22 August 29 • 2019
jn

Walk4Friendship 
H

igh-flying stunts by pro-
fessional pogo stick per-
formers will punctuate one 
of Michigan’
s largest gatherings to 
support individuals and families of 
those with special needs. Thousands 
of people of all ages from across Metro 
Detroit will gather along Walnut Lake 
Road in West Bloomfield Sunday, Sept. 
1, for Friendship Circle’
s 14th annual 
Walk4Friendship.
The event raises crucial funds and 
awareness for Friendship Circle and 
individuals with special needs. 
 “Forever Friendship” is 
the theme of this year’
s 
walk, which coincides 
with Friendship Circle’
s 
25th anniversary.
“It’
s amazing to 
think back over a 
quarter of a century 
and realize how many 
individuals and fami-
lies we’
ve helped and how 
many lives have been touched 
by Friendship Circle’
s programs,
” 
said Bassie Shemtov, director and 
co-founder of Friendship Circle. 
Friendship Circle provides assistance 
and support to 3,000 local individuals 
with special needs and their families. 
Founded in 1994, the organization 
has recreational, social, emotional and 
vocational programs, which enrich 
lives through friendship and inclusion 

with help from a vast network of dedi-
cated volunteers. 
The opening ceremony begins at 
10:30 a.m. at the West Bloomfield 
Town Hall (4550 Walnut Lake 
Road) followed by a 1-mile walk to 
Friendship Circle’
s Farber Center 
(5586 Drake Road) with family-friend-
ly activities including bounce houses, 
complimentary hot dogs and beverag-
es, popcorn, cotton candy, face paint-
ing and more, through 3 p.m. 
New this year: The Xpogo Stunt 
Team, billed as the “world’
s best 
extreme pogo entertain-
ment,
” will perform, 
featuring professional 
athletes flying more 
than 10-feet in the 
air on extreme pogo 
sticks and pulling off 
incredible tricks.
The event will also 
feature a zip line, petting 
zoo, a swinging ship carnival 
ride and a segue challenge. 
Dozens of dedicated teams, includ-
ing many families of children and 
adults with special needs, are already 
hard at work raising funds for the 
walk. This year’
s goal is to raise 
$600,000 for local children, teens and 
adults served by Friendship Circle. 
To learn more, register, 
donate or support a team, visit 
walk4friendship.com. ■

jews d
in 
the

COURTESY OF FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE

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JCC Gets Grants to Support Youth with Special Needs

The Jewish Community Center 
(JCC) of Metropolitan Detroit has 
been awarded a $38,000 grant over 
two years to support the expansion 
of vocational training and commu-
nity-based instruction programs for 
youth with specials needs in south-
east Michigan.
The grant, from the Community 
Foundation for Southeast Michigan 
(CFSEM), will serve to expand the 
already-successful Young Adults 

All Together (YAAT) program at 
the Jewish Community Center of 
Metropolitan Detroit. The YAAT 
program provides young adults the 
chance to participate in summer 
activities and explore their com-
munity while learning life skills. 
Participants volunteer at local orga-
nizations with trained staff who 
serve as job coaches as they develop 
“soft skills” like communication, 
teamwork and leadership. 

MEL DRYMAN
Raised in Detroit, Experienced in Arizona
Your Professional 
& Dedicated 
ARIZONA REALTOR
Mobile: (480) 239-8686

mel.dryman@azmoves.com

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