Event Details
The VINA Tailgate is back for its 17th year! The Tailgate starts at 5:30 pm on Thursday, October 9, 2025, at Crystal Gardens in Howell, MI. This is VINA's largest and signature fundraising event that allows us to provide dental care to people in need, including FREE care for seniors and veterans. Thank you for supporting VINA and spreading smiles in Livingston County.
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It’s not just Michigan vs. MSU this year — all teams and rivalries are fair game! Rep your favorite pro, college, or high school football team at the Tailgate. Another exciting change is that this year’s Tailgate menu features a fresh lineup of BBQ favorites.
Your ticket purchase includes:
Expansive silent auction
Buffet dinner (NEW MENU)
Dollar-for-dollar gift cards
Raffles & Prizes
Cash Bar
Team Spirit Encouraged!
Show up in your favorite football team’s colors, apparel, or jersey - any team you cheer for!
Thank You Sponsors!
Want to become a sponsor? Click here!
Presenting Sponsor
Super-Fan Sponsors
Jumbotron Sponsors
Touchdown Sponsors
Booster Sponsors
Fan Sponsors
Extra Point Sponsors
In-Kind Sponsors
Donate an Item
Want to donate an item to the Tailgate? Fill out this form!
Thank You In-Kind Donors!
Individuals
Matt Breslin, Attorney at Law
Angelo & Penny Carlisi
Mary Clark
In memory of Carolina DeLuca
Jo DelVero
Joe & Theresa DeMaria
Carl Dibert
Thelma Forrest
Eric Getsoian
Dr. Erika Johnson
Samantha Jorgens
Dr. Gordie Niles
Jeanette Robertson
Penny Symington
Gigi Vailliencourt
Matt VanAcker
Businesses & Organizations
3DX Real Estate
Acorn Farms
Belle Tire
Beyond Juicery + Eatery
Brass & Oak
The Breakfast Club
Bright Walls Jackson
Brighton Coffeehouse & Theatre
Buffalo Wild Wings
Busch's Fresh Food Market
Canopy Lounge
Captain Joe's
Captain Scotty
Cedar River Car Wash
Cheryl's Place
Ciao Amici's
Cleary's Pub
Coratti's Pizzeria Bar & Bocce
Critchlow Alligator Sanctuary
Decode
Detroit Opera
Diamonds Steak and Seafood
DNR Outdoor Adventure Center
Dow Gardens
Dragonfly Emporium
El Patron (Brighton)
El Patron (Howell)
El Toro
Elixir Aesthetics
Gia's Salon
Good Deeds Coffee
Gourmet Garden
Great Harvest Bread Co.
Greecian Island
Green Lantern Pizza
Jewelry Depot
Lakelands Golf & Country Club
Leo's Coney Island
Mackles Table & Taps
Mancino's Pizza & Grinders
Many Bidets
Michael Glenn Monroe Art Studio
Michigan Flight Museum
Michigan State Capitol
Minerva's Salon & Wellness Spa
Oak Pointe Country Club
Outdoor Adventure Center
Potter Park Zoo
Red Robin
Royal Oak Golf Center
Skin & Tonic
Tomato Brothers
Triple Diamond Alpaca Ranch
Troy Historic Village
University of Michigan Athletics
White Water Car Wash
Youthology
About VINA
All proceeds support VINA and the thousands of low-income, uninsured patients in need of affordable dental care.
VINA is a nonprofit dental clinic established in 2008 and located in Brighton, Michigan. All of the patients at VINA have no dental insurance and income at or below 250% of the Federal Poverty Level. The out-of-pocket cost of dental care is too great and many patients do not have access to affordable dental care without the services of VINA. Many patients at VINA have not had dental care in years or even decades. Many experience frequent pain and other health complications from this lack of dental care. Oral health problems can prevent patients from receiving surgery or infection, taking a toll on overall health. VINA works to provide quality dental care and education to these underserved patients to improve health and quality of life. VINA patients only pay $25 per appointment and $10 for routine hygiene visits. This reduced financial burden for patients helps restore smiles in the community. VINA is funded through special events, donations and grants.
VINA also partners with local organizations to provide completely free dental care to low-income veterans.
Partnership with Livingston County Veteran Services — VINA partners with Livingston County Veteran Services to connect veterans in need to more resources. Any veteran that qualifies for VINA and is registered at LCVS can have their dental work paid for through this incredible partnership program. Learn more here.
Victors for Veterans Program — VINA is one of three clinics across the state of Michigan that partners with the University of Michigan School of Dentistry to host a Victors for Veterans clinic site. Dental students sign up for this program to do clinical rotations at sites such as VINA under the supervision of local volunteers in order to give back to the men and women who served our country by providing comprehensive dental care completely free of charge.
Learn more about VINA and the various programs the clinic is involved with here.