Register now for the 14^th Annual CAN Council Golf Scramble benefitting the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Saginaw & Bay Counties. Hilliard Lyons - The LeRoy/Bartnikowski Group presents this year’s golf outing on Friday, June 15^th. Your four-person team will enjoy 18 holes of golf and a skills contest at Swan Valley Golf Club. The team registration of $400 includes a continental breakfast, lunch at the turn and a steak dinner.

Call Delores Gale at (989) 752-7226 to register your team, sponsor the outing or donate an item for the event’s auction.

CONTACT:
Catherine Martinez, Community Development Director
715 N. Euclid Ave.
Bay City, MI 48706
(989) 671-1345
cmartinez@cancouncil.org

Al Doner, Event Chair
100 W. Midland St.
Bay City, MI 48706
(989) 316-7921
adoner@newexecmtg.com

WINES AROUND THE WORLD EVENT
RAISES NEARLY $60,000 FOR CAN COUNCIL PROGRAMMING

Locals Support Forensic Interviews for Abused Children While
Sampling the Region’s Finest Fare

BAY CITY, MI - May 10, 2012: Over 500 people enjoyed the fare of the region’s most-reputable chefs at the 2012 CAN Council Wines Around the World event. By the time the festivities of April 20th ended, the Great Lakes Bay Region had raised nearly $60,000 for the CAN Council’s Nathan Weidner Center.

Al Doner, Wines Around the World Chair, says “This was truly a team effort by the volunteer committee and Council staff. The result was the largest and most successful event ever. I want to thank the sponsors, food vendors and especially US Foods, Fabiano Brothers, and the Bay City Country Club for their help and support. The community showed up in full force and was extremely generous in its efforts to help the children and this great cause.”

Proceeds from the event will support the Nathan Weidner Center of the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region. Year-to-date, the Center has provided 75 forensic interviews of abused children in a child-friendly environment, minimizing further trauma. 2012 will see an estimated 175 interviews along with the expansion of programming geared towards the prevention of child abuse & neglect in the Bay County area.

Catherine Martinez, CAN Council’s Community Development Director, seconds Doner’s sentiments. “The Nathan Weidner Center of the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region would simply be unable to provide services to abused children without the support of our community. For generating that support and the countless hours they dedicated to this event, Wines co-chairs Al Doner & Tom Doran deserve major kudos.”

To be a part of next year’s Wines Around the World event, contact Catherine Martinez at (989) 671-1345 or cmartinez@cancouncil.org.

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About the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region
The CAN Council is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through education, awareness, intervention and advocacy. It is the only nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region devoted to this cause. Founded in 1979, the CAN Council has consistently grown over the past 32 years to meet the needs of the community’s children and families. For more information, visit CANcouncil.org or call (989) 671-1345.

Over 500 people enjoyed the fare of the region’s finest chefs at the 2012 CAN Council Wines Around the World event. By the time the festivities of April 20th ended, the Great Lakes Bay Region had raised nearly $60,000 for the CAN Council’s Nathan Weidner Center.

Al Doner, Wines Around the World Chair, says “This was truly a team effort by the volunteer committee and Council staff. The result was the largest and most successful event ever. I want to thank the sponsors, food vendors and especially US Foods, Fabiano Brothers, and the Bay City Country Club for their help and support. The community showed up in full force and was extremely generous in its efforts to help the children and this great cause.”

Catherine Martinez, CAN Council’s Community Development Director, seconds Doner’s sentiments. “The Nathan Weidner Center of the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region would simply be unable to provide services to abused children without the support of our community. For generating that support and the countless hours they dedicated to this event, Wines co-chairs Al Doner & Tom Doran deserve major kudos.”

To be a part of next year’s Wines Around the World event, contact Catherine Martinez at (989) 671-1345 or cmartinez@cancouncil.org.

CONTACT:
Suzanne Greenberg, President/CEO
1311 N. Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
(989) 752-7226
sgreenberg@cancouncil.org

Al Doner, Event Chair
100 W. Midland St.
Bay City, MI 48706
(989) 316-7921
adoner@newexecmtg.com

CAN Council Fundraiser Features Fare from the
Region’s Finest Restaurants

Wines Around the World Returns to the Bay City Country Club Friday, April 20^th

BAY CITY, MI - March 19, 2012: Food & wine connoisseurs alike will savor the delights of the region’s finest restaurants while enjoying expertly paired wines at the CAN Council’s 9^th Annual Wines Around the World event. 600 locals will turn out for the event at the Bay City Country Club on April 20^th, 2012 from 5:30 - 9:00 pm.

The event’s ticket price of $50 includes food, wine & beer throughout the evening. Chefs from 10 of the region’s most reputable restaurants including: Bay City Country Club, Bay Valley Resort & Conference Center, Fusion 1 Café, Gatsby’s Seafood & Steak House, Latitude 43, Old City Hall, Petit 4 Pastry, Saginaw Bay Yacht Club, Shari’s Gourmet Dining, and The Willow Tree will be preparing special menus for the evening’s tastings. Area sommeliers will match each restaurant’s menu with the perfect wine selections.

