SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the recent social scene. Many more photos from each event appear online each week at downtownpublications.com where readers can sign up for an e-mail notice when the latest social scene column is posted. Past columns and photos are also archived at the website for Downtown.
Walsh College Leadership Awards Dinner
Sally Gerak
Walsh College Leadership Awards Dinner The 18th annual Walsh College scholarship fundraiser attracted nearly 300 to The Townsend to honor the DeRoy Testamentary Foundation, banker David Provost, distinguished alum Alan Young and 33-year WC trustee Richard Aginian. There were highlights during the dinner program emceed by WXYZ’s Brad Galli. Two DeRoy Testamentary Foundation scholarship recipients spoke convincingly about their experience and their gratitude. Merrill Lynch, DeRoy and David Provost’s Chemical Bank made spontaneous matching grants during the fundraising pledging which totaled $90,000 for full ride scholarships. Auctioneer Gary Mach garnered $12,000 in the brief live auction. This included the $2,000 Chemical Bank paid for the speed painted “Spirit of Detroit” to hang in the bank’s new Detroit headquarters. However, the speaker who seemed to most enjoy the opportunity to pontificate was Richard Aginian. The Lifetime Achievement awardee pointed out that, before Twitter, listening was an important leadership quality. “People talked face to face,” he noted. Repeatedly. Thanks to generous sponsors the event, chaired by WC alum Kahn Hall, added about $170,000 to the 18-year scholarship total of $1.5-million plus. MOCAD Gala + Art Auction “This was her baby,” board chair Elyse Folytn said to the crowd gathered at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. The Gala + Art Auction, in memory and honor of Julie Reyes Taubman, who lost her battle with cancer last January, attracted the largest crowd in the 12-year history of the event (329 @ $1,000 and up ticket). From the stacked copies of “Julieisms” to the streaming video that chronicled private and public moments, the late MOCAD co-founder / wife / mother / photographer was, indeed, present. “Julie was all in…she had to invent a contemporary art museum…Her spirit is in every brick here,” Bobby Taubman noted. One of her seven brothers, Duke Reyes, contributed, “This city was a goldmine for Julie…(she always said) never follow the crowd; be the leader.” Dinner and music by DJ Norm Talley followed the brief but meaningful program. When the silent auction closed, more than 170 auction lots had been sold. The 12th annual event raised about $500,000 for arts programing at MOCAD, where, as Foltyn noted in her tribute to Julie, the teens who participate have a 100 percent high school graduation and a 98 percent college admission rate. Children’s Leukemia Foundation Luncheon More than 120 supporters ($75-ticket) of the Children’s Leukemia Foundation gathered at The Village Club for the fourth annual Love, Laughter and Lunch event chaired by Lorri and Carson Delaney. The mother-daughter team became involved with CLF when son/brother Adam Delaney, now a college junior, was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of three. During the luncheon program emceed by Dr. Deanna Lites, Lorri told how CLF supported the whole family with very practical help “…and, most importantly, they remind you that you are not alone.” Before lunch, guests bought raffle tickets from high school student volunteers for dozens of great items. Thanks also to generous sponsors, the luncheon raised more than $35,000 to help CLF bring hope and compassionate, personalized support to individuals touched by blood cancer. downtownpublications.com
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1. Dave & Christine Provost of Birmingham, Judy & Mike Rinkus of Troy. 2. Marsha Kelliher (left) of Rochester, Julie Rodecker & Joseph Holly of W. Bloomfield, Ryan Smith of Waterford. 3. Steve (left) & Patti Swanson of W. Bloomfield, Diane & Richard Aginian of Birmingham. 4. Michael (left) & Courtney Plotzke of Bloomfield, Alan C. Young of W. Bloomfield. 5. Barbara Mahone (left) of Birmingham, Tom Schellenberg and David Petoskey of Bloomfield.
MOCAD Gala + Art Auction
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1. Joy (left) & Allan Nachman of Bloomfield, Elyse & David Foltyn of Birmingham and Shelley Tauber of W. Bloomfield. 2. Bobby Taubman of Bloomfield and Duke Reyes of Palm Beach, FL. 3. Dozer Strangway & Cate Strumbos of Bloomfield. 4. Sandy Seligman (left) of Bloomfield, Tudor Parfitt of London, UK, Sebastian Parfitt of Miami, FL. 5. Ed Levy & Linda Dresner of Birmingham, Gene Gargaro of Grosse Pointe.
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