Week of 11.20.17

Rose Hill Center 25th Anniversary

“I’m blown away by Rose Hill...I’ve never seen any other place that puts it all together like Rose Hill does,” opined Mariel Hemingway. The granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway was speaking at the dinner celebrating the comprehensive mental illness treatment center in Holly. It was the vision of Dan and Rosemary Kelly, whose son John was ill. Since no facility to treat him existed 25 years ago in the midwest, the couple determined to make one a reality. It has subsequently changed the lives of more than 1,600 individuals and their families. Many of the 300 celebration guests ($250-ticket) are long time Kelly family friends. They know firsthand the tenacity and faith Rose Hill’s establishment required. So does the honorary event chair, Wally Prechter, who called the couple “kindred spirits.’ (She has been toiling in the research arena of mental illness since her much-celebrated husband Heinz succumbed to it in 2001.) Hemingway’s story blew me away, filled as it is with eight family suicides, addictions, depression and domestic mayhem. Her determination for a different life led her to an obsession with health, a profound meeting with the Dalai Lama and determination to eradicate the stigma of mental illness. “We’re all okay....and your support of Rose Hills is profound,” Hemingway concluded. Thanks to many generous sponsors (see photo gallery) the celebration of hope and healing raised $227,000 for the outstanding facility.

OUR TOWN Art Show & Sale

Over 350 people ($75 - $1,000 tickets) attended the Opening Night Party of the 32nd annual Community House-sponsored art show for Michigan artists. On exhibit were 356 works by 142 artists selected by jurors Barbara Heller and Weatherly Stroh. The jurors both said they thought the show was especially strong. They seemed as excited as the artists were about the choices to receive the $10,000 prize money during the evening’s program. Prize winners were: Gold - Deborah Hecht; Silver – Pamela Alexander, Anita Damiani, Tristan Logan, Brant MacLean, Linda Pelowski; Bronze – Christopher Farah, Douglas Neuman, Lori Pas, Bonnie Beth Pearce; Chairs’ Award – Keghan Tazian. Unlike the early years of the event, when guests had an after work cocktail, bought some art and took home a box supper, The Community House’ culinary team prepared savories like mini potato pancakes, beef tenderloin crostinis, mini crab cakes and coconut shrimp for supping on the stroll. Before the show ended on Sunday, 1,000 people had viewed it, 50 pieces of art had new homes and artists had 65-percent of the $20,000 sales total. In addition to Heller and Stroh, the pleased leadership team included Robert and Carolyn Rooney-Dempster, Carla Grava, Pam Rossiter, and Carol and John Aburey.

Beaumont Hospital Farmington Hills Autumn Gala

More than 450 ($300-tickets) gathered at the MGM Grand for the 12th annual hospital fall fundraiser. In addition to Beaumont board members and physicians the guest list included mayors of both Farmington and Farmington Hills. The black tie event had a Building a Legacy theme, a silent auction that raised more than $15,000 during the cocktail hour, a sit down dinner and a brief program that honored staffers with 25-years of service. (See photo gallery.) The gala evening netted more than $250,000 for the campus expansion at Farmington Hills Beaumont Hospital.

Check in the coming weeks for reports & photos from these events:

John W. Hunter Questers Horse Race

Sweet Dreams A Night to REMember

College for Creative Studies Detroit International Wine Auction

Camp Mak-a-Dream Cookies N’ Dreams

Theodore Alexander Showhouse for Variety

Karmanos Cancer Institute Partners Night

Alzheimer’s Association’s Chocolate Jubilee

Homes for Autism Ring of Hope Dinner

Habitat for Humanity Oakland Fall Extravaganza

Ladies of Charity Luncheon

House of Providence Wishes Gala

The Community House SIP

SKY Foundation Annual Luncheon

The JARC Fall Fundraiser – British Rock Invasion

Oakland Literacy Council Ex Libris Dinner

Beyond Basics Fall Fundraiser

Rochester Community Schools Foundation Sip, Savor and Shop

Baldwin Public Library’s Books & Bites

Brave Knight Benefit

Birmingham Panhellenic Alumnae Association Luncheon

DIA Gala

RESTORE Foundation

Mistletoe Marketplace

FAR Friends and Fa-La-La

Preservation Bloomfield Tea & Tiara Luncheon

Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation Gala Evening at the Movies

South Oakland Shelter Dancing with the Detroit Stars

Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304, email SamGerak@aol.com or call (248) 646-6390.

AHEAD FOR SOCIAL LIGHTS

Look over the following list of fundraising events and pick a non-profit you’d like to support. If you get to the party and don’t know anyone, find me. I’ve been covering the charity scene for nearly 40 years and can probably introduce you to some really nice people. Heck, if you can’t afford a ticket, call and see if they need volunteers. Sally G

The BARD (Born And Raised Detroit) Foundation will stage the 11th annual Gobble Wobble 8pm – 2 am, Friday, Nov. 24 at The Reserve. Plans include dancing, giveaways and cocktails inspired by the Roaring 20's. Bloomingham natives on the BARD board are Evan Burton, Lauren Freund, Parker Lynch, Jamison Lynch, Julie MacMillan, Bradley Sherman, Anne Strickland, Scott Strickland and Patrick Thornton. They have pledged 100 percent of 2017 Gobble Wobble proceeds to Detroit Prep’s campaign for a new school building. For tickets ($100) go to events at www.bornandraiseddetroit.org.

