SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Grace Centers Night of Hope
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Rick DiBartolomeo, Grenae Dudley-White, Blanca Fauble, Pat Fenton, Joe Fleck, Austin Kanter, John Landis, Eric Larson, David Markiewicz, Luther “Skip” Rosemond, Syd Ross, Peter Schweitzer, Rebecca Sorensen and Bill White.
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1. Nanette Droulliard (left) and Kevin Murphy of Rochester. 2. Michelle Denno (left) of Rochester, Emilie Mardigian Fitch (left) and Katre Klow of Birmingham. 3. Charles Wickins (left) of Birmingham, Grace Center of Hope’s Pastor Clark Kent of Troy and Susan Cetnar of Clinton. 4. Chris Klow (left) and Aaron Fitch of Birmingham. 5. Melissa Rodriquez of Sterling Hgts., Maria Moceri of Rochester. 6. Tom Kalas (left) of Rochester Hills, Jerry Ruggierello of Northville, Mario Moceri of Rochester. 7. Roop Raj of Bloomfield, Angelia LaGrandeur of Centerline, Tricia Raymond of Troy.
HAVEN’s Tailgate Benefit
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1. Jeff & Michelle Bonanni of Rochester. 2. Committee member Craig Wolanin, (left) Gordie, Cayce and Grant Kosch of Rochester. 3. Interim co-director Marianne Dwyer of Ortonville, committee member Greg Erne of Beverly Hills.
Spirit of Manresa Gala Gala
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1. Julie and Peter Kreher of Birmingham. 2. Steve Raymond (left) of Troy, Sr. Bridget Bearss and Frank Migliazzo of Bloomfield. 3. Maryellen Netter (left) of Bloomfield, Jane Stewart of Royal Oak. 4. Rick Benedict of Bloomfield. 5. Marty (left) & Tami Rymerz of Wright City, MO, Robert & Barbara Wilson of Bloomfield.
HAVEN’s Tailgate Benefit The weather was pleasant, the terrace at the Birmingham Athletic Club was a comfortable, new event venue and 123 HAVEN supporters ($125 and up tickets) turned out to watch the Lions-Packers game. They also bid in silent and live auctions ($9,000), wagered $5,000 on the scoring in each quarter, savored bountiful tailgate fare and, at halftime, applauded remarks by retired Lions kicker Jason Hanson. His anti-domestic and sexual violence message was mostly to guys. “Let’s put our competitive energies into something that matters...stopping abuse...men must get their act together...let’s be part of the solution. We’re cheering (HAVEN) on,” he concluded. Although the Lions fell short, thanks to generous sponsors, the fourth annual tailgate party enriched HAVEN’s victim support and abuse prevention programs by more than $53,000. Spirit of Manresa Gala Gala Many of the 220 supporters ($100 & up tickets) of the Manresa Jesuit Retreat House gathered at the St. Nicholas Center in Troy began the evening at Mass celebrated by Fr. Leo Cachat, SJ. The social hour following the liturgy was marked by conversation, silent auction bidding (96 items), a 52-card raffle ($100 tickets) and signing up for three different social events. The dinner program was emceed by WJR’s Marie Osborne and had highlights, not the least of which was a champagne toast to the conclusion of Manresa’s 90th anniversary celebration. But here’s betting everyone in the audience was most moved by Rick Benedict’s remarks about the cancer that made him come to Manresa 10 years ago because he “...was afraid to meet The Creator.” He has since transitioned from hoping to believing in God. “I have had an internship in Trust,” he concluded. Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; email samgerak@aol.com or call 248.646.6390.
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Grace Centers Night of Hope The Reserve was also a grand venue for Grace Centers’ Night of Hope fundraiser. Chaired by Emilie Mardigian Fitch and Nanette Droulliard, it attracted 144 for casual Friday night fun. This included super food stations, a silent auction ($9,755) and a live auction of three Dave Santia speedy painted celebrity portraits, plus three other items ($10,300). Fox 2’s Roop Raj also emceed a program. It included his recollection that his first guest when he started at Fox 2 in 1992 was the current Miss Michigan (Shannon Grace Clark, the daughter of Grace Centers of Hope’s Pastor Clark Kent); a moving video depicting a youngster’s dramatic success in Grace Centers’ Hands of Hope Childcare Center; and, why many came, a riveting Pastor Kent story. The latter, relayed with consummate good humor, was his memory of how the late David Mardigian came to be a major Grace Centers donor. Following Pastor Clark, Melissa Rodriquez made a special appeal that resulted in $13,677. This brought the Night of Hope proceeds to $108,902 for the Hands of Hope Childcare Center at Grace Centers of Hope. The Christian social service agency receives no government support.
DOWNTOWN
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