Camp Hermelin
attendees learned
dance moves from
Studio A and Star
Trax Events.
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Fun events raise more than $400,000 for ORT.
RT Michigan has been busy. On
Aug. 21, more than 450 guests
flocked to Franklin Hills Country
Club for the organization's biggest annual
fundraiser, Rub-a-Dub, this year themed
"ImpORTed from Detroit"
ORT supporters mingled during cock-
tails, bid on hundreds of silent auction
items, dined under the tent while listening
to live music, bid during the live auction
and socialized well into the evening, all to
support ORT's global network of schools,
colleges, training centers and programs.
Event co-chairs for Rub-a-Dub were
Rob Colburn of Bloomfield Hills, Randy
Wertheimer of Franklin and Seth Rogers
of Birmingham. Brian Hermelin of
Bingham Farms wowed the crowd with
his fast-talking auctioneering skills and
helped to secure more than $60,000 dur-
ing the live auction. Overall fundraising
grossed nearly $400,000, making it the
most successful Rub-a-Dub yet.
Rub-a-Dub began in 1983 as a gathering
of friends at the home of the late David
and Doreen Hermelin. She is a current
member of the ORT America national
board and honorary Rub-a-Dub chair.
Guests rubbed off instant lottery tickets
and donated the winnings to ORT, hence
the name "Rub-a-Dub:'
On Sept. 15, Doreen Hermelin's home
in Bingham Farms was transformed into
camp grounds for Camp Hermelin, ORT's
final annual fundraiser of the year and its
only event for families. Kids got to relive
their camp experiences on a fun afternoon
and reconnect with camp friends, staff and
directors. More than 700 people attended.
Event co-chairs Michelle Adamczyk
of Bloomfield Hills and Robyn Presser
of West Bloomfield, as well as a hard-
working committee of volunteers, planned
an incredible afternoon of fun-filled activi-
ties. Lunch was served camp-style, includ-
ing s'mores.
Thirteen of the participating camps raf-
fled off discounted and free camp tuition
for the summer of 2014. New this year was
an additional raffle called the "Camper's
Choice Raffle" with the winner receiving a
$2,500 credit to be used toward any day or
overnight camp and/or organized trip tak-
ing place in the summer of 2014.
Tamarack Camps buses shuttled "camp-
ers" from registration at Temple Beth El
in Bloomfield Township to the Hermelin
property and back throughout the day. Or
attendees could "test drive" the Infiniti of
his/her choice to the event. For each test
drive taken, Infiniti donated $50 to ORT.
This year's Camp Hermelin brought
in nearly $60,000 for ORT, a 30 percent
increase from last year.
Proceeds from both events benefit
ORT students locally and in nearly 60
countries around the world. The David B.
Hermelin ORT Resource Center, housed
in the Jewish Community Center of West
Bloomfield, provides a local example of
ORT's capability to changes lives for the
better through education with its free
computer training program offered to
Michigan's unemployed and underem-
ployed.
For more information about ORT
Michigan's programs and services, to
become involved in ORT or learn about
sponsorship opportunities, call the office
at (248) 723-8860, go online to www.
ortmichigan.org or email Nicole Miller at
nmiller@ORTamerica.org . ❑
Rub-a-Dub: Amanda Fisher and Erica Kleiman, both of
Bloomfield Hills, and Anna Rogers and Jessica Schwartz,
both of Birmingham
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Ave Usher, showing support for Camp Tanuga, and Emma
Salle learn a cheer at Camp Hermelin.
Rub-a-Dub: Andi Wolfe (ORT America National Board
Member) and Dr. Conrad Giles (World ORT Board
Member), both of Bloomfield Hills, Iris Wolf (pedagogi-
cal director of World ORT's Kadima Mada Program
in Israel) and Arlene Barris (ORT Michigan Advisory
Committee Member) of Bloomfield Hills
18 October 31 • 2013
Rub-a-Dub co-chairs Rob Colburn of Bloomfield Hills,
Julie Yaker and her daughter, Allie, make s'mores.
Randy Wertheimer of Franklin and Seth Rogers of
Birmingham