metro -P on 6- Skate Without Limits vm/sovar• UCP hockey fundraiser to help Detroiters with disabilities. to all our clients, family & friends Fron il Allison Batdorff I Special to the Jewish News T resch and 1-000-LAW-FIRM AMERICA'S MOST TRUSTED LEGAL NETWORK f T The 1-800-LAW-FIRM difference Respect • Trust • Compassion Transparent Pricing • Affordable Options 1823300 FREE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT Open house May 17th 5-9 D.J., Food & Inflatables Mention this ad and receive $25.00 off your next party kids, cake, food and drinks Lots of sports activities un by a qualified coach www.oaklandyard.com all camps are on line 14 March 21 • 2013 5328 Highland Rd, Waterford Ml 48327 248-673-0100 he bone-chilling moment when the shofar sounds dur- ing Rosh Hashanah always thrilled Michaela Kaplan. The little girl also loved horseback riding, floating on her back in swimming pools and going through the car wash. Before passing away in 2009 at age 5, Michaela "elevated" her family with the force of her love, intellect and happy personality. She didn't "suffer" with cerebral palsy, rather her disability infused her and those around her with a sense of purpose, and personified tol- erance and inclusion, according to her mother, Gabriella Burman, who lives in Huntington Woods with her husband, Adam Kaplan, and children Ayelet and Maayan. "Michaela was a small child with a huge capacity to change people's lives:' said Burman. "We miss her terribly, but we keep her close by staying committed to helping people with disabilities:' Burman serves on the board of direc- tors of UCP of Metro Detroit and helped plan the upcoming United Cerebral Palsy Skate Without Limits fundraiser March 30. Burman won't attend the event because she is Shabbat observant, but she called it a "great cause:' Skate Without Limits features two games: the nationally recognized Michigan Sled Dogs at 4 p.m. followed by the UCP Pucksters against the Detroit Red Wings Alumni at 6 p.m. This event is UCP's largest local fund- raiser. In 13 years, this event has raised more than $200,000. UCP of Metro Detroit provides services to families impacted by cerebral palsy and other disabling conditions. "The people we met through Michaela are nothing less than angels on Earth in their devotion to working with people who live with a disability:' Burman said. The Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association, the oldest such organiza- tion in the NHL, plays 30 games a year to benefit worthy charities. "Families love the event because they are close to the players and can come out on the ice to toss a puck to win Red Wings tickets:' says Mike Ward, UCP board member, development co-chair and a player in this event. "They also get to see sled hockey, a form of hockey they may have never seen, played by individuals with disabilities. It's inspir- UCP of Metro Detroit board member Gabriella Burman with her late daughter, Michaels ing for parents and kids alike:' While the final game day roster won't be solidified until the week of the game, this year's Red Wings Alumni roster includes fan favorites like John Ogrodnick, Jimmy Carson, Craig Wolanan, Lee Norwood, Dennis Hextall, Brent Fedyk, Pat Peake and Mickey Redmond. Playing for the Pucksters are three female players, Michelle Harmala, Emilia Ward and Chelsea Michalak, along with Mike Ward, Joey Mannino Jr., Keith Starr, Pierre Fuger, Tim Gorton, Nick Ostrowski, Steve Howcroft, Frank Svincek, Mike Harrison, Brett Miller, Joe Sattler and Rick Ryan. Skate Without Limits is open to the public. Tickets cost $10 per person or $25 for a family pack that gives entrance to up to five people. Children aged 5 and under are free. There is an Afterglow Pizza Party for $10 per person. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. on March 30 at Viking Arena, 1555 E. Woodard Heights in Hazel Park. Sled hockey starts at 4 p.m., followed by Red Wings Alumni vs. UCP Pucksters at 6 p.m. There will also be a silent auction. For more information, visit www skatewithoutlimits.org or call (248) 557-5070 ext. 154. ❑