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.