OAKLAND COUNTY, Michigan – Deserving OCC students will benefit from generous funds
raised by The Garden Party Foundation at its ninth annual event at Meadowbrook Hall
in Rochester Hills, Mich. One-hundred percent of the proceeds benefit OCC's professional
trade programs, including the college's Culinary Studies Institute.
The Garden Party Foundation (TGPF) increased their gift to $93,000 from $70,000 last
year. More than 700 event guests, 27 participating restaurants and 46 volunteers from
OCC faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends attended. TGPF's mission is to help
students reach their dreams, one young adult at a time.
OCC student and prior TGPF scholarship awardee Byungye Lee shares, "I am very appreciative
to the donors who allowed me to receive this prestigious scholarship. Their support
encourages and motivates me to continue my studies and I feel my life has truly been
gifted. The opportunity to learn from caring and highly skilled educators at OCC ensures
my readiness to enrich my own skills through the Culinary program."
"The Garden Party is a terrific opportunity to help young adults take advantage of
opportunities within professional skills programs. It is our belief that the true
purpose of education is self-sufficiency and OCC exemplifies that," said Sydney L.
Ross, co-founder of The Garden Party Foundation and owner of Great Lakes Wine & Spirits,
based in Highland Park.
Restaurants at the 2017 Garden Party event included Bistro 82, Chapman House, Joe
Muer Seafood and the Novi Chophouse, as well as OCC's culinary staff and students.
Top sponsors included Great Lakes Wine & Spirits, NetJets, Charity Motors, MP Tool
& Engineering, Atlas Oil Company & The Sam & Nada Simon Foundation, Barton Malow Company,
Cambridge CG, Celani Family Vineyards, Huntington Bank, Dave & Norma Stone, JP Morgan
Chase, Kelly Services, Meijer, MillerCoors, Peter Basso Associates, Plum Market, RGA
Model Management, Ryder, Suburban Collection, The Tyranski and Totonchi Group – Merrill
Lynch, TMP Associates, and UHY Advisors, Inc.
The Foundation's 10th annual Garden Party event will be held June 10, 2018. For more information visit www.thegardenpartymichigan.org.
About OCC:
With multi campus system throughout Oakland County, OCC is celebrating its 50th year.
OCC is the largest community college in Michigan and the 25th largest in the nation.
It offers degrees and certificates in more than 160 career fields and university transfer
degrees in business, science and the liberal arts. More than a million students have
enrolled in the college since it opened in 1965. To learn more about OCC, visit www.oaklandcc.edu.
About The Garden Party Foundation:
The Garden Party Foundation was founded by Sydney L. Ross and his wife, Elizabeth.
The Garden Party event was initiated and is maintained by The J. Lewis Cooper family
and Elizabeth and Sydney L. Ross Foundation. The purpose of The Garden Party is to
create a pleasant Sunday afternoon that is pleasing to the eye, the palate, and for
its charitable aspect – pleasing to the soul. The Garden Party Foundation's mission
is to support multiple local charities and use money raised to support Michigan causes.
The foundation also aims to make The Garden Party the finest and most prominent food
and wine event in the state. The Garden Party Foundation can be reached at (313) 852-3951
or by visiting www.thegardenpartymichigan.org.
Media Contact: Marketing & Community Relations | (248) 341-2020 | bmkavana@oaklandcc.edu