In Seventh Heaven event raises $17,000

Area law firms and other corporate sponsors joined Park West Gallery and the Seed Foundation as the primary sponsors of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation’s June 25 event for foster children.

The event, called In Seventh Heaven, raises funds for foster children’s charity For The Seventh Generation (www.fortheseventhgeneration.org). The DMBA Foundation created and partially supports For The Seventh Generation, which annually serves more than 1,000 foster children and families.

Garan Lucow, GEM Asset Management, and other area firms joined top sponsors including the Park West Gallery and the Seed Foundation – contributions that were “very much appreciated” by the event’s chair.

“We always try to stress the difference that even one person can make by helping one child – but this year’s In Seventh Heaven sponsors have gone well above and beyond that commitment,” said 2016 In Seventh Heaven Chair Kelly Ramsey. “Their generosity will make a significant impact on the lives of the children and families that For The Seventh Generation serves throughout 2016.”

This year’s In Seventh Heaven netted more than $17,000 to support For The Seventh Generation’s efforts.

In addition to meeting and mingling, In Seventh Heaven guests were treated to live music courtesy of Kate Hinote & The Disasters and a multi-course, strolling supper provided by Quarton Woodward Catering. At the same time, they were able to engage in friendly competition for prizes during the event’s raffle and live and silent auctions.

A wide range of silent auction items were offered including dental services donated by Donald J. Zelazny, sports memorabilia signed by Detroit team legends, and art from the Park West Gallery’s extensive collection.

The event’s live auction focused on travel, including trips to South Africa, Las Vegas, and Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula. Other offerings included a catered summer barbecue from RanDee and Company, an evening at the MGM Grand in Detroit, and a private Scotch tasting for up to 12 people from Dorothy and Eddie Barack of Specialties Appliances and Plumbing Fixtures of Berkley.

Charles Wickins, “The English Auctioneer,” presided over the live auction.

“Between the raffle and our auctions we try to offer something to entice each of our guests,” said Ramsey.

“We’re very fortunate that so many area businesses and individuals come forward to donate every year – and we’re extremely grateful for the huge efforts of our volunteer raffle coordinators, Jackie Slaviero and Brenda O’Brien, who have worked for months to solicit, collect, and package this year’s raffle prizes.”

For The Seventh Genera­tion serves more than 1,000 foster children and families a year, matching them with donors of necessary goods and services the foster care system doesn’t cover.