SuppORTing ORT

I

t has been a busy end of the sum-
mer for ORT Michigan. On Aug.
25, more than 500 patrons flocked
to Franklin Hills Country Club for the
organization's biggest annual fundrais-
er, Rub-a-Dub, where supporters min-
gled during cocktails, bid on hundreds
of silent auction items and participated
in a live auction, dined under the tent
and socialized well into the evening.
Event co-chairs for Rub-a-Dub were
Scott Marcus of Birmingham, Pam
Nodel of Orchard Lake and Steven
Tapper of West Bloomfield.
Brian Hermelin of Bingham Farms
wowed the crowd with his fast-talking
auctioneering skills and helped to
secure nearly $100,000 during the live
auction.
Rub-a-Dub began in 1983 as a gath-
ering of friends at the home of David
and Doreen Hermelin, immediate past
ORT national president, where patrons
rubbed off Instant Lottery tickets and

Rub-a-Dub and Camp Hermelin draw large crowds to benefit ORT initiatives.

donated the winnings to ORT.
Many thanks to Rub-a-Dub's
Presenting Sponsor La Fontaine
Automotive. Other event sponsors
included PNC Wealth Management,
Quicken Loans, Bdirect Management,
Level One Bank, Somerset Collection,
Tapper's Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, the
Detroit Pistons, Jaffe Raitt Heuer &
Weiss, Rehmann, Honigman, Pegusus,
Elder Automotive Group, among others.
On Sept. 18, Doreen Hermelin's home
in Bingham Farms was transformed
into Camp Hermelin, with more than
500 kids and their families attending.
Gracie Gilbert, daughter of event co-
chair Jennifer Gilbert of Franklin, says
she "loves coming to Camp Hermelin to
reconnect with her camp friends."
"Camp Hermelin is my most favorite
thing to do all year long," says Grant
Blau, 8, of West Bloomfield. "You get to
do lots of fun activities while helping
the community"

Event co-chairs Jennifer Gilbert and
Nicole Eisenberg of Bloomfield Hills,
as well as a hard-working committee of
volunteers, planned activities including
arts and crafts, a tug-of-war competi-
tion between camps, sports, bouncers,
flag football, airbrush tattoos and a
giant Suds Bouncer.
Campers were encouraged to wear
their favorite camp T-shirt or sweat-
shirt to show support for the camp they
attend. Eleven camps raffled off dis-
counted and free camp tuition for 2012.
Tamarack buses shuttled "campers" to
and from the event.
"This is ORT's only event for the
entire family — for several genera-
tions even:' Eisenberg said. "This is
a wonderful opportunity to have a
conversation with your kids about the
importance of giving back. To empower
people to success is the best goal there
is."
Camp Hermelin was presented by

Kenwal. Other sponsors included Wendy
and Douglas Hamburger, Doodle Home,
Neiman Marcus, Lexa Leatherdale and
Robert Lane, and NAI, among others.
This year's Rub-a-Dub grossed
$100,000 more than in 2010. Camp
Hermelin's proceeds were nearly dou-
bled from last year.
Proceeds from both events benefit
ORT students locally and in 55 coun-
tries around the world. A portion of
the money raised stays in Michigan
and supports the David B. Hermelin
Resource Center housed in the Jewish
Community Center in West Bloomfield,
where a 12-week course provides com-
puter training free of charge to unem-
ployed and underemployed Michigan
residents, providing skills necessary to
find gainful employment.
For more information about ORT,
call (248) 723-8860, go to
www.ortmichigan.org , or email Nicole
Miller at nmiller@ORTamerica.org .

Nash Gilbert

of Franklin

after playing

in the Suds

Bouncer

.

.:744t
- - -

RAFFLE T;CKEIS

s.scs

'.47
3 foe $10,0 0 ref
L4 ..0y Sitonecs1

'Se

$

, c f-...-sss,

■,-•••
• pne -.....••••-•IY • .11.2•/•••
•
• .v.1

a...n.4 say-

st .1.. S.

.1•213.
75.• -

••

SC‘

Rub-a-Dub Committee members Craig Singer of Bloomfield Hills, David Gans of

Event co-chairs Jennifer Gilbert and

Birmingham, Glen Fisher of Franklin, Gary Ran and Matt Ran, both of Bloomfield

Nicole Eisenberg promote the raffle with

Hills, and Randy Wertheimer of Franklin

Lizzy Fields of Franklin, a planning com-

mittee member

Brian

Gabby Gitler and Bella Muchnick, both of

West Bloomfield, show their support for

their camps, Willoway and Tamakwa.

Hermelin

of Bingham

arms serves
the

annual live

uctioneer.

Event co-chair Scott Marcus of

Birmingham with Nicole Miller, ORT

Michigan regional director

Attendees from different camps

participate in tug-o-war.

IN

October 20 • 2011

23