event theme – Illuminating Children’s Lives Together – was expressed visually with intriguing, glowing landscape globes of various sizes and colors and the blinking, lighted lapel pins worn by generous folks who made $100 on-the-spot donations during the cocktail hour. New CARE House executive director Carol Furlong was profuse in her gratitude to co-chairs Kappy Trott and Lisa Payne and the many generous event sponsors before the program that put the spotlight on honoree Alicia Boler-Davis and prolific songwriter Kara DioGuardi. GM North America President Mark Reuss obviously relished his role detailing Boler-Davis’ impressive accomplishments at his company where she’s a Sr. VP. And the audience relished DioGuardi’s conversation about the stories behind her songs and the concert featuring her songs, including “Pieces of Me”. Following the show, McCann Erickson Detroit president Chris Fay, a CARE House supporter, was the auctioneer for a mini live auction, and he got some impromptu help from DioGuardi. She not only teased guests to bid high, she also donated her house in Maine for two separate holiday stays. In all, the live auction raised $100,000, including the $40,000 paid for VIP hospitality at Tom and board chair Vicki Celani’s vineyards estate in Napa Valley. This brought the total proceeds for the 2013 benefit to a record-breaking $341,000. AVANTI Soiree AVANTI, a weeklong summer workshop/festival for area students conducted at Derby Middle School by Musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (MDSO) is now in its third successful year. A mini-AVANTI fundraiser saluting Donald Baker’s 41st and final year as DSO’s principal oboist attracted 40 guests ($90 ticket) to Donald and Sally Baker’s home across the street from the Manoogian Mansion. According to AVANTI chair Judy Doyle, the highlights of the elegant evening were many: the formal dinner prepared and served by the musicians; a 30-minute concert by the DSO oboe section; a video of Baker’s career narrated by WRCJ’s Chris Felcyn; toasts and reminisces galore. The Soiree raised more than $3,000 to support the 2014 AVANTI Summer MusicFest. Learn more about it at www.avantisummermusicfest.org. downtownpublications.com
CARE Night Charity Ball
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6 1. George Peck (left) of Bloomfield with Kappy and Dave Trott of Birmingham. 2. Carol Furlong (left) of Bloomfield with GM’s Alicia BolerDavis of Rochester and Mark Reuss of Bloomfield. 3. Kelly Shuert (left) and Lisa Payne (right) of Bloomfield with Connie Beckett (center) of Troy. 4. Carl Camden of Bloomfield with singer Kara DioGuardi. 5. Jim Hayes and Denise Abrash of Bloomfield. 6. Debie Ponmoski (center) of Beverly Hills with Dana Selis (left) and Ruthie Selzer of Birmingham. 7. Meghan Pulte (center) of Chicago with Bob and Maryclare of Bloomfield. 8. Barbara Yolles (left) and Marcia Nodel of Birmingham with Karen Jacobson of Bloomfield. 9. Susan and Bill Harvey of Birmingham. 10. Elyse Foltyn (left) of Birmingham with Marlene Emerson and Kim Reuss of Bloomfield. 11. Katie Parks (left) with Bob and Mary Ann Schott of Bloomfield. 12. Mary Taylor (left), Anne Marie and Tim Udell and Dave and Lanie Cosgrove of Birmingham.
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