According to the latest Kids Count in Michigan Data Book published by the Michigan League for Human Services, child abuse and neglect jumped 138% over the past decade in Bay County. The CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region is at the forefront of addressing the issues surrounding child abuse & neglect through its nationally-accredited and award-winning prevention, intervention and advocacy programs.

Purchase your Wines Around the World ticket, sponsor the event or learn more about CAN Council programs by contacting Catherine Martinez at (989) 671-1345 or cmartinez@cancouncil.org. Tickets for the event can also be purchased through CANcouncil.org.

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About the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region
The CAN Council is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through education, awareness, intervention and advocacy. It is the only nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region devoted to this cause. Founded in 1979, the CAN Council has consistently grown over the past 32 years to meet the needs of the community’s children and families. For more information, visit CANcouncil.org or call (989) 671-1345.

Join fellow CAN Council supporters in Lansing on Thursday, April 19^th for Prevention Awareness & Legislative Education Day. Show your support for child abuse prevention programs during the day’s rally and procession in downtown Lansing at 11 am. Later, plant a pinwheel, the national symbol of child abuse and neglect prevention, in the lawn of the State Capitol Building. Your presence will lend support as child advocates educate legislators about prevention programming needs across the state.

The Children’s Trust Fund is sponsoring a bus to transport 56 CAN Council supporters to the event. The bus departs the CAN Council at 8:30 am and will return at approximately 4:00 pm. Lunch will be provided for you at the event. To participate, call Vera at (989) 752-7226.

“The team at AGP & Associates goes above and beyond to help the CAN Council communicate our mission and advocate for the children of the Great Lakes Bay Region,” said Suzanne Greenberg, CAN Council president and CEO. “Our fundraising efforts would be fruitless without clear communication - AGP & Associates generously gives time and talents to help our voice be heard, and we are grateful for their unwavering support and their abilities.”

Support for the CAN Council Auction ensures continuity of vital services for the region’s most vulnerable children. And, it provides critical leverage to secure further grant and foundation funding.

Don’t miss next year’s celebration! Join us for the 20th Annual CAN Council Mardi Gras Auction on February 28, 2013. To get involved, call the CAN Council at (989) 752-7226.

CONTACT:
Suzanne Greenberg                      
1311 N. Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
(989) 752-7226 office      
sgreenberg@cancouncil.org

Record-Setting Fundraiser Ensures Vital ServiceS
For Abused & Neglected Children

Community Bids High at the 19^th Annual CAN Council Mardi Gras Auction Presented by the Iles Group – Merrill Lynch

SAGINAW, MI – February 29, 2012: 100 volunteers contributed their time and talent to plan and execute the event. 400 items were donated by local businesses for bidding.  500 people came prepared to pledge their financial support to protect children from abuse and neglect. That’s the winning combination the CAN Council banked on for its 19^th Annual Mardi Gras Auction this past Thursday, February 23^rd. The event raised more money than any in the Council’s history and exceeded all financial expectations.

For the evening’s highest bidders, the take was just as great:

** “Battle of the Century” poster autographed by both Detroit Red Wing Darren McCarty and Mario Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche, or

** a Jason Aldean autographed guitar, or

** a one-of-a-kind hand-painted Mardi Gras mask by Paolo Pedini.

For the children of the Great Lakes Bay Region, the impact of the Auction’s success is immeasurable. The six-figure Auction haul means that an abused child will receive a forensic interview in a child-friendly environment, minimizing further trauma; a child in the “system” due to abuse or neglect will have a CASA to give him a powerful voice throughout Family Court proceedings; and high school students will experience the demands of parenting through the Baby Think It Over program. Support for the CAN Council Auction ensures continuity of these services for the region’s most vulnerable children. And, it provides critical leverage to secure further grant and foundation funding.

Suzanne Greenberg, CAN Council President/CEO, says of the evening’s success, “Our Mardi Gras celebration is a tremendous collaboration between our extraordinary volunteers, second-to-none staff and board of directors combined with the generous support of our sponsors and donors!  100% of our success is attributable to them!”

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About the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region
The CAN Council is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through education, awareness, intervention and advocacy. It is the only nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region devoted to this cause. Founded in 1979, the CAN Council has consistently grown over the past 32 years to meet the needs of the community’s children and families. For more information, visit CANcouncil.org or call (989) 752-7226.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Suzanne Greenberg
President/CEO
CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region
sgreenberg@cancouncil.org
(989) 752-7226 office

TOP PERFORMING ILES GROUP – MERRILL LYNCH INVESTS IN THE COMMUNITY

SAGINAW, MI – February 21, 2012: The Iles Private Banking and Investment Group at Merrill Lynch presents the CAN Council’s 19^th Annual Mardi Gras Auction as the event’s Premier sponsor this Thursday.

