Grace Review

Grace Conference held in Ann Arbor
VeAhavta volunteers gathered on Saturday, Jan. 2 for the “State of Grace Conference,” to review responsibilities and goals for the Ann Arbor-based committee that accepted oversight of Grace Care Center. It is hoped that the gathering will become an annual event to plan the coming year at the orphanage.
The conference included a lengthy phone consultation with Mercy Home manager Hiram Labrooy, who spoke with committee heads about the status of the Care Center. Members of the newly formed oversight committee assumed areas of responsibility – including education, budget, senior care, maintenance, operations and programs – and reviewed current conditions while exploring ways to fund and operate the orphanage. We expect to soon report how donor contributions are improving the lives of the children and elders of Grace and Mercy homes.

Concert raises funds for Grace campaign
The next day, more than $10,000 was raised to help meet the goals for Grace, with a benefit concert starring Blues Infusion – a group of musical medical professionals – and special guest Mitch Ryder, the Detroit Wheels singer and voice behind “Devil With a Blue Dress On.”

Contributions at the concert join those raised during a reception held in November, donations that brought Grace Care Center current with expenses and staff salaries and already being put to good use at the orphanage.

Both the conference and concert were the result of volunteers and friends donating their time and talent. VeAhavta would like to thank Blues Infusion – Jeff Gerndt, Fritz Gross, Paul Harkaway, Jay Zerwekh and drummer Steve Lyons doing double duty as stage manager, Mitch Ryder, Lori Roome of the host theater at Washtenaw Community College, and Ernie Roide of Promotion Plus (www.promoplus.com), whose company generously provided the “Co-Exist” t-shirts that were given to donors at the show (its image reflecting the need for religious diversity and cooperation).