Danialle Karmanos
Quick Facts
Biography
Danialle Karmanos (born May 10, 1973) is a Michigan philanthropist, advocate for children and community activist. She is the founder of Danialle Karmanos' Work It Out (DKWIO), a charity to promote a healthy lifestyle for children.
Career
Karmanos and her husband, Peter Karmanos Jr., established the Karmanos Center for Natural Birth at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan in 2015. The Karmanos Center for Natural Birth offers a supportive, home-like environment for expectant mothers looking for a safe, natural childbirth experience with leading training and research.
In 2005, Karmanos founded DKWIO, which, in partnership with the Children's Hospital of Michigan, works with children to promote optimum health in mind, body and spirit through a comprehensive nutritional and yoga-based approach that reduces anxiety, prevents childhood obesity and increases self-esteem. Since its inception, DKWIO has worked with more than 7,000 children at a critical time of their development. Karmanos' vision for the organization is to conduct the program in every school in the State of Michigan and eventually across the United States.
Karmanos has been a columnist for Styleline magazine and a guest blogger for Metromodemedia.com. She is the author of the hardcover book about her husband entitled, Pete Karmanos – A Life in Progress.
Karmanos was elected to the Wayne State University Board of Governors and served from 2011 to 2013. She was named by Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to serve on the Michigan Film Office Advisory Council in 2008. Karmanos currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the College for Creative Studies, the Board of Directors for the Michigan Opera Theatre and is a founding member, board member and former Chair of the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Karmanos is also a member of the Leadership Advisory Board of the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute at the University of Michigan and serves on the Board Development Committee of the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan.
Education
Karmanos attended Fairlane Christian High School in Dearborn Heights, Michigan before graduating from Dearborn High School, where she was honored by the Daughters of the American Revolution and Who's Who Among American High School Students for written essays. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, graduating with honors, from Wayne State University in 1999.
Awards
Karmanos has received numerous awards for her community service, philanthropy and contributions to the metropolitan Detroit community. She received the American Heart Association's "Cor Vitae Award" for community service; The Matilda R. Wilson Award from Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan; the MBPA Women and Leadership's "Distinguished Leadership Award for Philanthropy;" and the Greater Wayne County Chapter of The Links' "Innovator in Health and Wellness" award. In 2007, Karmanos was named to Crain's Detroit Business' "40 Under 40" list of young achievers in recognition of her career achievements.
Philanthropy
In addition to DKWIO and the Karmanos Center for Natural Childbirth, Karmanos and her husband have provided significant financial support to the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Wayne State University's journalism program, the College for Creative Studies, the Detroit Zoo, Alzheimer's Association, Michigan Humane Society, Dutch Symphony Orchestra, Grace Centers of Hope, Girl Scouts of the USA and the Greek America Foundation.