Join Ele’s Place – Ann Arbor for its seventh annual Derby Day Soirée on Saturday May 4, at Revel Run in Chelsea. This is the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
During the event, there will be live coverage of the 150th Kentucky Derby, a live and silent auction, Southern-inspired cuisine and a dance party.
Ele’s Place – Ann Arbor offers support services for grieving children, teens and their families work. They offer free peer grief support groups and in-school programming to over 32,000 Michigan children, teens, young adults and families.
“Children and teens experience many of the same feelings that adults do when someone close to them dies, but they process grief in different ways,” Bree Arvai, Ele’s Place – Ann Arbor director, said. “At Ele’s Place, children, teens and their families have a safe space to connect with their peers, express their feelings and develop healthy coping skills after the death of a parent, sibling or someone close to them.”
One in 11 Michigan children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18 (Judi’s House, 2023). Meaning, approximately 198,000 Michigan children will be bereaved by the age of 18, which more than doubles to 477,000 by age 25.
“Events like the Derby Day Soirée help ensure that there is never a cost for families to participate in our programs,” Arvai said. “We are truly grateful for the Ann Arbor and surrounding Southeast Michigan community, which rallies together every year to attend this exciting event and support such an important cause.”
Diane Kieliszewski, an Edward Jones Financial Advisor in Chelsea, is the Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 event and a long-time supporter of Ele’s Place.
“I’m proud to be this year’s Presenting Sponsor. I’ve supported this organization from the very beginning because of the impact it makes on the community — the same community I’ve been proud to serve for nearly 25 years,” Kieliszewski said. “Ele’s Place has always held a special place in my heart because of the support they provide to children and teens when they need it most. I’ve witnessed the difference they make firsthand and am so honored to be part of this year’s event.”
Visit elesplaceannarbor.org to purchase ticket. Contact Andrea Gerber, events coordinator, at agerber@elesplace.org, for information about opportunities for sponsorship, live or silent auction donations or volunteering. To learn more about Ele’s Place, please visit elesplace.org.
