Staff photos by Angie Baan
Metro
Friendship Circle co-founders Rabbi Levi Shemtov and his wife, Bassie, as the rabbi sounds the shofar to begin the walk.
Making A Difference
Friendship
Circle draws
1,500 walkers
for fundraiser.
20
September 13 • 2007
Keri Guten Cohen
Story Development Editor
G
od smiled on Friendship Circle's second annual
Walk4Friendship in many ways on Sunday, Sept. 9.
What looked like a rainy day in the morning turned
into a breezy, beautiful afternoon for the 1,500 people who strode
from the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield to the
Meer Friendship Circle Center just west on Maple Road.
Another blessing came in the surprise offer from Ron and
Ronda Ferber of West Bloomfield to match all donations up to
$50,000 that come in through Sept. 23.
"Everyone was on such a high after the walk; the Ferbers just
decided to match:' said Friendship Circle's Batsheva Hadar. "We
reached our annual goal of $300,000 and can exceed it. The walk
is our signature event for the whole year, our major fundraiser."
The funds will go toward programs that help families with
children with special needs and families facing crises.
"The Friendship Circle walk was really inspirational, just see-
ing everyone getting together for such an amazing cause said
Zoe Pinter, 15, of Farmington Hills who attends the Frankel
Jewish Academy in West Bloomfield
A total of 2,000 people attended the event, with about 500 join-
ing festivities at the finish line. Last year's walk drew about 1,200.
"We're here to support Friendship Circle," said an enthusiastic
Daniel Selesny, 7, of Southfield. He was joined by his parents,
Chaya and Joe; sister Ariella, 5; and brother Avi, 2. After the walk,
they were in the center's LifeTown area on the lower level, where
kids can practice real-life skills in a safe environment.
Several Friendship Circle teen volunteers come to the Selesny
home regularly to play with the children.
"We have a lot of fun with the volunteers," Daniel said. "They
do projects with us and we go to their house because they have a
swimming pool."
Joe Selesny knows firsthand the good work of Friendship
Circle. "This wonderful program breeds an air of compassion and
accessibility to children of all kinds," he said. "Ariella has special
needs and Daniel doesn't, and he doesn't feel out of place here.
That's inclusion. It's wonderful. They are always asking how they
can help more, what can they do for us next.
"Thank God, we are blessed with a child who is high func-
tioning, but I've met other families with more challenges and
Friendship Circle offers a place to get help and support. It's a
magical place."
Friendship Circle draws support from all walks of life, Selesny
said. "Volunteering is the cool thing to do" for teens who often are
difficult to engage.
"The Walk For Friendship was great. It was my second year
doing this and I look forward to doing it again next year:' said
Melissa Gildenberg, 17, of West Bloomfield, who attends the
Frankel Jewish Academy. l I
Teen2Teen writer Jamie Gorosh, 16, of Birmingham Andover High School
contributed to this report.
How To Donate
To take advantage of the post-walk $50,000 challenge grant
through Sept. 23, send donations by going online to
walk4friendship.com ; mail to Friendship Circle, 6892 W.
Maple, West Bloomfield, MI 48322; or call (248) 788-7878.