The 2010 Winter Gala

Heart and Soul a Huge Success

Wow! The 2010 Winter Gala. Where do we begin? First we had a fantastic venue, the newly remodeled Sellers Buick Pontiac GMC showroom, with floor to ceiling windows. It was transformed into a very elegant room rivaling any country club or hotel ballroom. Our guests (and we had a sell-out crowd) were welcomed by student greeters who took their coats. As they mingled with friends and made new friends, our guests could also have their photo taken as a memento of the evening, browse and bid on a wide array of silent auction items, and participate in the hilarious "Boogie Heads."

Guests were welcomed by host Sam Slaughter, owner of the Sellers dealership. Sam commented that when the showroom was remodeled last year it was the hope to open it up to community for events like this – and we’re glad they did. Gala co-chairs, Bill Dwyer and Theresa Rich, also welcomed guests and graciously acknowledged the many people who had helped make the event possible. Following a fantastic dinner prepared by Picasso Café, came one of the highlights of the evening. For the first time, the Foundation honored community philanthropists who have made a significant contribution to Farmington and Farmington Hills. The award was presented to George and Dolores Riley and named for them – The Riley Award for Altruism. Accepting the award on behalf of her parents and family, Kimberly Riley Fouts quoted Martin Luther King, Jr.,

"Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness."

Rev. King and George Riley share the same birthday. What a wonderful example the Rileys set for all of us.

An enthusiastic live auction followed with guest auctioneer Fred Nahhut of Detroit Public Television, Channel 56, ably assisted by Bill Dwyer. Bidding was hot and heavy for some very exciting items – guest suites for Tigers and Pistons games, a tour of WDIV with Paul Gross, and, the highlight, a helicopter ride in Bob Lutz’s helicopter. Then, on a more serious note, guests were undated on the "Bountiful Backpack Program," a special project initiated at the 2009 Gala. The program provides food for the weekend for students eligible for reduced or free breakfasts and lunches. Often these students don’t have adequate food for the weekend, and the Backpack Program helps to fill that gap. Once again, our guests generously responded with donations and pledges.

And then – the desserts! For the last four years some absolutely phenomenal desserts have been presented by the Culinary Arts Institute of Oakland Community College, Orchard Ridge Campus. This year was no exception and many diets were forgotten as guests enjoyed the creations. But there was an opportunity to dance off those calories and many people did just that while others enjoyed watching and socializing. As very happy guests left, they were treated to one more surprise – their cars had been washed by the extraordinary Sellers’ valets. What a way to end the evening.

Of course, the most important thing was that the Gala raised funds to support the Foundation’s grant program. As our co-chairs said,

"With the economic turmoil surrounding our community, there has never been a more important time to prepare for the future by focusing on the needs of our youth and families."

Thanks to the generosity of Gala guests, the Foundation’s Allocations Committee is looking forward to making grants to worthwhile community organizations that enhance the quality of life in our community.

Yes, the 2010 Gala was hugely successful. It exceeded our expectations and, once again, left us wondering what we will do next year. Trust us – we’ll rise to the challenge.

Outstanding Community Support - Thank You

Warm hearts support the 2010 Winter Gala

What a wonderful community! Hundreds of people stepped forward to support the 2010 Winter Gala, "Heart and Soul." Not only did the event have a sell-out crowd, but local businesses, civic organizations, and residents were Benefactors and Sponsors of the Gala, purchased ads in the program book and donated auction items. We'd like to publicly thank them and share their names with you.

PLATINUM BENEFACTOR

• Botsford Hospital

GOLD BENEFACTORS

• Community Emergency Medical Services
• Daimler Financial Services
• Sellers Buick Pontiac GMC

SILVER BENEFACTOR

• DTE Energy Foundation

BRONZE BENEFACTORS

• Citizens First Foundation
• LOC Federal Credit Union
• Sam’s Club

PATRONS

• Lee & Paul Blizman
• Foster Swift Collins & Smith ~ Norman Richards
• Hubbell, Roth & Clark
• Johnson, Rosati, LaBarge, Aseltyne & Field, P.C.
• Valentina & Robert Mason
• North Congregational Church
• Joanne & Bill Smith
• Robin & Lenny Waldman

GALA TABLE SPONSORS

• McCarthy & Smith
• The Riley Foundation
• Waste Management

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

These are the people who helped us out in so many ways with their time and talents and contributed to the success of the Gala.