The Iles Group is dedicated to building a strong, safe and prosperous community through its charitable efforts in the Great Lakes Bay Region. In addition to being a perennial sponsor of the Mardi Gras Auction, the Iles Group is making many noteworthy contributions to the region including:

**partnering with the Saginaw Spirit’s Adopt-a-School program to provide incentives for academic and athletic achievement;
**sponsoring the Saginaw Spirit’s Hockey for the Homeless;
**raising awareness and support for the City Rescue Mission and The Good Samaritan Rescue Mission;
**volunteering with the Saginaw and Bay Area Community Foundations; and
**providing leadership to the Council of Michigan Foundations, the Japanese Tea House, and the Rotary Club of Saginaw.

And, Group founder, Doug Iles, is leading the fundraising efforts for Central Michigan University’s Medical School in Saginaw.

The Group’s commitment to the CAN Council goes beyond monetary support. Thomas A. Braley, Vice President with the Iles Group, has served on the Council’s board of directors for three years and, beginning April 2013, will serve as Chair of the Board.

Suzanne Greenberg, President/CEO of CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region, says, “With Tom’s generosity as well as the tremendous support of the Iles Group – Merrill Lynch, this year’s Mardi Gras Auction promises to be our most successful fundraiser ever. For the children and families in our communities, that means we’ll be here when they need us.”

The Mardi Gras Auction is scheduled for Thursday, February 23^rd from 5:30 – 10 pm at Apple Mountain Resort in Freeland. For more details or to be a part of the Auction, call the CAN Council at (989) 752-7226.

# # #

About the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region  
The CAN Council is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in Saginaw and Bay counties dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through education, awareness, intervention and advocacy. It is the only nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region devoted to this cause. Founded in 1979, the CAN Council has consistently grown over the past 32 years to meet the needs of the community’s children and families. For more information, visit CANcouncil.org or call (989) 752-7226.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Suzanne Greenberg
1311 N. Michigan Avenue
Saginaw, MI 48602
989-752-7226
sgreenberg@cancouncil.org

AGP & Associates, Inc., to be recognized as CAN Council Child Advocate of the Year

SAGINAW, MI - Feb. 13, 2012: CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region will honor Midland-based marketing communications agency AGP & Associates, Inc., as the 2012 Child Advocate of the Year.

Presented at the CAN Council’s annual Mardi Gras Auction fundraiser, the CAN Council’s Child Advocate of the Year award recognizes those who demonstrate an outstanding commitment to making the Great Lakes Bay Region a better place for children. Past recipients have included Richard J. Garber; William (Bill) McNally; The Dental Team of Paul Allen, D.D.S.; and the Hon. Faye M. Harrison.

“The team at AGP & Associates goes above and beyond to help the CAN Council communicate our mission and advocate for the children of the Great Lakes Bay Region,” said Suzanne Greenberg, CAN Council president and CEO. “Our fundraising efforts would be fruitless without clear communication — AGP & Associates generously gives time and talents to help our voice be heard, and we are grateful for their unwavering support and their abilities.”

In addition to assisting the CAN Council with many of its fundraising communications and marketing efforts, AGP & Associates and its employees are actively involved in a number of service organizations in the Great Lakes Bay Region, including the American Red Cross Great Lakes Bay Chapter and Midland Area Youth Football. They also raise future service dog puppies for Leader Dogs for the Blind.

The auction and award ceremony will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 23, at Apple Mountain Conference Center, 4519 N. River Road in Freeland. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 989-752-7226, visit CANCouncil.org or follow the organization on Facebook at facebook.com/cancouncilgreatlakesbay.

# # #

About the CAN Council Great Lakes Bay Region

The CAN Council is a local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region dedicated to the prevention of child abuse and neglect through education, awareness, intervention and advocacy. It is the only nonprofit organization in the Great Lakes Bay Region devoted to this cause. Founded in 1979, the CAN Council has consistently grown over the past 30 years to meet the needs of the community’s children and families. For more information, visit CANcouncil.org or call (989) 752-7226.

Eighteen local artists are doing their part to prevent child abuse across the Great Lakes Bay Region. Organized by CAN Council volunteer Mary Lou Case, area artists have embellished one-of-a-kind Mardi Gras masks in their chosen medium. Masks will be up for bid at the CAN Council’s 19^th Annual Mardi Gras Auction slated for February 23^rd, 2012 at Apple Mountain Resort in Freeland.

Auction sponsors, including Iles Group – Merrill Lynch, Garber Automotive, LeRoy Bartnikowski Group – Hilliard Lyons, & Wildfire Credit Union, will showcase masks created by: Sharril McNally (of Frankenmuth), Jean Beach, Amy Case, Cora Hegler, James Hughes, Tammy Meyer, and Paolo Pedini (of Saginaw), and Paul Chaffee (of St. Charles). The community is invited to these businesses to preview the masks prior to the February 23^rd event.

For more details or to be a part of the Auction, contact Delores Gale or Laura Kelley at (989) 752-7226.