May 2023

HOPE “SPRINGS” ETERNAL

Happy 100th Birthday Community House! We can’t share it enough. A century ago – April 1923 - visionaries and founders of The Community House assembled on the corner of Maple Road and Bates Street to establish the first Community House (TCH) in Birmingham. Humbling and inspiring, dirt roads, horses, buggies, and all. What a rare gift it was/is In January 2023, briming with great pride, hope and optimism, The Community House began its Centennial Anniversary year - of celebrations, reflection, and grand moments of gratitude – a rare and almost extinct milestone.

In reflection of the last “three” years and looking forward to the promise of the next century of service at The Community House, we take comfort and joy in the timeless phrase “Hope Springs Eternal.”

This age-old proverb reminds us that it is human nature to always find a fresh cause for optimism. Alexander Pope wrote in “An Essay on Man” that even in the darkest of times - people always hope for the best - even in the face of adversity. And hope means looking towards the future with confidence. With great reason for optimism - all of us at the historic Community House look towards the future – a bright new future post-COVID, post-Delta, post-Omicron and (hopefully) post-economic periods of financial instability – looking ahead towards a new millennium with renewed optimism, confidence, and excitement.

With confidence, we have begun the process of rebuilding our historic nonprofit, charitable organization safely, fiscally, and responsibly. We have already welcomed back – post-pandemic- ten (10) new and old friends like DOJO, The Birmingham Optimist Club, The Junior League of Birmingham, FAR Therapeutic Arts & Education, The Birmingham Shopping District, Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber, Communicare Michigan, Birmingham Bloomfield Arts Center, Birmingham Bloomfield Newcomer’s Club and Project2 to rediscover synergy, friendship, support and respect for one another. While the road ahead remains unpredictable, we are optimistic that we can rediscover new ways to reinvent ourselves, new ways to serve the community, new ways of meeting our stewardship responsibilities and new ways to hand-off the baton of leadership to the next generation. Happy Birthday TCH.

Speaking of serving the community, some of the favorite events returning to The Community House this spring include:

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCH – RESERVATIONS NOW OPEN

Time to Pamper Mom. Reservations now open. Join us for Mother’s Day Brunch 2023 on Sunday, May 14, in the elegant Wallace Ballroom of the historic Community House. Seatings at 10:30 a.m. and 1p.m. Guests will enjoy an extravagant (best in class) Mother’s Day Feast, including Sliced Beef Tenderloin w/Lavender Butter, Chocolate Waffles w/Strawberry Rhubarb Syrup, Quiche w/Caramelized Onions, Arugula and Feta, Latkes, Scrambled Eggs, Wild Mushroom Roasted Chicken, Banana Pancakes and so much more. A complimentary pitcher of Mimosas for Mom, with fine wine, and Bloody Mary’s available for purchase for anyone wishing to deliver a special toast to mom. $75pp Adult - $30pp Children (ages 4-12 years) – Children 3 and under free. Reservations required. Hurry - seats are limited. For more information or to reserve your seat, please go to communityhouse.com or call 248.644.5832.

90 & BEYOND CELEBRATION

Back by popular demand. Our showstopper 90 & Beyond event, celebrating those in our community who have reached 90 years-old (and beyond.) is once again returning to the historic Community House. Our community’s 90+ year-old treasures are warmly welcomed to TCH to attend the 2023 90 & Beyond Celebration as our guests - a special tribute luncheon customized just for them - full of heartfelt memories, music and good cheer with friends and family. Tickets for those under 90 years young are available for $40pp to help join the honorees in the celebration. All guests will enjoy a delicious lunch prepared by The Community House’s award-winning Corporate Executive Chef, Ryan Friedrich, and Sous Chef Robert Coran, live musical entertainment presented by Kerry Price, featuring familiar music from decades past. In addition, a photo presentation entitled, “then and now” capturing the honorees in “earlier” years and a “current” photo will be featured on screen. Each honoree will also have their photo taken by a professional photographer as a keepsake of the celebration. 90 & Beyond made possible via the generous corporate support of Chief Financial Credit Union and Aly Darin Photography. Sponsorships and advertising opportunities are still available. Tickets are available online (communityhouse.com) or by calling The Community House at 248.644.5832.

2023 CLASSICAL BRUNCH SERIES

Also back by popular demand. The Community House’s “Classical Brunch Series” is returning to TCH in partnership with our dear friends at 90.9 WRCJ. This up close and personal three-part concert series will be held on June 11, October 15, and November 19, and will feature outstanding classical music performed by members of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and friends. A lovely brunch begins at 11:45 a.m. (each concert) followed by the performance at 12:30 p.m. Reservations are $55 per concert, $150 for the series. Audience members will enjoy printed musical notes in the program book for each concert prepared by a professional musicologist. For reservations and ticket information, please visit our website, communityhouse.com. Early reservations are encouraged.

SAVE THE DATE

The Community House Association is pleased to announce that the 2024 Bates Street Society Dinner will be held on Saturday, February 10, 2024 at the historic Community House. 2024 Pillars of Vibrancy candidates to be honored during this special evening of recognition and inspiration (to date) include Dr. Ben Schwartz, Salvador Salort-Pons, Paul Gross and Michael Bickers. 2024 committed sponsors to date include Founding Sponsors PNC Bank and Corewell Health, and Lead Sponsors Blue Cross Blue Shield, DeRoy & Devereaux, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Emerson-Prew, Oakland University, Metalbuilt and The Agency Hall & Hunter Realtors. 2024 Sponsorship and advertising opportunities are open and now available. For more information about the 8th Annual Bates Street Society Dinner, please contact William D. Seklar at wseklar@communityhouse.com. Save the date now.

HELP NEEDED

THE COMMUNITY HOUSE “SPRING” ANNUAL FUND

The 2023 “SPRING” Annual Fund Drive is upon us. Given COVID, it is hard to overestimate how important our quarterly annual fund appeals are to the operations at the historic Community House. For the last three years (and counting) we have found ourselves, like so many charities, continuing to navigate through a perfect storm – COVID, supply chain issues, inflation, wage pressures, a faltering economy.

By making a 2023 Spring Annual Fund Drive tax-deductible gift to The Community House, a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization now, your gift will ensure that we continue to navigate through these challenges so that we may remain the important educational, philanthropic and community resource that thousands of individuals have relied upon for 100 years, To make a Spring 2023 Annual Fund gift now, you can send your donation in by mail at: TCH 380 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, Michigan 48009; give online at communityhouse.com/donate' or by calling The Community House Foundation at 248.594.6417. Hope really does spring eternal.

William D. Seklar is Officer, President & CEO of The Community House Association, and Board Chair, President & CEO of The Community House Foundation.