To Life!

AROUND TOWN

Shopping

For A Cause

R

inging up charges
at the upscale Ralph
Lauren store at
the Somerset Collection in
Troy never felt so good! More
than 250 supporters of the
greater Michigan chapter of the
Alzheimer's Association had
the store all to themselves for
an exclusive night of
wine, hors d'oeuvres
and private shop-
ping. The more they
spent, the more
money they raised
for the local chapter
of the Alzheimer's
Association, based in
Southfield.
"Now, there are
about 5 million people
with Alzheimer's disease and that
number is expected to increase
to more than 14 million by the
middle of the century:' said
Gayle Burstein of Bloomfield
Hills, the local chapter's director
of development. "It's pretty stag-
gering."
Before the shopping even
began, the event brought in
more than $21,000. Throughout
the evening, 10 percent of the
proceeds from clothing sales
also went to the charitable
organization to help pay for day
care, support groups, counsel-
ing, education and other ser-
vices. Nationally, the Alzheimer's
Association also helps fund
important research.
"[The disease] really takes
away everything you are — just
gradually, in layers, over time
Burstein said.
Her mother, Helen Handmaker,
died from Alzheimer's in 1992.
"It's devastating to the individual
and to the family:' she said.
Partygoers had a great time
trying on and purchasing some
of Ralph Lauren's latest fashions,
shoes and accessories. They
also had a chance to pre-shop

32

May 18 • 2006

in advance of the event. Many
of the shoppers were members
of the Jewish community. The
shopping extravaganza was
hosted by Becky and Gary
Sakwa of Bloomfield Hills and
Roz and Scott Jacobson of
Birmingham."We're just happy
we had such a great turnout:'
Becky Sakwa said.
"I 'shopped for all of
my children:' added
Roz Jacobson. "Actually,
the housewares depart-
ment is also incredible'
Advances in research
and early detection
have helped slow
the progression of
Alzheimer's disease for
many patients. When
diagnosed early, medication
can help delay the degenerative
process. For those who can't be
helped by medication, the local
support services can provide
some much-needed relief.
"For me personally, it's very
gratifying to see what we're
able to do to help people said
Burstein.
Spotted among the fashionable
crowd on April 27 were: Drita
and Ricky Rosen, Millie and
Ted Jacobson, Sandy and
Allen Schwartz and
Cindy Rose, all of
Bloomfield Hills;
Rita Wasserman,
Joy Weber,
Nicole
Eisenberg and
Karen and Jon
Borenstein of
Birmingham;
and Brad
"Bubba"
Urdan of West
Bloomfield. Fl

•

ak, Nancy Gershenson of
gren of Bloomfield Hills

Alzheimer's research,
patients benefit from
chic fund-raiser.

Jeff Kopelman of

Franklin and Mitch
Kantor of Bloomfield

Hills

RIGHT: Scott and
Roz Jacobson of
Birmingham and Becky
and Gary Sakwa, of
Bloomfield Hills

Jeffrey Schoenberg of Birmingham
and Rachel Zimmerman of
Huntington Woods

Lenore and Alan Singer
and Jean and Howard
Dubin, all of Bloomfield
Hills; and Marica Nodel
of West Bloomfield

Emily and Dan Mli;er and Karen

Borenstein, all of Birmingham