metro

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Place to
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Dedicated To Kids

U.S. Friendship Circle directors
share ideas and inspiration.

amp Season

Ronelle Grier
Contributing Writer

Warren Prescriptions
is the place to shop for
all your kids'kamp needs.
grand kids

E

xperience Friendship,
Experience LifeTown"
was the theme of the
seventh annual Friendship Circle
conference held June 27-29 at the
Friendship Circle of Michigan
headquarters on the Meer Family
Friendship Center Campus in
West Bloomfield.
For the more than 60
Friendship Circle directors who
came from cities across the
Above: Rabbi Levi
country, the experience was both Shemtov, co-founder
educational and inspirational.
of Friendship Circle
The three-day program includ- in 1994, speaks
ed presentations by local and
to directors from
national speakers on a variety of across the country.
topics such as recruiting, train-
ing and motivating volunteers;
Right: Volunteer
achieving growth and financial
Marlee Goldstein,
stability within a nonprofit orga- 16, speaks about
nization; grant writing; starting
her longtime involvement
a new program; and using social with Friendship Circle.
media to increase awareness and
achieve fundraising goals.
Friendship Circle International direc- serve as librarians, shopkeepers, physi-
cians and crossing guards.
tor and conference coordinator Rabbi
"It's so inspirational',' said Danny
Bentzion Groner of Brooklyn said it
Rosen, a Friendship Circle of Pittsburgh
was only fitting to hold the event at the
board member. "When you realize the
headquarters of the forerunner of what
thought and care that went into it, and
is now an international organization
what an incredible partnership they
serving children with special needs
have with the stores and companies. It's
with 82 branches worldwide. Bassie
Shemtov started the Michigan program striking."
After the tour, six-year Friendship
in 1994 with her husband, Rabbi Levi
Circle
volunteer Marlee Goldstein, 16,
Shemtov.
told
the
audience about her initial trepi-
The highlight of the conference was
dation
and
the ultimate fulfillment she
a tour of Ferber Kaufman LifeTown, a
received
from
spending time with her
23,000-square-foot facility that includes
special
friend,
Rebecca.
Weinberg Village, a realistic town set-
"After a while, I didn't feel like I was
ting where children with special needs
volunteering.
I felt like was hanging out
from the Jewish community and the
with a friend," said Goldstein of West
public schools come to practice daily
Bloomfield.
life skills. About 30 Friendship Circle
The program concluded with a pre-
supporters from various cities joined
sentation by Bassie Shemtov about a
the directors to explore possibilities
new anti-bullying campaign, Defeat the
for creating similar projects in their
Label, promoted online through weekly
respective communities.
contests (www.defeatthelabel.com ),
The 5,000-square-foot village
on radio station 95.5 FM and in local
includes storefronts representing local
school pilot programs.
businesses such as Huntington Bank,
West Bloomfield businessmen Jeff
Fringe Too beauty salon, Say-on Drugs,
Sakwa, Kevin Mendelson and Kevin
Henry Ford Hospital and the West
Goldman have been working with
Bloomfield Public Library. Children
Friendship Circle to design and market
normally intimidated in these settings
a special line of Defeat the Label appar-
can practice getting haircuts, using an
el (ww-w.shopdtl.com ), which is worn
ATM machine, taking books from the
by
Australian teen recording star Cody
library, going to the doctor's office and
Simpson
in a music video. I
visiting the pet store. Adult volunteers

.0

tO

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• Stationery

• Blankets

• Laundry Bags

• Back Packs

• Pillow Cases

• Autograph Pillows

• Sleeping Bags

• Toiletries • Togs

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July 21 • 2011

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