Business

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Gary Wasserman is in charge of

the Detroit International

Freedom Festival Committee.

DEBBIE SKLAR

SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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Gary Wasserman: "We can't
turn our backs on Detroit."

ary Wasserman lives in Birmingham, but he
is committed to Detroit and he wants more
suburbanites to join the ranks.
`the health of this region depends on the
suburbs," said Mr. Wasserman. "We can't turn
our backs on Detroit. If Detroit is left to waste,
the decay will creep into the suburbs."
Mr. Wasserman, a member of Detroit May-
or Dennis Archer's transition team, says Mr.
Archer has inspired many more people to get
involved in the city and has sent a wave of op-
timism throughout the area.
"It shows in the streets and in the attitudes,"
said Mr. Wasserman, 44, a University of Michi-
gan alumnus who is president of Detroit-based
Allied Metals Corporation, a producer and dis-
tributor of specialized steel products.
Allied Metals has been headquartered near
Seven Mile and Woodward for 40 years. It also
has offices in Los Angeles, Dusseldorf, Ger-
many, and Tokyo.
Besides working in Detroit, Mr. Wasser-
man is doing other things to keep the city vi-
able. Earlier this year, he was named
chairman of the Detroit International Free-
dom Festival Committee, which is staging the
36th annual Detroit-Windsor International
Freedom Festival.
The highlight of the Freedom Festival once
again will be the annual fireworks display on
the Detroit River, sponsored by Hudson's. It

is scheduled for 10 p.m. June 29 and will be virtual Disney in Detroit," Mr. Wasserman said.
Mr. Wasserman calls the Freedom Festi-
televised by Channel 4.
Mr. Wasserman became involved with the val fireworks display, the largest in North
Freedom Festival when the Parade Compa- America, "a jewel of the community."
'The event brings thousands of people into
ny, producer of the Michigan Thanksgiving
Parade and other special events, assumed Detroit," he said. "It brings Jews, gentiles,
management of the annual summertime ex- whites and blacks together. Everyone is as-
travaganza from Detroit Renaissance, which tonished by the spectacle."
The Freedom Festival and the Thanksgiv-
had managed it since 1979.
For the past five years, Mr. Wasserman has ing Parade have much in common because
served as a member of the Michigan Thanks- they're both "image makers for the city" and
giving Parade Foundation's board of directors. funded primarily by local businesses, Mr.
The foundation oversees the Parade Compa- Wasserman said. In addition, there is sub-
ny. He currently is vice-chairman in charge stantial Jewish involvement in both events.
"It's gratifying for me as a Jew to be finan-
of special events.
During his time on the board, Mr. Wasser- cially and physically involved in the Thanks-
man founded two of the most successful find- giving Parade and the Freedom Festival," he
raising events for the Thanksgiving Parade: said.
The Thanksgiving Parade is the third-
the Hob Nobble Gobble black-tie gala and the
largest in the country behind the New Year's
Indoor Amusement Park at Cobo Center.
One of the Parade Company's first moves Day Rose Bowl parade in Pasadena, Calif.,
after acquiring the Freedom Festival was to and Macy's Thankgiving festivities in New
book an 18-show engagement by the Big Ap- York City.
"I've always been a parade freak," said Mr.
ple Circus June 18-28 at Meadowbrook on the
campus of Oakland University in Rochester. Wasserman, who attended many Detroit
It is a fund-raiser for the Freedom Festival. Thankgiving parades when he was younger.
Mr. Wasserman also serves as a trustee at
Mr. Wasserman is excited that the circus is
Temple Israel; on the board of directors of the
coming to town.
"The Parade Company now puts on four pil- Michigan Opera Theatre and Michigan Artrain;
lars of traditional family entertainment — a pa- and as a member of the Capital Campaign at
rade, fireworks, a carnival and a circus— a Cranbrook Educational Community. ❑

