OCTOBER 31 • 2019 | 31
Detroit Is The New Black
and StockX. I also love rep-
ping local entrepreneurs that
have some of the coolest
brands in town. I’
m also a big
fan of Shinola, and I never
leave the house without rock-
ing my Shinola watch!
Q: You frequently chat with
Detroit business owners
and personalities. Is there
a particular experience or
tour that stands out?
Every tour is my favor-
ite tour. I leave the office
every day with a smile
on my face, feeling like I
made an impact in at least
one person’
s life. However,
with that being said, there
are a few experiences that
have really stuck out to me.
Most recently was a day I
spent with Joique Bell, a
former NFL player, and the
Ypsilanti Grizzlies JV and
varsity football teams. My
team and I arranged to bring
the players to Ford Field to
hear a motivational speech
from Joique. The kids left
with smiles on their faces
and some of them were even
saying that it was the best
day of their lives.
Another tour I hold dear
to my heart is my tour with
Aretha Franklin. The tour
sparked a lifelong friend-
ship with Aretha that I will
forever be grateful for. To
this day, I am still in con-
tact with her family.
Q: Why is it important
for you and your family
to stay connected with the
Jewish community?
It’
s important especial-
ly because of the cultural
aspects. Between Temple
Beth El and being a current
member at Temple Israel, I
value the customs that we
have and especially love
the sense of community we
share with one another. The
way the community comes
together really helps to
remind me of how beautiful
Judaism is.
I want my children to
grow up knowing what it
means to be Jewish, and
I want them to know the
significance of our culture.
Also, did I mention that we
have amazing food?
Q: What can people expect
from a Detroit tour with
you, and how can we sign
up?
People who tour Detroit
with me and my team
should expect to have their
minds blown and know
they will not be able explain
in words what they saw. I
invite everyone to come see
what I’
m talking about. You
can sign up for a tour at
detroitbruce.com.
On Friday, Nov. 1, the Crohn’
s
and Colitis Foundation
will hold its 42nd annual
“Evening of Hope.” The vin-
tage Vegas-themed event will
be at the MGM Grand in
Downtown Detroit.
The event will begin at 6
p.m. and includes a seated
dinner and more. At 8:30
p.m., the program will begin,
including the awards pre-
sentation to former Rep.
Sander Levin (Chairman’
s
Award) and Dr. Souheil
Gebara (Rosenthal Lifetime
Achievement Award). In
addition, an IBD patient will
share compelling testimoni-
al, offering perspective and
inspiration.
The evening will feature
a cocktail reception with
strolling magic tricks from
Jasen Magic, silent auction
packages, live music from
the sounds of Mark Randisi
and the Motor City Horns,
evening dinner program, live
auction and awards followed
by an after-party with danc-
ing.
In Michigan, more than
100,000 people live with
Crohn’
s disease and ulcer-
ative colitis.
For details about spon-
sorship and tickets, visit
HopeForIBD.givesmart.
com or call Laura Marschner,
development director, at
(248) 737-0900, ext 4.
Crohn’
s/Colitis Foundation Fundraiser
The JCC received a $15,000
grant for the third year to
support its Opening the
Doors’
(OTD) Doors to
the Future (DTF) project.
The grant, from the Jewish
Women’
s Foundation (JWF),
will support OTD’
s work
providing early intervention
for at-risk preschool chil-
dren — both girls and boys
ages 2.5 to 6 years — through
temporary 1-to-1 assistance
by trained para-educators at
no additional cost to families.
Para-educators help
strengthen children’
s learn-
ing, communication and
social skills, foster growth
and change in behavior,
increase independence, build
self-confidence, and enable
children to be included and
interact successfully with
their peers. DTF service also
provides a gateway for fami-
lies to become more involved
with Jewish schools, com-
munity resources and other
families.
JCC’
s OTD program,
nationally recognized for
its innovation by Slingshot
Foundation as “a one-of-a-
kind” program, has grown
400 percent in providing ser-
vice since 1995. OTD annu-
ally enables 1,200 children
and adolescents with a wide
range of learning, social and
behavioral differences and
abilities to be included and
engaged with their peers in
meaningful Jewish education
classrooms. OTD works in
partnership with 24 Jewish
early childhood, day school
and congregational religious
schools, as well as mental
health organizations to pro-
vide conferences and movie
events.
Opening the Doors Gets Grant