Metro
The Corners
Comprehensive nonprofit center opens.
T
he Corners, a new multi-ten-
ant nonprofit center offering
educational, wellness, social, job
training and recreational services, opened
Oct. 6.
The 39,000-square-foot wellness, social,
cultural and education center at 2075
Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield is
the first in Michigan to provide such a
range of services for the community. It is
also the first to combine public and pri-
vate entities with secular and non-secular
organizations.
Organizations and services opening
at the Corners include West Bloomfield
Parks and Recreation, Brighton Hospital's
outpatient program for addiction recovery,
Madonna University's career retraining
and continuing education, MINDS: Mental
Illness Needs Discussion Sessions, Asthma
and Allergy Foundation of America, the
Learning Center Preschool and A Kids
Corner Childcare.
"This center is a win-win for both the
tenants and the community:' says Rabbi
Dannel Schwartz, CEO of the Corners
and rabbi at Temple Shir Shalom in West
Bloomfield.
"Services offered at the Corners fill a
need and allow local residents to get help
close to home. At the same time, nonprof-
its have a way to expand their services
without making huge investments in
construction and real estate."
Some of Shir Shalom's events and
programs will take place at the Corners,
where the synagogue's religious school
classes will be held and where students
are encouraged to work to complete
community service hours.
Additional services and organiza-
tions will join the Corners in the next
several months, including job training,
grief and illness support groups and a
performance and arts center with fully
equipped art, music, dance and record-
ing studios and rehearsal and perfor-
mance space.
The Corners also serves as a
fully equipped conference center.
Organizations needing to rent space
for meetings, programs and events will
have access to classrooms, meeting rooms,
a multipurpose room and a gym, all with
full catering and sound/video capabilities.
The Corners serves as a business model
for multi-tenant nonprofit centers. The
multi-tenant center model offers nonprof-
its a cost-efficient way to provide services
by cost sharing and collaborating with
the other tenants in the center. Groups
get complete building services including
The Corners CEO and Temple Shir Shalom Rabbi Dannel Schwartz at the opening
event, along with U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg, R-Bloomfield Hills, and Fran Bell, presi-
dent of the Corners.
storage, office and display space, telephone
and Internet access at a greatly reduced
expense so they can spend their dollars
where needed most — to fulfill their mis-
sions. The cooperative arrangement will
provide nonprofit groups with facilities
management and administrative sup-
port. A grant writer and public relations
services are offered for joint programs at
the Corners. Groups are encouraged to col-
laborate, share ideas, offer joint programs
and assure that their clients are fully
served by referrals to other charities.
"As the economy faces continuing chal-
lenges, nonprofit organizations are experi-
encing funding cuts and decreased giving,
yet greater demand for their services," says
Schwartz.
"This arrangement allows nonprofit
organizations to leverage their resources
so they can do what they're meant to do
— serve people." ❑
Wine Tasting Helps Stomp Out Diabetes
I
n Michigan, autumn brings more
than falling leaves and chilly temper-
atures. It also ushers in a change in
the palate that the harvest season is aptly
suited to satisfy.
What better time for fine wines, good
friends and a great cause?
The American Diabetes Association will
host its second Stomp Out Diabetes Wine
Tasting Benefit on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at
7 p.m. at the Radisson Kingsley Hotel in
Bloomfield Township.
This educational night of enjoy-
ment will inform guests of the dangers
of diabetes while raising funds for the
American Diabetes Association's Camp
Midicha.
"We are fortunate to have the largest
ADA camp in the country right here said
Deb O'Leary, senior executive director
of the American Diabetes Association's
Michigan/Northwest Ohio office. "Ours is
A28
October 23 • 2008
JN
also the only camp in Michigan
as diabetes live with others in the
designed for and dedicated to
camp environment for a week and
children and teens with diabe-
feel like there is nothing wrong
tes!'
with them!"
Since 1955, the American
Gary has volunteered at the camp
Diabetes Association has offered
during these past summers. During
the Camp Midicha experience.
that time he is the chief medical
Campers from throughout the
person on staff, and assists with all
region participate in traditional Dr. Edels on
aspects of the children's diabetic
camp activities under the super-
needs. Gary initiated the fundraiser
vision of staff specially trained
to pair his love assisting children,
in diabetes management, emer-
and enjoying good wines with
gency procedures and cabin supervision.
friends and family.
Programs include day camp and overnight
Gary and his wife, Dr. Leora Bar-Levav,
options.
are also actively involved with JNF, ZOA
"My own personal involvement in the
and Congregation Shaarey Zedek.
Camp Midicha program over the years
Camp Midicha's light-hearted experi-
has rejuvenated me in my practice of
ence belies the seriousness of diabetes.
endocrinology:' said Gary Edelson, M.D.,
The leading cause of kidney disease,
of Franklin.
blindness and amputation, nearly 23 mil-
"It is heartwarming and inspiring to
lion children and adults in the United
see children with a chronic disease such
States have diabetes — yet one-fourth of
people who have it are unaware. Diabetes
is the sixth leading cause of death by
disease in the United States and it has no
cure.
"I hope that our community will sup-
port this fundraising effort and enjoy an
evening of fine wine together;' said Dr.
Edelson.
Event tickets are $125 per person, or
$650 per person, which provides one
admission into the event and sends one
child (without financial means) to Camp
Midicha.
For tickets or additional information
about Stomp Out Diabetes, contact Kristi
Domke, (888) 342-2383, ext. 6720 or
kdomke@diabetes.org.
❑
Call the local American Diabetes
Association office at 1-888-DIABETES ( 1-
888-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org .
(888) 342-2383, ext. 6695.