By SHERRI KOLADE
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — President Barack Obama will visit the Henry Ford Museum in April. According to campaign officials, Obama will visit Dearborn on April 18 to attend two fundraisers for his presidential campaign, the other of which is to be held at a private home, according to published reports.
The fundraiser invitations were given to prospective donors on March 29, including a second fundraiser at a private home in Michigan. The Democratic Party hopes to raise more than $1 million with the two events.
Proceeds will go toward the Obama Victory Fund 2012, a fundraising committee authorized by Obama’s re-election campaign, the Democratic National Committe and the state Democtratic Parties in 10 states.
The Henry Ford Museum event tickets begin at $250. For dinner and to receive a photo, the cost is $5,000. Those who wish to join a “VIP rope line” must pay $1,000, according to the report.
The second event will take place at the residence of Denise Ilitch and Jim Scalici in Bingham Farms. Tickets are $40,000 per person for a cocktail reception, formal photo and dinner. Or attendees can pay $10,000 per person for a dinner and candid photo.
Ilitch is a Detroit-area businesswoman and member of University of Michigan Board of Regents and daughter of Mike and Marian Ilitch, who own the Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers, the Little Caesars pizza chain and Motor City Casino.
The trip will be Obama’s 11th trip to Michigan and first since January, when he visited the University of Michigan campus.
First lady Michele Obama also attended a fundraiser in Detroit in October 2011 for about 500 people. Vice President Joe Biden has also held fundraisers in Michigan.
(Sherri Kolade can be reached at [email protected])