RJWC to Host “An Evening at the Great Estate” at Meadow Brook Hall

Rochester, MI (October 24, 2013) – The Rochester Junior Woman’s Club is excited to announce their upcoming evening fundraising event, “An Evening at the Great Estate” to be held at one of Michigan's newest National Historic Landmarks; Meadow Brook Hall.

The event, which is open to the public, will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. The evening includes a strolling gourmet dinner, tours of the hall, a silent auction, an event signature drink, entertainment by “Piano Wars!” a dueling piano company and dessert from Sweet Island Yogurt. 

Individual tickets for the event are $85.00 per person and Patron tickets are $100.00 per person with recognition in the program. Proceeds from the event will benefit Meadow Brook Hall and Rochester Area Neighborhood House.

Silent auction items, donated from local businesses, will include: private bar tour from D:hive,

Beauty Party at Saks Fifth Avenue, classes at McEntire Pilates, Behind the Scenes tour of the The Parade Company, tea at The Whitney, golf at Pohl Cat, brunch at Mac & Rays, tickets to The Henry Ford, tour of  Edsel & Eleanor Ford House, tour of Meadow Brook Hall, cruise on Detroit Princess Riverboat, dinner at      Kruse & Muer on Main, dinner at Slow's Bar B Q , gift certificates to Bordines, passes to Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry, tickets to Avon Players , just to name a few.

There will also be a wine raffle where everyone's a guaranteed winner!  Featuring many varietals and wines from all over the world valued at up to $100 per bottle.  The cost is only $10 per cork.  Guest will pull a cork and win the bottle of wine that matches the number on the cork.

The club is still looking for local businesses that might be interested in sponsorship opportunities, donating wine or auction items or services, placing an ad in the event program or making a monetary donation.

The funds from the event will help to support specific projects for the recipients;

In an effort to move individuals and families toward self-sufficiency, Rochester Area Neighborhood House provides financial assistance in the areas of shelter, utilities and transportation, food and clothing assistance and other basic needs to those clients who cannot meet these obligations without other means.  Funding received through the Rochester Juniors Woman’s Club will allow Neighborhood House to assist local families in their efforts to move toward self-sufficiency.

“We use a holistic approach to address the underlying cause of financial distress in an effort to help families look at how their request for assistance fits into the total spectrum of their needs. Examples include having a client meet with our job counselor, budget coach or mental health counselor. Through these efforts, the Neighborhood House mission is to move individuals and families who are dealing with a crisis or unexpected downturn in financial conditions toward a higher level of self-sustainability. The willingness of the Rochester Junior Woman’s Club to support Neighborhood House demonstrates their confidence in our ability to provide long-term assistance to our community and our local families in need; we take that charge very seriously. We are sincerely honored by their support,” Linda Riggs, Executive Director of Rochester Area Neighborhood House.

Meadow Brook Hall will be using the funding for the Historical Interpretation of Danny Dodge’s Cabin and Workshop. In January 2013, Danny’s Cabin, the historic log cabin and workshop built for Danny Dodge, son of John and Matilda Dodge, was moved from its original site on the Meadow Brook farm property to a new site near Meadow Brook Hall’s Knole Cottage, the playhouse of Danny’s sister, Frances Dodge.  The objective of the project is to structurally restore the building back to its original design and purpose, to interpret its significance as an important historical asset on the Meadow Brook estate and to utilize the Cabin as a site to host educational and community programs including tours, youth programming and special events.

The club also has a strong history with Michigan's newest National Historic Landmark - Meadow Brook Hall. The 8,000-square-foot, Tudor-style house located on the campus of Oakland University was once the home of Matilda Dodge Wilson and her second husband Alfred Wilson and has been the recipient of previous fundraisers hosted by the Rochester Junior Women’s Club (RJWC). They have also raised funds for the Meadow Brook Garden Club, which is dedicated to preserving, maintaining and enhancing the gardens at the hall.  RJWC also hosts their annual end of year Installation Dinner in the Christopher Wren Dining Room.

“We have been fortunate to have worked with Rochester Juniors on previous preservation projects -- most recently the club's funding of the reproduction of the silk wall covering in Matilda Wilson's bedroom by Scalamandre in New York, the original manufacturer," said Geoff Upward, executive director of Meadow Brook Hall, "It is especially meaningful to us that such a prominent community organization, particularly one that espouses the contributions of women to the workplace and society, so actively and passionately supports our efforts to preserve and interpret the home and estate of one of our country's most accomplished, civic-minded and forward-thinking women of the first half of the 20th Century."

“We are very excited to be helping these three great organizations especially considering our long history with each of them. And, to be able to come back to the beautiful Meadow Brook Hall to host the event!  It is a perfect combination!” says Lynn Marie Oates, event co-chair.  Oates is chairing the event with Deanna Gross, Kelly Kamman and Sue Upton.

The club is also planning their annual “Spring Highlights” Luncheon and Shopping Boutique for March 29, 2014 at the Royal Park Hotel.

For over 50 years the Rochester Junior Woman's Club has been proud to contribute to the growth and vitality of the community through volunteer service and donation of funds to local charities and organizations. Since their inception, the Rochester Junior Woman’s Club has donated more than one million hours of community service and raised more than $820,000 to support the local community.

For more information on the event or to order tickets by phone please call Michelle at 586.206.2571 or email michvitale@yahoo.com. You can also visit RJWC’s website at www.rjwc.org or follow them on Facebook at “Rochester Junior Woman’s Club.”