SEPTEMBER 15 • 2022 | 19

F

riendship Circle, a nonprofit that 
supports individuals with special 
needs and those struggling with 
isolation, addiction and other family-
related crises, celebrated its 17th annual 
Walk4Friendship event on Sunday, Aug. 
28. With record-breaking donations and 
community turnout, this year’s walk was 
the most successful yet. 
The event surpassed its original 
fundraising goal of $650,000 by over 
$65,000, with donations totaling more 
than $715,000. All the money raised at 
the walk will support Friendship Circle 
and allow the organization to continue 
providing support through recreational, 
social, educational and vocational 
programming to more than 3,000 
individuals and their families. 
The theme for this year’s walk was 
“Built on Friendship,” which represents 
the foundation for everything Friendship 
Circle does. Friendship Circle is 
dedicated to creating a supportive 
community that provides friendship to 
everyone, regardless of their abilities. 
In honor of this year’s theme, 
Friendship Circle encouraged the 
community to tap into their own circle of 
friends and introduce them to Friendship 

Circle and its mission. The Friendship 
Circle community answered the call, as 
hundreds of Friendship Circle families 
and community members joined together 
at Friendship Circle’s Farber Center in 
West Bloomfield to celebrate the belief 
that every individual deserves friendship 
and belonging. 
“The funds we raise at 
Walk4Friendship are critical in 
supporting all our programming, 
which allows us to provide friendship 
to individuals who need it most,” said 

Friendship Circle Co-Founder Bassie 
Shemtov. “This was a record-breaking 
year, which wouldn’t have been possible 
without our incredible corporate 
sponsors, each and every donor and, of 
course, our amazing Friendship Circle 
families who never fail to support our 
mission.” 
The record-breaking fundraising 
can be attributed to the dedication of 
Friendship Circle top walking teams like 
“The bELIevers,” who raised more than 
$44,000 for Friendship Circle. 
The event kicked off with an 
inspirational opening ceremony hosted by 
emcee and FOX 2 Detroit anchor Charlie 
Langton. After the walk, participants 
celebrated their success with food, family 
activities, entertainment and more. 
While this year’s walk is over, there 
are still ways for interested individuals 
to support Friendship Circle’s mission of 
providing friendship to individuals with 
special needs. 
To learn more about Friendship Circle, 
including volunteer opportunities, visit 
friendshipcircle.org. 

Submitted by Friendship Circle

COURTESY OF FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE

Friendship Circle’s Walk4Friendship 
surpasses its fundraising goal by $65,000. 
Most Successful Walk Yet

Rabbi Benny Greenwald 
and his daughter had a 
great time at the event.

Family-friendly 
activities followed 
the walk.

Hundreds of families 
participated in the 
Walk4Friendship.