Meadow Brook Hall’s 46th annual Holiday Walk is Nov. 24 through Dec. 23. It offers self-guided tours of the grand manor’s elegant rooms decorated for the holidays plus tours of Knole Cottage and Danny’s Cabin daily from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Dec. 18 through Dec. 23 touring ends at 9pm. Guests should plan on spending approximately 1.5 hours to tour the Hall, Knole Cottage and Danny’s Cabin. Last admittance is one hour prior to closing. Go to http://meadowbrookhall.org/tours/holiday-walk-tours/ for the ticket prices and the full schedule of opportunities including the Starlight Stroll, 7 -10 pm, Thursday, Dec. 7. Plans include valet parking, a four-course strolling dinner with chef attended stations placed throughout The Hall, full bar service including signature cocktails, live music, dancing in the ballroom and self-guided tours until 8 pm. For tickets ($100, $90-members) call 248-364-6252.

Maggie Allesee and Sue Nine are chairing the Women’s Division Project HOPE Holiday Boutique and Luncheon 10am - 3 pm, Wednesday, Nov. 29 at Oakland Hills Country Club. Plans include valet parking, shopping, raffle, silent auction, entertainment. cash bar and luncheon at 12 noon. For tickets ($65-members, $75-non-menbers,$100-patron, $150-benefactor) contact Maggie Allesee at 248-540-8467 or mallesee@aol.com.

Pat Hambleton, Nancy Flasck, Jane Giblin, Colleen Dykstra and Sally Edwards are chairing the Rochester Garden Club 71st annual Greens Market at the Rochester Schools Administration Center (501 W. University). There is a $5 admission fee for the Opening Gala 6 - 8 pm, Thursday, Nov. 30. Plans include snacks, beverages and shopping for beautiful handmade gifts, gourmet foods and fresh and permanent arrangements. Shopping continues 9am to 6pm Friday, Dec. 1 and 9 am - 1pm Saturday, Dec. 2 with a $2 admission fee. A mailbox swag-making demonstration is scheduled for 1 - 2 pm, Friday, Dec.1. Proceeds benefit garden club conservancy, educational and community projects.

Maryclare & Bob Pulte are chairing Angels’ Place Silver Anniversary Dinner Thursday, Nov. 30 at The Henry. Plans include the 6 pm patron party, 6:30 pm general reception and silent auction, 7:30 pm dinner and program with Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred as the speaker. For sponsors and tickets ($225, $350-patron) call 248-350-2203.

Kim McNulty and Kelly Winkler Patterson are chairing Christ Child Society’s popular, annual Christmas Home Tour Friday, Dec. 1. Plans include touring five Birmingham homes decorated for the holidays from 9:30 am – 2 pm and brunch and shopping at Birmingham Country Club form 9 am – 2:30 pm. For tickets ($60) got to www. CCSdetroit.org.

Shirley Maddalena is hosting her 29th annual High Tea benefiting Alternatives for Girls 3 - 5 pm, Friday, Dec. 1 at the Townsend Hotel. Plans include a silent auction of donated treasures. For tickets ($55, $100-patron) go to www.AlternativesForGirls.org or call Joi at 313-361-4000, ext. 273.

Charlene Mitchell-Rodgers is chairing the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit Winter Holiday Tea, noon -2 pm, Saturday, Dec. 2 at the Detroit Marriott in the Renaissance Center. Plans includes a jazz performance by Kimmie Horne and trio and a fashion show. For tickets ($65-adult, $25–children) call 313-966-0198 or go to https://www.rmhc-detroit.org/calendar-of-events/or.

The Detroit Tigers’ Duane McLean & GM’s Ed Pepper are the honorary chairs and Jon Krebs & Jeff Chandler are the co-chairs of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan’s Kidney Ball, 6 pm, Saturday, Dec. 2 at the MotorCity Casino Hotel. Plans include a Casablanca theme, cocktails, dinner, auction, a kids toy room auction, a fine wine tasting auction in the Sound Board during the reception and the night-ending MARS candy bar. For sponsorships and tickets ($250) go to www.nkfm.org/kidneyball or call 800-482-1455.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of SE Michigan’s Great Futures Gala is 6 pm, Wednesday, Dec. 6 at the Detroit Athletic Club. It will honor Suburban Collection’s David Fischer with the Great Futures In Celebration award. For sponsorships and tickets ($250) go to http://www.bgcsm.org/events/gfg/.

The 2017 Detroit Historical Society Ball is 6 pm, Saturday, Dec. 9 at The Factory at Corktown (1907 Michigan Ave). Plans for the black tie event in the successfully reclaimed three-story historic building include valet parking, cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, seated dinner, live entertainment, live and silent auction, and the Afterglow (9 pm-12 am) for dancing, snacks and cocktails. Detroit Public Schools Community District Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti and University of Michigan President Dr. Mark Schlissel will be honored during the program. For sponsorships and tickets ($850-Benefactor, includes a Benefactor Party on Nov. 9; $500-Patron, $75 for 1 Afterglow ticket, $100 for 2) go to https://detroithistorical.org/things-do/special-events or contact Vanessa Miller at 313.833.4143 or at vanessam@detroithistorical.org.

Cindy Nicholaou and Kelly Dean are chairing the Rochester Women’s Fund’s Toast to the Holidays is 6 – 8 pm, Tuesday, Dec.12 at The Greystone Manor in Oakland Township (4911 Pinnacle Blvd., 48306). Plans include valet parking, wine and hors d’oeuvres. For tickets ($65; $70 after Dec. 5) go to http://www.womensfundrochester.org/. Funds support the totally volunteer non-profit’s mission - women helping women.

Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304 or email SamGerak@aol.com