>> around town
Guys Night Out
FIDF's annual men's
event keeps gaining momentum and support.
Ariana Segal
Special to the Jewish News
N
early 400 men showed solidar-
ity for the Israel Defense Forces
through the Friends of the IDF's
sixth annual Guys Night Out (GNO) event
May 17 at Tam-O-Shanter Country Club
in West Bloomfield.
Guests were entertained with a
casino-style Texas hold 'em tournament,
casino games, cigar lounge, neck and
shoulder massages, strolling dinner,
raffle prizes, an open bar — and net-
working and socializing.
The event was co-chaired by Mark
Orechkin and Dr. Ron Lederman.
Jeremy Sasson of FIDF's Young
Leadership says his favorite part of
the evening is being part of the unity
between young Jewish professionals and
those already established in their busi-
nesses."Everyone together in one room
really creates a sense of community,"
Sasson said.
GNO supports the FIDF mission
to initiate and help support social,
educational, cultural and recreational
programs and facilities for the young
men and women soldiers of Israel who
defend the Jewish homeland.
Sheldon Yellen, owner of Tam-0-
Shanter, said he got lucky later in life.
"My involvement the last 10 years in
Jewish causes is making up for lost time.
I thank Alon Kaufman, Gary Shiffman
and Tamir Oppenheim for getting me
involved in the FIDF."
Jared Miller of Solon, Ohio, son of
Dr. Larry Miller of Bloomfield Hills,
attended for the first time. He came to
check out the event that he is mirroring
in Cleveland on June 7."I want to grow
a younger FIDF base in the Ohio chap-
ter and so far the response has been
great," he said.
Rick Kovacs, Michigan FIDF executive
board member, who founded the event
six years ago, said it takes a tremendous
amount of support from sponsors and
attendees to put on the event each year.
"I want to thank the returning attend-
ees and sponsors," he said. "Each year we
get new guys and new sponsors, but we
also get continuous support year after
year from the same guys. This means that
this cause means something to them."
Jeff Jacobs of Livingston, N.J., Dr. Ron Lederman, GNO co-chair, and Dr. Michael
Seidman, both of West Bloomfield
Left: Neil Rockind of Bloomfield Hills, Rick Kovacs, GNO founder, of West Bloomfield
and Howard Rosenberg of Bloomfield Hills. Right: Gary Goodman of Bloomfield Hills,
Steven Shapiro of West Bloomfield, Justin Becker, FIDF Young Leadership president,
of Birmingham and Larry Becker of Keego Harbor.
Mark Orechkin, GNO co-chair, of
Bloomfield Hills and Josh Fisher of Royal
Phil Reich of Grosse Pointe, Lindsay Gross, GNO adviser, of Franklin, Dr. Michael
Wayne and Morrie Lefkowitz, both of West Bloomfield
Oak
JCC Gala
Fundraiser featured honorees, Capitol Steps, auctions and savory food.
he Jewish Community Center of
Metropolitan Detroit in West Bloomfield was
filled with elegant, sweeping white curtains
hung from the ceiling; candles and calla lilies on
every table; sweet and savory food items; and a lot of
excitement when it hosted its Annual Gala late last
month.
The event honored longtime JCC supporter Hugh
Greenberg and General Motors North America
President Mark Reuss with Boneh Kehillah (Builders
of the Community) Awards, which were presented by
Robert Aronson, former Federation executive direc-
tor, and JCC President Brian D. Siegel.
Entertainment was provided by the Capitol Steps,
who performed a smashing version of "You Can't
Hide that Biden Guy" to the tune of the Eagles' "You
Can't Hide Your Lyin' Eyes" and had "Mitt Romney"
doing a rap.
Guests bid on auction items and made donations
that raised money to be used for JCC children's pro-
gramming, including sports, camp, education and
special needs. _:_i
24
June 14 • 2012
Left: Honorees Hugh Greenberg and Mark Reuss. Right: Guests place bids at the JCC Annual Gala. Silent and live
auction items included a red Corvette convertible, tickets to the Super Bowl and a test drive with General Motors
North America President Mark Reuss, all donated by GM; a stay at a condo in Snowmass, Colorado; jewelry;
sports memorabilia and more.