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WEST BLOOMFIELD — Friendship Circle co-founder Bassie Shemtov said that the nonprofit’s 18th Walk4Friendship fundraiser was a “beautiful day of celebration.”
The event took place Aug. 27 in West Bloomfield, with attendees walking approximately 1.7 miles in support of the Friendship Circle, which provides recreational, social, educational and vocational programming for individuals with special needs.
When speaking about the fundraiser the day after it was held, Shemtov estimated that it had broken a record by raising close to $870,000.
Last year’s event also set a record, when approximately $750,000 was raised.
Shemtov said everything was perfect.
“From the weather to all of the fund-raisers who were on a high with their family and friends and all the socializing, kindness and community and family feeling between all of the families that were there, it was a real sense of everyone was celebrating, kind of, each other and with each other. It was very special.”
The amount that was raised far surpassed Shemtov’s goal of $750,000.
“It’s just a testament to the need and the commitment our community has to be there for and with our individuals with special needs and anybody that’s in isolation,” she said. “It goes together with each and every one of us, even the volunteers and the staff. Everybody gains so much from being with the special individuals that we get to service, and therefore, they’re servicing us. They make our life so much more enriched, teaching us how to live life properly.”
Shemtov shared what stood out to her the most from the fundraiser.
“I would say the energy. I would say the joy,” she said. “Everybody was just so happy to be there. I don’t know that it’s so typical for general outings that people are so happy to be there. A lot of times you go places just to support.”
Free T-shirts, food, entertainment, rides and a zipline were all part of the festivities.
West Bloomfield resident Lori Ellis was among those who participated.
“It was a beautiful day, so I think it was a great turnout,” Ellis said. “It goes for such a good cause, so it made me so happy to know that they had a successful event. … It’s nice that it brings everybody together, no matter what their disability is.”
It was estimated that 3,000 people attended the event.
“(I’m) thanking our Detroit community for making Friendship Circle their own responsibility, their own joy, and to continue welcoming people with special needs into your world, because it will be great for you and for them,” Shemtov said.
For more information or to make a donation, visit friendshipcircle.org.
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