08/05/2025
Hello everyone,
I know you are as excited as I am about Patrick Irwin receiving the 2025 Green Cruiser of the Year Award at Ferndale Project, 567 Livernois, Ferndale, MI 48220, the starting point for the rides this Saturday, August 9th, 2025, at 8am.
Patrick will receive the award at 8am because I believe he is riding with the 8am 41-mile group. If you’re participating in the 9am 22-mile ride, but want to see Patrick receive the award, you’ll have to be at Ferndale Project at 8am.
What follows is the biography of a true leader of the cycling community in the Detroit Metro Area, who is beloved by his followers.
See you Saturday!
Jerry Hasspacher
Event chair
[email protected]
Patrick Irwin – Community Leader, Educator, and Advocate for Detroit
Patrick Irwin is a life-long Detroiter with a deep-rooted passion for his city and the greater region. Born and raised on Senator Street in Southwest Detroit, Patrick is a proud graduate of Detroit Holy Redeemer High School. He earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business from Siena Heights University, where he was a scholarship athlete in cross-country and track, and later received a Master's Degree in Industrial Relations from Wayne State University.
Following his time at Siena Heights, Patrick returned to Holy Redeemer High School to serve as a volunteer cross-country coach and mentor. His dedication to young people extended over two decades, during which he also served on the school board. Many of the students he coached and mentored have gone on to become leaders in their own communities, contributing meaningfully to society. Patrick’s coaching accomplishments were nationally recognized when he was named a “Coach of the Year” by USA Today in the 1990s, and in 2005, he was inducted into the Detroit Catholic League Hall of Fame for his contributions to youth development. He also served on the Archdiocese of Detroit Board of Education.
Patrick’s commitment to education didn’t stop at his alma mater. In 1996, he founded Cesar Chavez Academy (CCA) in Southwest Detroit with just 50 students. Under his leadership as Board President until 2006, CCA grew into a multi-campus K–12 charter school system serving over 2,000 students. He was instrumental in securing bond funding and overseeing the construction of the CCA middle and high schools. Patrick also played a key role as a founding board member of the WAY Academy, an alternative charter school designed to support at-risk youth.
Beyond education, Patrick has dedicated himself to community health and social services. He is a 20-year member of the CHASS (Community Health and Social Services) Board of Directors, a board member of Corktown Health, and serves on the Management Division Board of the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University. He is also actively involved with the Michigan Hispanic Collaborative (MiHC), an organization focused on helping first-generation and low-income students graduate from college and achieve career success.
Patrick’s love for his city is also expressed through his passion for biking. Over 15 years ago, he and a group of close friends founded We Bike Detroit (WBD), a community biking group now 1,500 members strong. Each monthly ride supports a different local charity, with the group raising approximately $1,000 per ride. WBD rides under the motto: “Biking with purpose – making the world a better place one pedal at a time.”
Through decades of service in education, health care, and community building, Patrick Irwin exemplifies the spirit of Detroit — resilient, committed, and always working toward a brighter future for all.
BRAVO PATRICK!
