The Family Center’s HOLLYFEST Celebration Showcases Years of Building a Stronger Community

HOLLYFEST, The Family Center’s signature festive fundraiser Thursday, Dec. 5, at the Grosse Pointe Club, captures the true spirit of holiday giving. The often sold-out party with a purpose features both live and silent auctions and is responsible for raising more than a quarter of the non-profit’s annual budget.

Held at the beautifully decorated “Little Club” on Lake St. Clair, the evening highlights accomplishments of the past year but also serves to reach a necessary goal. The Family Center is a volunteer-driven operation that relies completely on donations to create nearly two-dozen programs and events each year for more than 5,000 families. The organization achieves all of this with one full-time executive director, Debbie Liedel, and one part-time assistant, Beth Vernon, and more than 100 professionals who donate their time and industry expertise.

Honorary chairs for this year’s event are John and Terry Minnis, who have a long history with the 13-year-old organization. John serves as immediate past president, marketing committee co-chair and newsletter editor.

“We are thrilled and humbled to serve as honorary chairs for this singular event,” says John Minnis. “We are thrilled to support The Family Center, of course, and humbled in that our small contribution pales to your support and that of our 100-plus volunteers and countless donors throughout the year.

“This is one of our favorite events of the year,” adds Terry Minnis. “The Little Club is always so cheerfully decorated for the holidays. The auction items are fantastic, not to mention the great food! We look forward to seeing all our friends and Family Center supporters.”

HOLLYFEST organizers and co-chairs are Vernon, Mary Beth Austin and Anne Prokop.

The Family Center of Grosse Pointe & Harper Woods offers robust programs and presentations given by expert practitioners and educators, fun family-centered activities, a weekly Ask the Experts column in the Grosse Pointe News and a drop-in playgroup program for children and their caregivers. Play Central is located within Barnes School and is an introduction for many in the community to The Family Center.

Presentations and Q&A features advising on topics ranging from kindergarten readiness to managing stress in adulthood are archived on The Family Center’s acclaimed website for easy access and privacy. Earlier this fall, The Family Center kicked off a multi-year, major giving enrichment campaign further demonstrating the commitment to “Building a Stronger Community” for future generations.

Each year HOLLYFEST is supported by generous sponsors who provide a strong foundation toward reaching fundraising goals. To date, this year’s $5,000-1,500 and in-kind sponsors include Henry Ford Health System; Beaumont Hospital; St John Hospital and Medical Center; Gail and Lois Warden; Grosse Pointe Audiology; Wolverine Packing Co.; Avanti and Pointe Magazine.

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HOLLYFEST tickets can be purchased online at www.familycenterweb.org for $100 per person. A Special VIP Reception for all $250+ sponsors will be held from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, silent and live auction, dinner will be from 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Fabulous live auction items include a Colorado Vacation Home kindly donated by John Danaher, a Fripp Island, South Carolina Vacation Home donated by Todd and Allison Baker, Ippolita Teardrop Earrings kindly donated by edmund t. AHEE Jewelers and a Detroit Red Wings Suite for 20 donated by Key Safety Systems.

This is a regularly sold-out event, so purchase your tickets early at www.familycenterweb.org, email info@familycenterweb.org or call (313) 432-3832.

Sponsorship opportunities of varying levels are also available.