All Star Foundation throws kickoff party

Work started on the All Star Foundation’s Center of Hope and Healingnearly four years ago. It comes as a relief, then, to founders Dennis and Graci McGillicuddy that the work is nearly complete.

The event, hosted by Michael and Terri Klauber, had the foundation’s supporters and donors gathering at Michael’s Wine Cellar to be given an update on the project. And the news is good — the full campus is expected to be open by the end of February. 35 to 45 children will live on the campus where they can heal from trauma and abuse. 

“The world they’ve come from is a dark, bleak world,”  Dennis McGillicuddy said. “ … This will show them there’s a larger world out here.”

The center is a collaboration with Johns Hopkins and will have five homes for foster children. It’s especially rewarding for Dennis and Graci, who have had faith the project would eventually see completion.

“It’s so wonderfully rewarding to be in a project where so many people are here to help vulnerable children,” McGillicuddy said. “ ...It really feels like a community.”

Christmas Time

It’s already December and no I don’t know where the time went either. Hopefully you’ve already started working on your Christmas decorations (I’m picking up a tree on Friday). The Michael’s On East staff have been hard at work, and are putting the finishing touches to make the restaurant a winter wonderland

As is their custom, there will be a 15-foot tree in the MOE ballroom as well as an eight-foot tree in Michael’s Wine Cellar. The ornaments — which are as big as possible, catering director Tracey McCommack says they’re the size of your head — will be red and gold-themed, to best fit the many events hosted in the ballroom. The lights will weave in and out of the tree, with the largest ornaments at the top and the smaller ones working their way down. 

There will also be a menorah out Michael’s Wine Cellar and the restaurant as well. The festive decorations are meant to last until the end of the season’s last holiday party. 

Tidbits

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe founder Nate Jacobs didn’t expect a party for his 60th birthday party, but he sure got one. His daughter Naarai — who was in town for the theatre’s 20th anniversary - surprised him with a birthday party on the theatre's rooftop. Between a surprise party and his theatre’s 20th birthday, it’s been a good month for the man.

InStride Therapy’s Black Tie & Blue Jeans, An Equestrian Gala at its Nokomis Center brought in more than $100,000, which will go towards the organization’s equestrian therapy services.