Once a year they stage a fundraiser for local vision-related agencies, chosen because the sorority supports such endeavors nationwide. For more than 10 years, Mary Counihan has hosted the party, a live auction of items the members either hand make or buy (i.e., the “fake its”). After some serious socializing and noshing, the 30 guests sat down to bid. Kathy Barnas was not only the chief auctioneer, she also baked her legendary pumpkin roll for the auction. Such is its popularity that Birmingham’s Chop Shop owner Jane Bonanata, who was unable to attend, phoned in her bidding for Staci Skoog to relay. Her high bid of $42 brought the auction total to $1,200. It will support such agencies as Ropard, Seedling’s Braille Books, Leader Dogs for the Blind and Penrickton Center for the Blind. Inaugural Brave Knight: Courage for Cures Nearly 275 people attended the first Team Julian Foundation cocktail benefit at The Townsend. It was held on the one-year anniversary weekend of the late Julian Boivin’s diagnosis of a deadly, inoperable brain stem glicoma. After a heroic battle involving treatments at St. Jude’s and University of Michigan hospitals, the cancer claimed his life seven months later. Brave Knight was inspired by the precocious four-year-old’s fascination with superheroes and stories in which good defeated evil. The evening was led by Team Julian Foundation co-founders Jeremy Fife and Steve Millman, friends of Julian’s parents Brad and Nettie. It was highlighted by a poignant speech by Brad, followed by an urging to further research by Dr. Jeffrey Taub, director of pediatric oncology at Children’s Hospital. Nettie, who coordinated the benefit party, was thrilled that it raised $40,000, twice what had been projected. All proceeds will go directly to critical research into the deadliest of childhood brain tumors being conducted by CureSearch for Childhood Cancer and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To get involved with Team Julian, visit www.teamjulianfoundation.com or call Nettie Boivin at (248) 790-2350. BBAC Shop & Champagne The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s holiday sales show got off to a rip roaring start at the annual Shop & Champagne preview party. The food is a big attraction at this party downtownpublications.com
Parade Foundation’s Hob Nobble Gobble
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1. The Parade Company CEO Tony Michaels (left) of Rochester with Parade chair Sandy Pierce and her son Tommy of Milford. 2 Event presenter PVS Chemicals’ Jim Nicholson (left), his wife Ann and their daughter Alicia (holding her son Alexander Van Toll) and her in-laws Paul (center) and Cheryl Von Tol (right), of Grosse Pointe. 3. Brenda & sponsor Ford’s Jim Graham of Birmingham. 4. Sponsor Ford’s Brad Simmons (left) with William, Susan, Karl & Bill Krusel of Birmingham. 5. Mark Davis (left) and Jeff Sadowski of Birmingham. 6. Christa Hehs Moran (left), her son Colin Moran and her sister Judy Hehs of Bloomfield. 7. Sean Moran with his son Logan (left) and Graham Doman of Bloomfield.
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Delta Gamma Make It, Bake It, Fake It
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1. Event committee Jodie Colman (left) of Bloomfield, Blair Schwartz of W. Bloomfield, Mary Counihan of Birmingham and Kathy Barnas of Beverly Hills. 2. Cathie Freshwater of Birmingham. 3. Belle Brogan (left) of Bloomfield and Barb Wiese of Rochester.
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Inaugural Brave Knight: Courage for Cures
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1. Courtney & Pat Lowman of Birmingham. 2. Foundation founders former Birminghamers Jenny (left) & Jeremy Fife now of Dallas, TX., Nettie & Brad Boivin of Bloomfield and Katie & Steve Millman of Grand Rapids. 3. Meredith Morse & Heather Gillespie of Bloomfield. (Photos by Ryan Boughner).
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