seating for 275 (30 at the bar), a full wine rack, grand piano and a window wall system that can open to the outdoor patio facing Woodward, sure to be a coveted spot during the Dream Cruise. Women’s Division Project HOPE Susan Willis-Reickert’s passion for Project HOPE’s humanitarian work which “....knows no boundaries... (and) is unique in the world,” was very evident in her remarks at the Woman’s Division annual luncheon meeting which she chaired. It attracted loyalists ($65, $100-patron, $150benefactor) to Orchard Lake Country Club and featured music by pianist Curtis Posuniak, salutes to past presidents in attendance (Maggie Allesee, Sue Nine, Irene Davis, Sherry Saginaw) and heartfelt expressions of gratitude for participation and friendship by the outgoing co-presidents Bettina Gregg and Linda Juracek-Lipa. This was followed by the election and installation of new officers. The post luncheon program of Broadway tunes by Michigan Opera Theatre singers made the event aptly named as “Broadway on the Lake.” ChildSafe Michigan Legends Gala Legends were the story at the ChildSafe gala. But not the celebrity type. Rather at-risk children and their dreams for becoming Legends of Tomorrow – a doctor, a ballerina, a teacher. To make those dreams come true, 310 supporters ($300) flocked to the Townsend Hotel for the annual benefit. Event co-chairs SuSu Sosnick and Christine & David Colman and board chair Keith Pomeroy greeted the 125 VIPs ($500) who arrived early for a reception in the Clancy Room before dinner, a salute to honoree Sandy Pierce and a live auction conducted by Christopher Aslanian. The auction concluded with a package Katie Valenti hustled during the reception by getting 11 good guys (Sam Valenti Sr, Sam Valenti, Jr., Keith Pomeroy, Joseph Saker, Bruce Kridler, Yousif Ghafari, David Colman, Tom Cunnington, Peter Ghafari, Tim Clarey and Tom Pierce) to combine their talents for a super duper dinner party. It sold for $27,000. Thanks also to generous sponsors, the evening raised a record $450,000 for ChildSafe’s foster care, adoption and mentoring programs. Beaumont Drive to Beat Breast Cancer What Susan Cooper and the late Dr. John Ingold founded 22 years ago as a golf and bridge tournament for downtownpublications.com
ChildSafe Michigan Legends Gala
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1. David (left) & Christine Tobias Colman and SuSu Sosnick with Bob Levenson of Birmingham. 2. Sonia (left) & Keith Pomeroy and Linda Dresner & Ed Levy of Birmingham. 3. Laurie (left), Emily and Tom Cunnington of Birmingham. 4. Jerry Timmis & Almaz Araya of Birmingham. 5. Joseph Saker (left), Erika Kites and Mickey Shapiro of Bloomfield. 6. Bob Pliska (left) of Bloomfield, Lenora Hardy-Foster & Duane Foster of Rochester Hills. 7. Bruce Kridler (left) of Bloomfield, Mark Smits of Clawson. 8. Emily Tobias and Yousif & Mara Ghafari of Bloomfield. 9. Katie (left), Sam, Jr. & Sam, Sr. Valenti and Lucia Zurkowski of Bloomfield. 10. Kathy Schweitzer (left) of Ipswich, MA and Elizabeth Brazilian with Brian Manoogian of Birmingham and Alice Manoogian of Bloomfield.
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