Checking out the silent auction items at the Leukemia Bash June 10 at the Westin Book Cadillac are Grosse Ile residents Susan Muscat (left) and her husband, Ken, a sergeant in the Dearborn Police Department, and Peggy Shriver, executive director of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The event, which raised an estimated $255,000, honored the organization’s Man & Woman of the Year.
By Evelyn Cairns
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year took their bows before 200 guests June 10 during the organization’s Leukemia Bash 2011 at the Westin Book Cadillac.
Kelley LaFontaine of LaFontaine Automotive Group won the title Woman of the Year, and Tom Connelly of EWIE, Man of the Year.
They were honored for raising $150,000 and $58,000, respectively, in the annual Man & Woman of the Year campaign, which began March 31 and ended at the bash. Each dollar participants raised represented one vote in the contest.
Others vying for the titles were Dr. Andrzewj Jakubowiak of the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Gary Davis of Prarie Farms, Jeff Rysenga of Onstar, Mary Jane Nowak of Fifth Third Bank, and Cathy Hackenberer of WAC Web Design.
Also present at the event were the L&L Society’s Boy & Girl of the Year: Jackson Moceri, 8, of Chesterfield Township, who is in treatment for leukemia, and Aleison Kowalski of Dearborn Heights, 9, who is in remission of the disease.
The auctions offered prizes including tickets to the Kid Rock concert in August, sports packages, dinners and jewelry.
The bash, which raised $255,000, featured a cocktail party, dinner, live and silent auctions and a program emceed by Detroit News columnist Neal Rubin.
Plans are under way for a Leukemia & Lymphoma Society benefit regatta to be hosted by the Grosse Ile Yacht Club on July 30.
Annual salute starts June 30
The 19th annual Detroit Symphony Orchestra and The Henry Ford Salute to America concert series will begin Thursday and continue through Sunday at Greenfield Village.
The symphony will perform such patriotic favorites as the “Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful” and conclude the concerts with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” accompanied by cannon fire and fireworks.
Concerts will begin at 8:30 p.m. in the Walnut Grove Historic District. Doors will open at 6 p.m.
Family Fun nights will be hosted by The Henry Ford on Thursday and Friday, when pre-concert activities for children will be offered. Children 12 and under will be admitted free with the purchase of an adult ticket and required coupon on those nights.
Visitors to the salute events are encouraged to picnic or visit the village restaurants and provide their own seating for the concerts.
Details about the celebration and admission charges are available by going to www.thehenryford.org/events/annualsalute.aspx or calling (313) 982-6001.
Coming up . . .
Through Sept. 5 — Exhibit, “Discovering the Civil War”; at the Henry Ford Museum; photos, papers, petitions, receipts, proclamations, letters, diaries and more about the war are on view, as well as recordings that describe and answer questions about the conflict; admission is $15, adults; $14, seniors; $11, youths 5-12; children 4 and under are free; for more informa-tion, call 313-982-6001 or go to www.thehenryford.org.
June 29-Jan. 1 — Display of Royal Marionettes at the Detroit Institute of Arts from its Paul McPharlin Puppetry Collection; featuring elaborate costumes with stage sets and dramatic lighting; admission is $8, adults; $6, seniors; $4, ages 6-17; for additional in-formation, go to www.dia.org.
July 2-9 — National Cherry Festival in Traverse City; 150 events (85 percent free), including parades, arts-and-crafts exhibits, midway, Blue Angels air show, car and truck show, races, global wine pavilion and cherry specialties; for more information, call 800-968-3380 or go to www.cherryfestival.org.
July 8, 9, 10 — Trenton Mid-Summer Festival; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 8 and 9; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 10; in Downtown Trenton along West Jefferson; food, entertainment by Flash Back and Hidden Agenda, hometown reunion tent, kayak demonstrations and SportsFest Volleyball Classic; for more information, go to www.trentonmid-summer.com
or call (734) 675-7300.