28 | APRIL 18 • 2024 
J
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T

he Lisa Project 
Fundraiser, in con-
junction with Planet 
Lori Art Camp, are teaming 
up for a fundraising event 
May 1 at Emagine Palladium, 
Birmingham, at 6:30 
p.m. Both organiza-
tions provide support 
for children who have 
lost a parent.
The Lisa Project was 
created by Alec Dorf, 
a junior at Bloomfield 
Hills High School, who lost his 
mother in the middle of the 
pandemic, when he was a fresh-
man. Being the oldest of two 
and helping his father care for 
his mother, he quickly realized 
that “life can throw a lot at you” 
even at a young age. 
Alec held a deep belief this 
life-changing experience was 
being given to him to be able to 
help others who, unfortunately, 
may share the same experience. 
That’s how the Lisa Project was 
born. The Lisa Project offers 
peer-to-peer support and group 
sessions for high-school stu-
dents who have lost a parent to 
an illness.
 Lori Haber Buckfire loved 
children and spent many after-
noons doing art projects with 
her son Hayden. Art is often 
used to help children commu-
nicate, overcome stress and heal 
from tragedy. Lori’s memory 

is being honored with an art 
camp in her name, specifically 
designed for children who had 
or have a parent or a close rela-
tive with cancer.
The Planet Lori Art 
Camp, run by 
the Birmingham 
Bloomfield Art Center 
(BBAC), will be held 
on a daily basis from 
Aug. 12-16 from 
9 a.m.-3 p.m. The 
Lori Haber Buckfire 
Foundation is providing full 
paid scholarships to children 
(ages 5-15) to attend the camp. 
There is limited space in the 
camp, so it is recommended 
that completed applications be 
submitted as soon as possible.

MOVIE FUNDRAISER
Enjoy a surprise movie clas-
sic, popcorn and drinks, and 
dessert from Diamond Bakery 
at the Emagine Palladium 
Theatre, 209 Hamilton Row in 
Birmingham on Wednesday, 
May 1, beginning at 6:30 p.m. 
The event starts promptly at 
7 p.m. There is metered street 
parking outside the theater and 
a parking garage (Park Street 
Garage, 333 Park St.). 
Tickets are $75 per person 
($60 is tax deductible). For 
information, visit www.planet-
lori.com/2024-planet-lori-event 
or thelisaproject.net. 

OUR COMMUNITY

Movie Fundraiser
Movie Fundraiser

JN STAFF

Help support Planet Lori Art Camp 
and The Lisa Project.

Planet Lori Art Camp

Lisa and 
Alec Dorf

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www.hfldetroit.org • 248.723.8184

Hebrew Free Loan Detroit

6735 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 300 • BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN 48301

@HFLDetroit

Community donations help Hebrew Free Loan give 
interest-free loans to local Jews for a variety of personal, 
health, educational and small business needs.

STORY
My

STORY
My

Julia Tapper enjoyed her job as a loan officer at 
a finance company. She wanted to be good at it, to 
move up quickly, and to look the part. “You know the 
saying, dress for the job you want,” Julia said. “So, I 
went to a store and bought suits, put the total on my 
credit card and didn’t think more about it. I only made 
the minimum payment for a couple of years. The 
interest increased and the market changed. And then 
I lost my job. Mind you, I looked at people’s loan forms 
all day long, and I knew about credit, but I realized 
I didn’t know enough about credit. That was a 
sobering experience.” 
While attending career counseling at Gesher 
Human Sevices, Julia learned about Hebrew Free 
Loan’s Debt Consolidation Loan Program (DCLP) and the 
HFL partnership with Gesher for financial education. 
With HFL’s help, Julia eliminated her credit card 
debt, and her stress lifted. It all came full circle 
when Julia later took a role on Gesher’s financial 
education team, teaching HFL DCLP borrowers 
among others, how to tackle personal finance. She is 
now Director of the Choices program, which serves 
adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. 
“HFL was respectful,” Julia said, “and got me past 
the voice in my head that told me I couldn’t do this. 
Dave Ramsey says ‘you can wander into debt, but you 
can’t wander out.’ Sometimes you need to ask for 
help. This loan gave me the room to breathe so that I 
could reset my career. HFL’s support truly was the 
fastest way to peace, and to the life I wanted.”

in partnership with

