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Dreams
Surpassed
Friendship Circle walk draws huge support.
Keri Guten Cohen
Nina, 4,
Story Development Editor
and Samuel
Kepes, 11,
reary weather didn't
keep crowds from
Friendship Circle's first
Friendship Walk on Sunday; an
estimated 1,300 people walked
either 1 mile or 5 kilometers (3.2
miles), ending up for food and
fun at the Friendship Circle cam-
pus in West Bloomfield.
So many participants showed
up that the line of walkers on
Drake Road filled a full mile,
from Maple to Walnut Lake
roads.
So far, the event has raised
$202,000, vastly exceeding orga-
nizers' goal of $150,000. The
money funds new programs for
Friendship Circle, which empow-
ers teens and young adults to
reach out to children with special
needs and gives hope and friend-
ship to those children and their
families. The group is under the
Chabad-Lubavitch umbrella. The
of West
Bloomfield
enjoy pelting
the _miniature
horses.
local organization has spawned
40 other Friendship Circles
around the country
"Not in my wildest dreams did
I think this would be so success-
ful," said Rabbi Levi Shemtov of
Friendship Circle. "We've never
asked others to raise money
for us; and we reached out for
broader participation, bringing
in many small donors. This is the
greatest compliment to an orga-
nization."
Jennifer Fishman and
Helaine and Lucy Keller, all of
Birmingham, were exhuberant at
the finish line. Jennifer carried a
homemade sign supporting the
Rechter-Fishman team, which
raised $10,000.
"My son, Brett, who is 15, has
special needs and we've been
involved with Friendship Circle
since its inception': Fishman
said. "It means a lot to us. It's a
safe place for my son to enjoy
himself and have a great time.
Friendship Circle is like a family
Phyllis
Yates of
Birmingham
and Gail
Cohen of
Farmington
Hills home in
on the finish
line.
Yaakov, 2, and Shira Klainberg, 8 months, of Oak Park
Jennifer Fishman,
Helaine and Lucy Keller,
ail of Birmingham, are
part of a team that
raised $10,000.
26
September 14 • 2006
Danielle Fink and Sophia Herczeg, both 13 and of
Farmington Hills, are happy volunteers.
for a lot of people."
Brittany Wasserman, 16, of
West Bloomfield has been a
Friendship Volunteer since last
October. She visits a young boy
weekly
"I like little kids; they get really
excited and are so appreciative'
she said. "Friendship Circle is a
great cause; everything they do is
amazing."
Jonathan Grinter, 15, of
Farmington Hills was part of a
team . from North Farmington
High School which raised $2,200.
Though he didn't know much
about Friendship Circle, he said,
"I'm happy to be here to help
other peopl'
The event included a vendors'
area, where individuals and a few
organizations had tables. Teen
Mission volunteers sold bracelets
to raise funds for Federation's
Israel Emergency Fund, and
teens from Young Judaea offered
the opportunity to make Rosh
Hashanah cards for seniors. 111