Week of 7.23.18

Child Safe Legends of Tomorrow Gala

Board chair Keith Pomeroy called Child Safe’s affiliation with Judson Center “a perfect union” when he welcomed the 320 supporters ($300 & $500 tickets) to the annual gala at the Townsend Hotel. The evening was chaired by Susu Sosnick and Christine and David Colman whom he also praised for planning “amazing parties.” Amazing is also what this reporter thought about Judson’s foster care navigator Melissa Covell. And not just for the insight she shared about the children she places in loving homes “...to give them back their childhood.” But amazing because she has personally fostered 23 children. Her remarks earned a standing ovation and inspired very generous bidding in the live auction ($70,050) and dedicated giving ($77,000) conducted by Christopher Aslanian. Thanks also to a raffle ($10,400) won by Gerry Miserendino and sponsors (see photo gallery), the annual soiree raised $480,000, which greatly please executive director Ashley Hudson, who gave birth to a healthy baby girl 11 days later.

The Garden Party

More than 600 fashionable folks ($150 ticket) gathered at Meadow Brook Hall for the 10th annual Garden Party. Their path through the historic manse to the tent was lined with a nice touch – posters featuring 10 beneficiaries of previous party funds with notations of their current professional careers. At the first stop on the terrace, a volunteer poured sparkling dry white wine from L. Mawby Winery as Olivia Millerschin and her band made music. Twenty-two more wine stations were located throughout the tent offering more than 100 outstanding pours. Twenty-five food purveyors, including the Oakland Community College Culinary Studies Institute, served small plates ranging from oysters (Streetside Seafood and Joe Muer Seafood) to lobster-stuffed beef tenderloin (Novi Chophouse) to burgers (Redcoat Tavern). New-this-year picnic tables on the lawn adjacent to the vintage car display seemed to be always occupied as “first couple” Elizabeth and Syd Ross managed to greet personally most of the guests. The exceptional event raised $185,000 for scholarship assistance at Oakland Community College. This brings the 10-year total to approximately $1-million.

On August 12, The Garden Party Foundation will present the third Northern Michigan Garden Party in Petoskey to benefit scholarships at North Central Michigan College.

Rose Hill Foundation Golf Fundraiser

Eight of the 115 golfers who played in the 27th annual Rose Hill Golf Tournament provided great cocktail hour entertainment when they participated in the $1-million Shootout. Four (Chris Allen, Ralph Miesel, Ryan Pendergast and Mike Vojinov) were chosen for being closest to a hole during the day’s play. Four more (John Boukamp,Sr., Paul Seizert, Len Trotter and Andy Walsh) were randomly drawn from a raffle pool. From the terrace overlooking the par-three, ninth hole, guests cheered the golfers as each tried for a hole-in-one and the million dollars. No one holed his tee shot but Chris Allen won $2,500 for coming the closest. The highlight of the dinner program was a Q & A with two residents of the psychiatric treatment center and CEO / President Ben Robinson. Notable quotes include Kate’s: “Rose Hill has done amazing things for me, and Marta’s: “Rose Hill never gave up on me.” Event chair Greg Schwartz thanked the sponsors (see photo gallery) and presented trophies to the top three teams. RH founder Dan Kelly noted that the past golf events have raised $1.5-million and the 2018 event added $108,00 for financial assistance at the center in Holly. All guests took home a rose plant grown by Rose Hill residents.

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

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

Women's Fund of Rochester Summer Soiree

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 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.

Laurie and Tom Cunnington are chairing Girls On Track 6 – 9 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 12 at the M1 Concourse to benefit the Women of Tomorrow mentoring program for more than 1,200 girls at-risk girls. Plans include valet parking, food, specialty drinks, thrill ride on the track with professional driver, racing simulator, DJ music by iHeart media and exotic cars on display. For sponsorships and tickets ($200-individual; $2,500 & up - tables) contact Jill Harris at j.harris@womenoftomorrow.org or 248- 430-4095 or go to https://womenoftomorrow.org/locations/detroit/events/.

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