NEXT DOR

N

EXTGen Detroit’s 
annual fundrais-
ing event will be 
a night of glitz, glamour 
and giving back this year, 
as an EPIC night at the 
casino. 
 It takes place on March 
4 from 8-11:30 p.m. at 
The Treasury in Pontiac. 
The event is brought to 
the community by Sue 
and Alan J. Kaufman and 
Family.
The red carpet will be 
rolled out to usher guests 
into a glittering casino featur-
ing all the classic table games, 
roulette, slots and so much 
more. It’s all for fun, of course, 
with prizes and giveaways. 
There will be a live band, an 
open bar and delicious food. 
Most importantly, this is a 
night to step out and step up 
for the Jewish community.
In addition to a registration 
fee of $36 per person through 
Feb. 24 ($50 beginning Feb. 
25), each guest is asked to 
make a minimum donation of 
$100 to the Jewish Federation’s 
2023 Annual Campaign. 
Donations will provide sup-
port to Federation and its 17 
local and three international 
agencies. 
Prior to the most recent 
EPIC event, which took place 
at the M1 Concourse Event 
Center in the form of an 
after-dark carnival under an 
open-air tent, stand-up come-

dians were the headlining 
entertainment. Over the years, 
the event has been held at the 
MGM Casino, the Renaissance 
Center, the State Theater and 
the State Savings Bank in 
Detroit. 
“Last year was the first year 
where we really shifted out of 
featuring a comedian or enter-
tainment,” said Lauren Soifer, 
associate director of NEXTGen 
Detroit. “Now we’re focusing 
on just celebrating the impact 
that everyone makes to our 
annual campaign and support-
ing the community.” 
The event typically attracts 
around 400 people. Soifer 
says it’s truly special to have 
so many young adults in a 
community come together and 
contribute to a great cause. 
“We hope people under-
stand that their gift is directly 
supporting our community 
and communities around the 
world, as well as feeling like a 

part of such a close and 
tight-knit community 
that wants to take care of 
each other,” Soifer said. 
“This is a night where 
we consciously say it’s 
going to be a fun, social 
evening, but in order to 
come and celebrate, we 
expect you to make a 
gift. And I think it says 
a lot to have that many 
young adults choosing to 
support the community 
on a night like this. It’s 
going to be a lot of fun.”
EPIC co-chairs are Julia 
Bleznak, Marc Crane, Lauren 
Deitch, Abigail Epstein and 
Josh Ketai.
In a statement, they said, “
As 
co-chairs, we wanted to make 
this year’s EPIC a celebration 
for our strong, young Jewish 
community. 
“What’s amazing about 
EPIC is that it really appeals to 
such a wide range of attend-
ees coming together to show 
our support for Federation’s 
Annual Campaign, as the 
donation to attend makes a 
significant impact here in 
Detroit and in Israel and 
around the world. 
“We put our heart and soul 
into making this event a night 
of glitz, glamour and giving 
back. We are ALL IN and can’t 
wait for you join us.” 

Get tickets and learn more at 

jewishdetroit.org/EPIC. 

NEXTGen Detroit’s annual fundraising event 
returns with a casino theme this year.

Glitz, Glamour 
and Giving Back 

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

46 | FEBRUARY 16 • 2023 

VOICE OF A NEW GENERATION
JHSM Is Calling for 
Creative Writers

Author and oral historian Zieva 
Konvisser is the guest editor 
of the “Creative Expressions” 
section of the Jewish Historical 
Society of Michigan’s 2023 
journal, Michigan Jewish History. 
JHSM is seeking short 
memoirs, personal essays and 
poetry related to the 75th 
anniversary of the establishment 
of the State of Israel (and 
specifically, how these years have 
influenced Michigan Jewish 
history). 
To get your creative juices 
flowing:
• How did you or your family 
celebrate the establishment of 
Israel in 1948?
• What is your personal or 
professional connection to Israel, 
and what is Israel’s connection to 
you in Michigan?
• Did you start a nonprofit 
organization, a monetary fund, 
live in Israel, or have vigorous 
discussions over the dinner table?
• Did you learn Israeli dance or 
music?
• What are the sights and 
sounds and people of Israel that 
you have brought into your life in 
Michigan?
You may submit more than 
one piece. A manuscript, or its 
essential content, must not have 
been published previously. Use 
Times New Roman, 12 point font 
and keep your prose pieces to 
1,500 words, if possible. 
If your piece is accepted, the 
JHSM may ask you for photos. To 
submit, attach a separate Word 
version of each piece and send to: 
zkonvisser@comcast.net; make 
sure you type in the subject line: 
“Submission MJH (Your Name).” 
Submissions must be received 
by the close of business on March 
3.
To read past issues, go to www.
jhsmichigan.org/publications. 

