EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally posted on Grosse Pointe Patch on Feb. 13. Feb. 14 it was chosen for the Huffington Post's Greatest Person of the Day feature.

A rapper from Grosse Pointe Woods is trying to make a difference in his hometown.

Daniel “Hush” Carlisle, a Detroit Music Award Winner who has performed with Eminem, and co-founder Monica Martino established the Detroit Dog Rescue with a mission of founding the city’s first no-kill shelter.

The DDR estimates there are 50,000 stray dogs in Detroit, and that makes it a problem that is reaching “epidemic” proportions, Hush said. It’s also one, he said, that has an impact on neighboring communities, including the Grosse Pointes.

Late last year, the DDR received an anonymous $1.5 million donation, and Hush—who now devotes much of his time to the group—said the organization is looking for a permanent site for the shelter.

In the meantime, people can continue to help out the DDR by donating money, supplies or time. Other ways to help are available online on the organization’s website.