metro at Place to to AG • 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 0. • Stationery • Blankets • Laundry Bags • Back Packs • Pillow Cases • Autograph Pillows • Sleeping Bags • Toiletries • Togs -WARREN COUPON- .. . 20f/a I OFF Your Total Camp Purchase of $25 or More May not be combined with any other offer • some restrictions apply Expires 08/14/11 .1 Limit 1 offer per family PLU9000 WARREN PRESCRIPTIONS 32910 MIDDLEBELT RD. at 14 Mile • FARMINGTON (Next to Johnny Pomodoro's) Find us on 22 gi July 21 • 2011 248-855-1177 HILLS 1680130