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Friendship Circle Dinner Honors 122 Volunteers

On Tuesday evening, May 9, the Friendship Circle at the Jewish Children’s Museum held a dinner to honor their 122 volunteers. The event drew many community members who recognize the magnitude of the Circle’s work and turned out in support of it.

The Friendship Circle began in West Bloomfield, Michigan and has grown to more than 40 chapters in the US and Canada. With the schools and camps, specialized doctors and modified homes for special children, there remained a simple but devastating void in the lives of many children with special needs. The Friendship Circle set out to fill that gap. By matching neighborhood teens with special kids, the Circle provides the children with companionship and tender loving care.

Dinner guests heard about the ongoing programs the Friendship Circle offers. During the evening many guests were brought to tears by the numerous presentations and heartfelt expressions of thanks from the Circle’s directors, Tzirl Goldman, Rabbi Mendel Nemes and Henni Halberstam.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

Master of Ceremonies Rabbi Yossi Hodakov of New Haven gave his own Thank You’s to the volunteers and supporters and added “to the families. It is not easy to open your home and admit a need. It takes courage and dignity, and we owe a special thank you to the families who allow the volunteers to be such a special part of their children’s lives.”

A moving video was then presented for the first time. On the video Tzirl Goldman says “Our greatest success would be if we could close our doors…close up shop…but as long as there is a need, we will be here for these children.”

The room fell silent as 17 year old Leora Fried approached the podium to read her short speech. Leora benefits from the weekly visits of a Friendship Circle volunteer and wanted to express her gratitude. Though many of her words were difficult to understand one phrase came through loud and clear: “Thank you Friendship Circle. Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

Before leaving, volunteers were presented with bright sweatshirts emblazoned with the Friendship Circle logo and “Make A Difference!” That, they are already doing.

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29 Comments

  • some one that was there

    What a Great Dinner but where were the Principles,Teachers and Rabbonim why didn’t they come to give our boys and girls support we are always being negative on our teenagers and for "once" they are doing a positive thing

  • impressed

    This is very nice.
    Great coverage webby!
    nice pics!

    They do a wwonderful job, YASHER KOACH to all the volunteers.

  • Shlomo Abraham

    Congratulations Tzirl, Mendel, Henni and all the volunteers. Keep up the great work!

  • DL

    I had the honor of attending the FC Dinner last night, and it was beautiful, powerful, and extremely moving.

    I must commend you – crownheights.info – for your professionalism in reporting the news. I especially appreciated the fact that you included pictures of the girl volunteers as well, because often times it seems that they are forgotten and not acknowledged for a job well done.

    In keeping with the spirit of inclusion of the Friendship Circle I am thankful that you portrayed Crown Heights as one community rather than two separate ones based on gender.

    Keep up the great work!!!

  • laky

    Ta,
    keep up with all your fantastic work.
    May Hashem bless you with all the brochos.

  • ch

    wow !!! this is amazing!!
    thanks to all the volunteers

    you guys are awesome !!

  • rivasol@aol.com

    Dear Tzirel and Henni,

    What a beautiful evening ! I am "shepping" nachas.
    Thank you all so much!!

    Riva Denburg

  • girl from 10-2

    Go sophies u guys rock and look heaven in ur sweaters p.s i want one

  • Rochelle Kaplan

    Henni

    I am very proud of you. What a wonderful accomplishment! You look great in the photos!

    Love,
    Your aunt,
    Rochel K.

  • TROUBLE

    SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS OF THE FC (INCUDING THE FUNDRAISERS WHO WHERE NOT MENTIONED LAST NIGHT) YOU ALL DO SUCH WONDERFULL, SPECIAL AND VITAL WORK.
    WORDS NOR GIFTS CAN SHOW THE REWARD YOU ALL TRULY DESERVE. THANKS

  • TROUBLE

    REMEMBER THE FREINDSHIP CIRCLE WHEN YOU GIVE YOUR MA’ASER
    HELP KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!!

  • TOLD U I WOULD MENDY

    SPECIAL THANX TO HENEI HALBERSTAM
    A GREAT SPEECH (DRAMA QUEEN)

  • Freilich

    Montreal also had a beautiful sit down dinner for Friendship circle on the same night honouring the volunteers It was a big Kiddush Hashem. I wish it utmost Hatzlacha.(( It was even shown on the latenight news.)

  • Peter Rechem

    Ma,

    With such an evening behind you, it is impossible not to feel accomplished and encouraged to achieve even more. May Hashem shower energy, patience, compassion and money upon the Friendship Circle and its staff.

  • your favorite cuz

    go Mussie L. and Ella R. – the best voluteers ever! you guys are amazing!!!!!!

  • S.R I.G.

    I Really feel very honored to be part of this amazing organization. I feel like i gained a lot from being part of it. Thank you for giving us the oppurtunity to be a member of such a wonderful organization.

  • wondering?

    Is it just me or is it wierd that the Bichurim and girls are all wearing hte same sweatshirt?

  • ??????

    no i think its fine. whats wrong? its funny to see them wearing the same ones

  • a yid

    To wondering. Thanks so much for your sensitivity to the Rebbes kinderlach, and you’re cautioning us to be more careful next time

  • a volenteer

    every one stop getting stuck on things that dont matter or make a difference and work on making a difference yourself.
    moshiach now!!!!!!!