Jay Feldman

Jay Feldman, chairman and CEO of Feldman Automotive Group, has turned his success and good fortune into supporting many meaningful philanthropy projects in southeast Michigan and across the country.

Growing up in Waterford and Bloomfield Hills, Feldman started his career in the automotive industry as a teenager selling cars at his father’s Chevrolet dealership in Milford.

“I loved the people and the business. I always knew what I wanted to do,” he said.

Feldman’s father not only taught him about the automotive industry, but his giving spirit left an impression on him, who recalled his father quietly helping others by paying for funerals or aiding family members in need.

After graduating from Andover High School, Feldman attended Northwood University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing in 1992, and was bestowed with an honorary doctorate last year, and attended the National Auto Dealers Association Academy.

Over the past three decades, the automotive business leader and philanthropist has turned one Chevrolet dealership into 20 car and RV “rooftops” in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, representing a wide range of brands. His sister, Marla Feldman, works with him at Feldman Automotive Group and on the organization’s philanthropic efforts.

In 2018, Feldman began partnering with actor, producer, and entrepreneur, Mark Wahlberg, to open several dealerships in Ohio. “Mark and I met in Michigan about 10 years ago when he was filming ‘Transformers’ in Michigan. We became friends and later business partners.”

The pair have teamed up in multiple businesses from restaurants and cars to tequila, as well as meaningful charitable projects.

One of these projects is the Tunnel to Towers Foundation which honors the sacrifice of 9/11 firefighter Stephen Siller, who perished trying to save people trapped in the Twin Towers. The nonprofit organization provides mortgage-free homes to families with young children of fallen first responders and U.S. Armed Forces, as well as building adaptive smart homes for seriously injured veterans and first responders.

The foundation is also committed to ending veteran homelessness through their nationwide Veterans Villages program. Locally, they are behind the planned Detroit Veterans Village at the former Holiday Inn Express and Suites hotel on Northwestern Highway in Southfield. The site will be renovated to provide housing and support services for about 100 area veterans.

The Birmingham resident sits on the organization’s board and helps fundraise through events such as their annual golf series which is held at courses from Newport Beach Country Club in California to Trump International Golf Club in Florida. According to the charity’s website, they have raised over $1 billion with an impressive 93 cents of every dollar going directly to programs and services – a point of pride for Feldman.

“We sell and service a lot of cars in southeast Michigan, so it gives me a lot of personal satisfaction to give back to the community,” he explained. “Many prominent Detroit area business leaders are very generous – many donate to Tunnel of Towers and other charities but prefer to do so anonymously.”

Locally, Feldman is an essential part of the annual Feldman Automotive Children’s Miracle Celebrity Invitational benefitting Children’s Miracle Network and the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation.

“This is Michigan’s largest celebrity charity golf event,” he said, adding, “It’s our fifth year, and we raise about $1.5 million each year.”

The annual event will be held June 9, 2025, at Detroit Golf Club and benefits both children’s charities.

Feldman Automotive Group also contributes to many other national and local charities. In southeast Michigan, the organization supports Care House of Oakland County, Cornerstone Schools, Angel’s Place, Friendship Circle, among others.

Ironically, while Feldman is involved in and attends many charity golf outings, he said he is not a golfer, preferring boating.

Much of Feldman’s generosity of his time, money, and other resources focus on supporting families and children. He explained, “Children are innocent. If you can change a child’s life, you can change the future.”

Story: Tracy Donohue

Photo: Suzanne Hojnicki