Other definitions include, “to join (yourself) with another person, group, etc. in order to get or give support” and “to unite or form a connection or relation between.” When Demetrius Scott (MGP ‘07) reflects on his 16-year relationship with Midnight Golf, it’s also one of the ways he would describe his bond with the program.

From his first internship, to and through college and throughout his career and major life decisions, Demetrius credits the Midnight Golf Program with being a constant source of support. Sharing the story of interviewing for his first internship during his senior year of high school, Demetrius recalls noticing a golf trophy on the desk of his interviewer and immediately remembering the MGP life skill on networking. Thinking quickly, he was able to build rapport with the interviewer, sharing his involvement with MGP, and ultimately landed the internship. Demetrius has continued to leverage lessons learned from MGP throughout his career.

After earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in accounting from Michigan State University, where he was instrumental in establishing their Collegiate MGP chapter, Demetrius accepted an offer at PwC. Working in audit, he also used this time to really lean into finding his passion – another lesson he learned from MGP – and supported the development of a diversity internship program to support minorities interested in careers at PwC. Ready to take the next step in his career, Demetrius leveraged those networking skills once again and joined the team at Ally, recommended by a number of referrals.

Demetrius started at Ally working in financial reporting and accounting, but his passion was always to help others. He started learning more about Ally’s commitment to community service and introduced Ally to the Midnight Golf Program, sharing what MGP had done for him and thousands of Detroit-area students.

Since that introduction in 2016, over the past 6 years, Ally Financial has been a committed supporter of the Midnight Golf Program. In addition to awarding over $120,000 in funding and naming MGP the benefactor of the Ally Challenge Pro-am, Ally team members continue to volunteer their time and talents to the Midnight Golf Program.

LaShauna Lowry, MGP Board Member and Executive Director of Audit Methodology at Ally, when asked what attracted her to MGP – “I support Midnight Golf because the organization not only ensures the student attends college but they follow the student till graduation and beyond. Midnight Golf is truly invested in these students’ futures, and operates as an extended family for them. This program aligns great with Ally’s focus on the continual development of the community and supporting economic mobility.”

Volunteers from Ally have led the charge on assembling care packages for Midnight Golf alumni in college; sorting and packing the clothing & backpacks for MGP’s annual Road Trip for Success college tour; and serving as career mentors for MGP students. Additionally, each year since its inception, Midnight Golf alumni have participated in Ally’s Moguls in the Making business pitch competition for HBCU students – an event Demetrius helped create, plan and execute. MGP alumni have been on the winning teams, earned scholarships, and landed internships – some of which have turned into full-time career opportunities with Ally.

Speaking of career opportunities, Demetrius’ passion for MGP and giving back did not go unnoticed. Recognizing his commitment to empowering communities, Ally created a position for him in Corporate Citizenship. Fast forward 3 promotions later, Demetrius now serves as Ally’s Director of Corporate Citizenship and is looking forward to making an even greater impact.

From program participant, to mentor, to program lead, life skills instructor, and now a member of MGP’s Advisory Board, when asked why he continues to remain so deeply involved with Midnight Golf, Demetrius had this to say, “Being involved this long after being a participant in the program, as I think about my life both professionally and personally, the one consistent thing that’s been there for support and guidance is the Midnight Golf Program. Every accomplishment that I’ve had, to-date, I attribute in part to the Midnight Golf Program. Whether it’s a connection I made, a resource I used, or some of the life skills taught in the program, at every level, there’s been something I’ve been able to pull from the program that’s helped me both as a professional, and personally as a husband and father.”

Ally often uses the tagline, “We’re all better off with an ally.” Midnight Golf couldn’t agree more!