vision journalist Jennifer Valoppi, who grew up in Allen Park. The Detroit startup was funded with a $5-million grant from the Knight Foundation, and already has 250 girls from 11 high schools (mentees) and 25 successful, professional women (mentors) participating. Before Christmas, they convened at the MAX Music Center for a social. It featured a DSO rehearsal, a boffo performance by Detroit School for the Performing Arts’ all male VISIONS chorus, a powerful video starring WoT Florida graduates who are now in college, and remarks by DSO CEO Ann Parsons and WDIV’s Carmen Harlan. Local residents in the crowd included Wendy Powers, Anne Damman, Sarah Winter, Laurie Cunnington, Mary Ann Greenawalt and program coordinator Kathy Wilson. WoT Founding Advisory Committee Member Florine Mark will be hosting a spring cocktail reception in preparation for a fall fundraiser. For more information, contact Kathy Wilson at (248) 430-4095 or k.wilson@womenoftomorrow.org.
2011 Kidney Ball
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DSO Nutcracker Luncheon Nearly 200 attended the Detroit Symphony Orchestra Volunteer Council’s annual Nutcracker Luncheon at the Dearborn Inn where Barbra Bloch’s glistening white centerpieces gave the room a winter wonderland aura. Gloria Clark and Gloria Nycek chaired the event. Highlights included socializing, a dance performance by Taylor’s Ballet Americana, drawing for winners of Neiman downtownpublications.com
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1. Lomas (left) & Wendy Brown of Waterford with event co-chair Myra Moreland of Birmingham and honorary co-chair Ford Fund’s Jim Vella of Canton. 2. Kidney Foundation board chair Mark Behm of Parma with event honorary co-chair GM’s Vivian Pickard of Bloomfield. 3. Decorations chair Cindi Weinert (left), Kari Ross, Maria Roberts and Cathy Maiorana of Bloomfield. 4. Bill Roberts (left), David Weinert, Dave Dombrowski and Joe Maiorana of Bloomfield. 5. Brian & Michele Schubot of Bloomfield (at Mars candy station). 6. Josh & Laynie Bryant of Birmingham.
4 Alternatives for Girls Tea For 25 years, interior designer Shirley Maddalena has hosted a High Tea at the Townsend to benefit young women at risk. In recent years the Riga Group at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney has joined as a sponsor and Alternatives for Girls (www.alternativeforgirls.org) has been the beneficiary. More than 60 supporters attended the event last month. In addition to socializing, sipping tea and devouring the savories and sweet treats, which, in our opinion, beat the legendary tea served at Vancouver Island’s Victoria Hotel, guests also shopped at the silent auction of donated treasures. The auction, noted for its bargains, has become such a draw that one loyal guest, Marjorie Schultz, said she looks for suitable donations throughout the year. Proceeds from the auction and ticket sales will help high-risk girls grow strong and make positive choices.
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Alternatives for Girls Tea
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1. Andrea Bonce (left) and Emma & her mother Jane Synnestvedt of Birmingham with Nancy De Angelis of Bloomfield. 2. Event sponsor the Riga Group’s Brodie Killian of Dearborn with event founder Shirley Maddalena of Bloomfield. 3. Event loyalist Marjorie Schultz of Bloomfield. 4. Rebecca Warchuck (left) and her mother Josie Sheppard of Birmingham. 5. Curtis Posuniak and Pat Hardy of Bloomfield.
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1. Debbie Logan (left) and Lynn Miller of Bloomfield. 2. Maggie Allesee (left), Millie Pastor and Alice Haidostian of Bloomfield and Linda Juracek-Lipa of Birmingham. 3. Mary Smart (left) of Northville and Lorraine Schultz of Bloomfield. 4. VC president Janet Ankers (left) of Beverly Hills; Marlene Bihlmeyer of Bloomfield, DSO Executive VP Paul Hogle of Grosse Pointe, Barbara Frankel of W. Bloomfield.
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