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Pitch for Detroit
kicks it out of

the
park
for
Rur Bradby Park.

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BECKY HURVITZ I SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

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Paws talks with kickball players Sam Appel of
Lansing and Albert Budnitsky of Royal Oak.

Steve Migliore of West
Bloomfield kicks the ball.

IZ

Sarah Groden of Ferndale
runs up on the ball while
Matthew Epstein of Royal
Oak catches it.

Barak Leibovitz of Ann
Arbor is congratulated
by teammates after
scoring a run.

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Players gather to get something to eat between
games.

Jaymie Cohen of Franklin

pitches.

ti _

5-year-old Shayna Pinson of
Detroit jumps with Sultana
Weinberg of Southfield on
the moonwalk.

Adam Janower of
Ferndale listens
to Kevin Clark of
Detroit talk about
the brackets with
Scott Kirsch of
Birmingham.

42

September 3 • 2015

Ben Lesnick of
West Bloomfield
catches a line
drive.

Renee Liberman of
Royal Oak celebrates
after getting the last
out in the inning.

Adam Green of Birmingham

helps his 7-year-old daughter
Sophia make a boat at the
crafts table.

he Jewish Federation's young adult
division, NEXTGen Detroit, hosted
its sixth annual Pitch for Detroit on
Sunday, Aug. 23, on beautiful Belle
Isle. Two hundred players and 400 spectators
came out for a day of kickball, family fun and to
support a wonderful cause.
"At the first Pitch for Detroit — Pitch for Israel
as we called it back then — we were hoping for
a turnout of 20 people,"said Pitch for Detroit co-
founder and co-chair Adam Blanck. "Many more
than that showed up and, since then, the event
has grown to a huge communitywide event with
hundreds joining in on the fun with the ultimate
goal of helping and highlighting great causes
and people who are building a better Detroit."
Unlike other Jewish Federation fundraising
events, Pitch for Detroit dollars do not go to
the Annual Campaign or to any of Federation's
partner agencies. Instead, Pitch for Detroit raises
money for a different Detroit-based cause each
year.
"I am so proud that our Jewish Federation,
which has fostered and supported Pitch since
its grassroots beginnings, continues to empower
the next generation of leaders to raise money for
an external cause," said Pitch for Detroit co-chair
Gabe Neistein. "In doing so, Federation sends
an incredible message to our community's young
leaders that our support can extend outside
of the Jewish community and into our greater
community."
The recipient of the $25,000 raised at this
year's Pitch for Detroit is Bradby Park, a valued
community space located in Detroit's North End
neighborhood. The neighborhood surrounding
the park is home to 30,000 residents, and
the park is one of the only places for outdoor
recreation in the area.
"We are delighted to have been chosen as
a project to be supported by this wonderful
event," said Pat Dockery, executive director of
Stafford House and community representative
for Bradby Park. "The renovations to the park
will serve as a catalyst for future improvements
and create a renewal of hope and community
spirit."
The money raised will enable Bradby Park to
reopen its recreation building, renovate its sports
fields and create a shaded outdoor area for
summer and afterschool enrichment programs.
"Renovations to Bradby Park ensure a
vital, safe space for children in the North End
neighborhood to play and learn," said Pitch for
Detroit co-chair Hayley Sakwa. "Working with
community partners who are knowledgeable
and passionate about their communities, like Pat
Dockery, help us identify where our dollars can
have the greatest impact." ❑

Photo at top of page: Ben Lesnick of West
Bloomfield tries to pick up the ball in time
to get Barak Leibovitz of Ann Arbor out at

third base.

