners contributed more than $888,000 to political campaigns and PACs ([6]).
Federal lobbying reports required to be filed with the Clerk of the U.S. Senate ([7]) and compiled by The Center for Public Integrity indicate from $1.0-$1.3 million in lobbying expenses were directed to Wheat Government Relations (run by Alan Wheat, the primary D.C. lobbyist representing Marian Ilitch, Michael J. Malik, Sr. and their various partners) from 2002-2005 ([8]). From 2003-2004, the parties also contracted representation with Barbara W. Bonfiglio paying her firm Williams & Jensen at least $220,000. According to the The Center for Public Integrity, Bonfiglio was then the treasurer for various political finance committees now under investigation that were originally set up to benefit Senator Rick Santorum, Congressmen Tom DeLay, Jerry Lewis, Richard Pombo and several dozen other GOP congressional leaders.[9]
[edit] Ilitch family
Marian and Mike Ilitch have seven children: son Christopher Ilitch (born June 1965) is CEO and President of Ilitch Holdings, Inc.; daughter Denise Ilitch (born November 1955) is an attorney and former co-President, with her brother, of Ilitch Holdings. Other children are Ron Ilitch (born June 1957), Michael Ilitch, Jr., Lisa Ilitch Murray , Atanas Ilitch and Carole Ilitch Trepeck.
