Week of 7.16.18

Beaumont’s Drive for Life Invitational

This year, Beaumont supporters combined the 23-year-old Drive to Beat Breast Cancer and the former Round for Life Golf and Tennis Classic into the Drive for Life Invitational comprising a Card Tournament at Bloomfield Hills Country Club and a Golf Tournament at Oakland Hills Country Club. The former, chaired by Julie Beals and Bobbi Polk, attracted 250 women for lunch, bridge or canasta, a brief patient testimonial and lots of conversation. Bridge winners were determined by skill and included Patti Sharf, Joan Romig, Sally Ingold and Jeanine Lunghammer. Canasta winners were drawn at random and included Janet Stein, Roz Fantich, Raechel Nagel and Trudy Berlin. (All received a diamond bracelet from Astrein's Jewelers. The latter two gave theirs to their daughters.) Most participants filled take home bags with old fashion candies from a colorful sweet table.

At Oakland Hills, 270 golfers teed off (with help from noted pro Rick Smith) on both the South and North courses. Steve Howard, Chris Emde and Ryan Marsh chaired the event which awarded prizes for Best Score and for individual contests. The winning teams were: (first place) – Charity Funding foursome, (second place) – SunTel Services CBTS foursome, (third place) – Steve & Diana Howard foursome. Skill contest winners were Ken Bark, Casey Nowicki, Kristine DeBus, Michelle Mullin, Nate Chad, John Durst, Erik Greer, Meredith Vyn and Dr. Murray Rebner.

A silent auction ($12,000-plus), cocktails and dinner for 426 followed golf with most soaking up the glorious weather on the veranda. A highlight of the brief dinner program emceed by Paul W. Smith was the presentation of the Leadership in Philanthropy award to the Rose Family via patriarch Warren Rose for continuing his grandfather’s charitable legacy to Beaumont. “It’s especially a pleasure (that) four generations of the family (have been involved and that ) Beaumont’s cancer care is superb,” he said. Thanks also to many generous sponsors (see some in the photo gallery) the inaugural Drive for Life raised $400,000 for cancer care at Beaumont Royal Oak and Troy.

American House Foundation Fundraiser

The 10th annual Cocktails for a Cause attracted 175 ($150 ticket) to the soaring atrium of Southfield’s American Center for some post-workday socializing, sipping, supping and silent auction bidding. The only interruption in the conviviality was brief – for foundation president Rob Gillette to thank everybody for their generosity and to note some of the assistance (like home repairs) the foundation provided needy seniors, including veterans, in the past year. Thanks to sponsors (see photo gallery) and the silent auction and a raffle ($16,690), the event raised $180,000 and brought the 10-year total to more than $800,000 for needy seniors and another $350,000 for research at Wayne State’s Institute of Gerontology.

Women’s Division Project HOPE SOS Luncheon

Though the invitations said Start Of Summer, both the event name and table decor were inspired by the maritime origins of Project HOPE (the SS HOPE hospital ship) and the featured speaker (sailor/author/WD “first gentleman” Erick Reickert). It attracted more than 60 ($65, $75, $100 ticket) to Forest Lake Country Club. The program had highlights. Wendy Kedzierski brought gratitude for WD support from the Virginia headquarters of the international health agency which will celebrate its 60th anniversary in Washington, DC on Oct. 9. Reickert talked about circumnavigating the globe in an Oyster55 sailboat which he spent 477 days over the course of 15 years doing. For the project he supplemented his love of sailing with his engineering and MBA degrees and rich experience in the automotive industry. The adventure revealed to him several verities: “...when you are living on a boat in a harbor you are not a tourist... the boat can take it; humans are the weakest link ...the heavens are incredible.” Before the event concluded the 2018-2019 WD Board of Directors was elected and installed. It includes Irene Davis, Contessa Bannon, Rosemary Bannon, Bettina Gregg, Cheryl Hall Lindsay, Linda Juracek-Lipa, Tina Prevas, Sherry Saginaw, Diana Shoushanian and Susan Willis-Reickert.

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

ChildSafe Legends of Tomorrow Gala

The Garden Party

Rose Hill Golf Fundraiser

Franklin Garden Walk

JVS Strictly Business

French American Chamber of Commerce Gala

Shimmer on the River

Salute America

DSO 2018 Heroes Gala

A House Party at Cranbrook

St. Hugo of the Hills Altar Guild Garden Party

Meadow Brook Theatre Concert & Cuisine

AHEAD FOR SOCIAL LIGHTS

The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit Fifth Annual Interchange Art + Dinner Series fundraiser offers eight dinners in spectacular locations from Detroit to Long Island featuring landmark architecture, lakefront vistas and outstanding art collections. The next one is hosted by Chris Byrne, 4 pm, Sunday, July 15 in East Hampton, NY. The others include: Kate Ostrove and David Klein at 7 pm, Thursday, July 19 in Detroit; Rebecca and Alan Ross at 6 pm, Thursday, July 26, in their Bloomfield Hills home; Roz and Scott Jacobson at 7 pm, Friday, August 24 in the Bloomfield Hills home; Ann Stevenson and Curt Catallo at 7 pm, Saturday Sept. 8 at their lakefront Grosse Pointe home. For tickets call 313.832.6622 or go to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mocads-5th-annual-interchange-art-dinner-series-summer-fundraiser-tickets-44485967727.