• Bella Vino Fine Wine & Spirits
• Deborah Brauer, Simply Stated
• Culinary Arts Institute, OCC, Orchard Ridge Campus
• Farmington Hills Manor
• Farmington Hills Wine & Liquor
• Ilene & David Goldberg, Auction Assistants
• Farmington Garden Club
• Barbara Hafey
• Tom Hafey
• Ginny Morris
• Kayla Pingel, Miss Farmington, and her court, Tara Ellis & Maggie Malaney
• Brenda Rich, Executive Printing Services
• Debbie Skindell, Registration Hostess
• Our student greeters — Calvin Kopitz, Zachary & Alyson Rich, Alyse Wahler
• And everyone at Sellers Buick Pontiac GMC – what wonderful people to work with.

AND THEN THERE’S THE GALA COMMITTEE

Plenty of organization here, lot of hours and meeting. It paid off.

• Bill Dwyer & Theresa Rich, Dinner Co-Chairs
• Paul Blizman
• Edward Cleland
• Mary Beth Curlee
• Kimberly Riley Fouts
• Emile Mahanti
• Robert Mason
• Ginny Morris
• Michael Palchesko
• Marla Parker
• Sam Slaughter
• David Steinberg
• Robin Waldman

CHECK OUT THE ADVERTISERS

Support them -- they're the heart and soul of our community

• Art Van Furniture
• Bacco Ristorante
• BELFOR Property Restoration
• Lee & Paul Blizman
• Botsford Commons Senior Community
• Burns Investment Group
• Busch’s Market
• Comerica Bank
• Direct Optical
• Dmedia Studio, Eric Fouts
• Doris & Bill Dwyer
• City of Farmington
• Farmington Hills Mayor and City Council
• Farmington Hills Police Benevolent Association
• Farmington Hills Police Department
• Farmington Public Schools’ Board of Education & Superintendent
• Financial Services of America
• Gale Cengage Learning
• Galena’s Van Dyke Dodge
• Mary Anne & Bob Heinrich
• The Honorable Gilda Jacobs
• Mark G. Landau
• Kimkards, Kim Marlinga
• McCarthy & Smith, Inc.
• Mid American Fitness
• James K. Mitchell
• North Congregational Church
• Judges Marla Parker & James Brady
• Plante & Moran
• RF Connect Team
• Raider Dennis Agency
• David L. Steinberg
• Turbine Tool & Gage, Inc.
• Robin & Lenny Waldman
• Weingartz
• Wright Penning & Beamer
• Zap Zone

FINALLY, THE GENEROUS COMPANIES, ORGANIZATONS THAT PROVIDED THE OUTSTANDING AUCTION ITEMS

• Antonio’s Cucina Italiana
• Bacco Ristorante
• The Hon. Vicki Barnett
• Botsford Hospital
• Buddy’s Pizza
• Café Cortina
• California Pizza Kitchen
• Citizens First Bancorp
• Daimler Financial Services
• Detroit Tigers, Inc.
• Direct Optical
• Drakeshire Lanes
• Gail Eisner
• Emery’s Jewelers
• The English Inn
• City of Farmington
• City of Farmington Hills
• Farmington Family YMCA
• Farmington Hills Fire Department
• Farmington Players
• Farmington Public Schools
• Flemings Steakhouse
• Gale Cengage Learning
• John Glick, Plum Tree Pottery
• Global Wireless Communications
• Paul Gross
• Happy’s Pizza
• Hite Photo
• Holiday Inn
• The Hon. Gilda Jacobs
• Jet’s Pizza
• Langan’s NorWest Lanes
• Lavdas Limousines, Nick Lavdas
• Links of Novi
• Robert Lutz, General Motors Company
• Kim Marlinga
• Matt Prentice Restaurant Group
• McCarthy & Smith
• MGM Grand Detroit
• Michigan Landscape Design Services
• Mid American Studio
• Lee Ann & Greg Murtland
• Olga’s Kitchens
• Olympia Entertainment
• Napa Car Care
• Park West Gallery
• Pet Supplies Plus
• Pioneer Automotive
• Rocky Mt Chocolate Factory
• H.A. Smith Lumber & Hardware
• Stage Deli
• Tapper’s Jewelry
• TerraMar Designs
• Thomas James Company, Rob Wachler
• Ticketmaster
• Townsend Hotel
• Trader Joe’s
• United American Payroll
• WWJ Newsradio 950
• Weingartz
• Yesterday’s Memories Video Production
• Yoga Shelter
• Zap Zone

Summary

The 2010 Winter Gala

Please feel free to Contact Us for more information concerning any FFH Foundation events or activities.