Gala evening to benefit children in foster care

Everyone would like to be a hero in someone's life, but few believe that they can have a wonderful time doing it. Now there's a chance. On Saturday, May 14, starting at 6 p.m., the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation will host a fun-filled party with a purpose. The "In Seventh Heaven Gala" will feature an evening of food, world class art, spirits and music set throughout the 63,000 square-foot Park West Gallery in Southfield. The event will feature works of art donated by Park West owners Albert and Mitsie Scaglione, in addition to merchandise, services and gift certificates valued at more than $30,000. All proceeds will be used to fund the administration of the For the Seventh Generation program to benefit foster care wards of the juvenile court. Every year in Southeast Michigan hundreds of children are removed from their homes because of risk of neglect or abuse and are made wards of the court and placed into foster care. Wayne County alone, accounts for nearly 40 percent of the statewide foster-youth caseload of 19,000 children. These children range from newborns to age 18. The challenge is to create an easy way to connect these children with the generosity of a community that wants to help. For the Seventh Generation's mission is to do just that. Established in 2005 by the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation in cooperation with the 3rd Judicial Circuit Court and the Department of Human Services, For The Seventh Generation serves as a web-based "clearing house" to match community heroes willing to volunteer their time, talents or goods to foster care children desperately in need of a hero. For more information on the gala, contact Lorraine Weber at (313) 961-6120 ext. 206 or Mitzy Sharp Futro at (313) 961-6120 ext. 20. For more information about For the Seventh Generation visit www.ForTheSeventhGeneration.org. Published: Tue, May 3, 2011