The Women's Fund of Rochester Summer Soiree is 6- 8:30 pm, Thursday, July 19 at Meadow Brook Hall. Plans include self parking, wine, hors d'oeuvres violin music and self-guided tours of the historic manse. For tickets ($65, $100-patron includes guided hall tour) go to www,womensfundrochester.org. Sue Upton, Kathy Bogdziewwicz, Lynn Florek, Barb Cenko, Kelly Dean, Judy De Steiger, Christina Hogan, Erika Kruse, Kathy McCarter, Lynn Oates and Lori Roscoe comprise the fund’s board.

The Founders Junior Council FASH Bash is Thursday, August 16 at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The co-chairs are David and Christine Colman, Andrea and Chris Provenzano, Mohammad Qazi, Nedda Shayota and Nathaniel Wallace.

Kevin Kernen and Jonas Rodger are the co-chairs and Mark Anusbigian is the honorary chair of Forgotten Harvest’s 16th annual Cruisin’ to Drive Out Hunger 6 – 10 pm, Friday, Aug. 17 at his Westborn Market in Berkley. Plans include valet parking, food and drink from Metro Detroit’s best purveyors, live music by Larry Lee and the Back in the Day Band, a photo booth, a silent auction and a sneak preview of the Woodward Dream Cruise from a great, curbside vantage. Mercedes-Benz Financial Services is the presenting sponsor. Call Rebecca Gade Sawicki at 248-864-7527 for other sponsorship opportunities. For tickets ($150) go to events at https://forgottenharvest.org/.

Jason Brooks, Kevin Elbinger and Renee Wolgin are chairing Rub-A-Dub 5:30 pm, Tuesday, Aug. 21 at Franklin Hills Country Club. The annual event benefiting ORT’s education programs will honor Randy Wertheimer. Call 248-723-8880 for tickets.

Angels Place Friends and Family Fun Day is Saturday, August 25 on the Marian High School campus.

Frank Torre, Kerrie Binnio and Patrice Johnson are chairing the Liberty Mutual Invitational benefiting Boys Hope Girls Hope Monday, Aug. 27 at Franklin Hills Country Club. Plans also include post golf cocktails, dinner, auctions and awards program. For sponsorships, registration and more details call Nancy Stahl or Michael Gallo at the Boys Hope Girls Hope office at (313) 862-0707.

The annual Big Wine Classic that raises college scholarship funds for deserving students and honors the memory of the late Rob Schuele is Monday, Aug. 27 at Birmingham Country Club. For registration, sponsorships and details go to http://www.bigwineclassic.com/.

The 18th Annual Ted Lindsay Foundation Golf Outing Monday, September 10 at The Detroit Golf Club offers golf, dinner and open bar, silent and live auctions and the awards program or the post golf-only activities. A highlight of the dinner program will be the presentation of two Courage Awards which recognize a person and a family who demonstrate great character and perseverance while living with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. For information go to www.tedlindsay.org.

Rose and Brian Bolyard are chairing the 31st annual Birmingham House Tour fundraiser for the Community House 9:30 am – 3:30 pm, Thursday, Sept. 13. Tickets are $40 in advance and can be purchased by phone at 248-644-5832 or online www.communityhouse.com. The event is presented by Hall & Hunter Realtors, with support from : Ethan Allen, Gorman’s Furniture and Boylard Lumber. Plans include self-guided touring of seven unique homes ranging in style from traditional to contemporary. Day of tour tickets will also be available for $45.

The Community House Foundation and the Birmingham Teen Council are presenting the inaugural Movie Marathon Friday, Sept. 14 12:30 pm – to Saturday, Sept. 15, 6:00 am at Emagine Palladium in Birmingham. Plans include 18-hours of movie watching fun, unlimited soda and popcorn, dinner, breakfast, a midnight snack. Proceeds will benefit Community House children’s programs. Registrants will create their own personal fundraising page to raise a minimum of $100 to participate. Contact The Community House for details on how to register at 248-644-5832 or visit www.communityhouse.com Connie Beckett and Kelly Shuert are chairing the Variety Feeds Kids Luncheon 11:30 am, Thursday, Sept. 27 at Pine Lake Country Club. It will feature inspirational author/speaker Steve Pemberton, Chief Diversity Officer and Divisional Vice President—Walgreens. The Honorary Chairs are Karen and Alan Barry. For sponsorships and tickets ($125, $225-includes feeding one child for a year) call 248-258-5511, email michelle.murphy@variety5detroit.com or go to https://varietyfeedskids.event.

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