Get a Sneak Peek at Grosse Pointe Fish

A two-hour wine and cheese reception scheduled for Thursday at the will allow residents and business owners to get a sneak peek at .

The reception is being held by the , which is heading up the , will benefit .

The perch are similar to the frogs that decorated the Pointes in 2005. The frogs helped raise more than $400,000 that was given to local charities, according to the Chamber.

Services for Older Citizens is a non-profit organization that administers the Meals on Wheels program and a wide-variety of other services to elderly residents of the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods, including home repairs, social events and other assistance.

Designed by Prop Arts, a Detroit-based business whose owner lives in the Grosse Pointes, the Perch will be sponsored by an individual or business with the proceeds going to Services for Older Citizens. Each perch will be uniquely decorated by an artist and eventually the fish will be sold in an auction.

The fish will be displayed throughout the Grosse Pointes from July through September, according to the Chamber's timeline for the project. The auction will be at the Oct. 12.

During Thursday's wine and cheese reception, members from the Chamber, Services for Older Citizens and other committee members will be on hand to answer questions about the fish and how to get involved.

So far, 30 businesses, individuals or families have committed to sponsoring a fish or supporting the campaig, accoding to a press release by the Chamber's Executive Director Jennifer Boettcher, including five exclusive Kingfish sponsorships for $10,000 a piece.

Services for Older Citizens is currently housed in the Henry Ford Cottage Medical Facility after its former home, the Neighborhood Club, was demolished for its own new building. SOC officials are in the midst of a capital campaign to create their own permanent location.