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Family Fun and More:

Bone marrow drive adds to Temple Israel picnic.

Robert Sklar
Contributing Editor

T

emple Israel's annual Labor Day picnic includ-
ed all the favorites, from train rides and pony
rides to face painting and arts and crafts, but
the highlight was a bone marrow drive held for the first
time through the National Donor Marrow Program's Be
The Match Registry.
"We registered more than 100 people and, most
importantly, we raised awareness:' said Tracie
Fienman, the West Bloomfield synagogue's program-
ming director.
Prompting the drive was a request from the family
of a temple member, Joe Schneider of West Bloomfield,
who was recently diagnosed with acute myelogenous
leukemia and who requires a transplant.
"I was ecstatic to get a call the day after the drive
from the patient's family: They found a match!"
Fienman told the IN. "While it was not someone from
our specific drive, we were all beyond thrilled to hear
the news. That is what it is all about."
Concurrently, Temple Israel Brotherhood held its
annual blood drive in conjunction with the American
Red Cross.
The family picnic, sponsored by the Morris and
Esther Bittker Fund, is free to temple members and the
larger community. More than 150 volunteers, including
bar and bat mitzvah students as well as youth group
members, made it happen. Event chairs were Jeff Chutz
and Ken Lipson. ❑

Walking For A Cause

bid

Buddies Ashlee Frankford, 4,

of West Bloomfield and Sadie
Weber, 5, of Oak Park await a
train ride.

Daniel and Rabbi Jen Lader flank Annabel
Singer, 15, of West Bloomfield at the

Mitzvah Day signup table.

Elliana Michaels, 7, of Commerce

enjoys the Fun Derby.

Jessica Verona,
12, of Bloomfield

Hills works with
Hayden Frishman,

3, of Huntington
Woods on a craft

project.

Shelby
Ginsburg, 8,

of Commerce
joins the hoop

competition.

Biggest crowd ever supports kids with special needs at Walk4Friendship.

M

ore than 6,000 people
attended the annual
Walk4Friendship Sept. 2
benefiting the Friendship Circle in
West Bloomfield. The walk began at
Friendship Circle and ended at the
nearby Jewish Community Center.
"Walk4Friendship is an amazing
time of year for Friendship Circle,"
said co-founder Bassie Shemtov. "We
witness thousands of community
members gathering together with
one common bond; they each love
someone with special needs.
"This year was our most-attended
Walk yet, and we were truly blown
away by the support of the Metro
Detroit community. All in all, we
have raised more than $500,000 for
Friendship Circle's programs." ❑

Walk4Friendship participants on the road in West
Bloomfield

Bayla Kriegsman works on a craft
project.

Will McDowell of Detroit is astounded

that his key — out of 30 others — fit
the Lincoln MKZ, which is now his

through Keys4Friendship sponsored
by Friendship Circle and Varsity

Lincoln.

30

September 13 • 2012

Ricki and Devin Warren of West
Bloomfield

Tova Rubinoff of Oak Park and her

son, Nissim, who checks out the
driver's seat