Past Events
SIPS & SONGS strikes a high note
Binc’s biggest fundraiser of the year did not disappoint. The food was great, the house was full, the music was amazing and over $7,000 was raised. It was truly a night of great music for a great cause. Twelve fabulous singer/songwriters appeared on one stage to benefit the programs of the Binc Foundation to help bookstore employees in times of personal emergency.
On Saturday June 8th, 23 VIP guests gathered at Frenchie’s in Ypsilanti, MI for an intimate dinner with local Ann Arbor author Steve Amick. Steve read from his book The Lake, the River & the Other Lake, which was selected as a Michigan Notable Book. Steve chatted with the diners about his books, his writing process and his experiences as a published author.
After dinner the guests strolled down the street in Ypsilanti’s historic Depot Town for the main event at Woodruff’s. The singer/songwriters entertained the crowd with an amazing array of original songs. Emcee, Matthew Altruda (of 107.1 radio’s Tree Town Sound) kept the event flowing smoothly.
An event like this would not have been possible without some very generous sponsors. Binc would like to thank the American Booksellers Association, the primary sponsor of this event. Ingram Content Group sponsored drink tickets for all the guests to enjoy a draft beer or a special glass of Binc sangria and Susan Franke of Raymond James & Associates sponsored the production of a commemorative Sips & Songs CD. We have Jen Hawkins and the Bank of Ann Arbor to thank for the event t-shirts for our volunteers. Michigan Commerce Bank took care of the artists with thank you gifts and snacks and beverages during the concert.
Binc would like to thank all the artists who very generously volunteered their time and talent to support the Foundation. With their help over $7000 was raised to benefit book store employees in times of personal emergency. Please help us show our gratitude by supporting these great artists, by attending their concerts and purchasing their CDs.
Dave Rossiter (with Dave Keeney)
Lisa Pappas (with Michawl Weiss)
Jamie-Sue Seal (with Elden Kelly)
Planning an event like the Sips & Songs concert was something that was completely foreign to the Binc Foundation staff. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Bill Edwards for the original idea and for lining up all the fabulous musicians. At each step in the process Bill was there to lead, take action and reassure us. We also had a fantastic committee to plan all the details and make sure the evening went off without a hitch. Thanks to Mark Brown, LeAnn Hartka, Jen Hawkins, Jeanne Joesten, Deb Leonard, Jane Regenstreif, Jeff Steinhauer and Lori Tucker-Sullivan. Joining the committee at the even were these great volunteers: Vicki Botek, Penny Johnson, Mary Ruman and Greer Thibodeau.
Special thanks to another volunteer, Laura Marsh of Life in Still Photography, for her amazing pictures of the night. You can view the Sips & Songs photo gallery here.
If you missed the event, you can still enjoy the music by purchasing a Sips & Songs CD. Only $13 postage (shipping included). Order yours here.
VOLUNTEER THANK YOU PARTY
Thanks to everyone who attended the Binc volunteer party at the Binc offices. We had fun catching up with old friends and getting to know new friends!
The return of the Mini-Mart was a big success! And, don’t forget to check out our On-line Mini-Mart for more goodies.
Thanks to our Volunteers! We couldn’t do what we do without you.
ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE! A BEER TASTING SUCCESS
The Binc Foundation’s first big fundraising event was a huge success by any measure. More than 100 supporters gathered in downtown Ann Arbor to enjoy an afternoon of beer tasting which resulted in more than $10,000 being raised to benefit programs supporting booksellers across the country. Arbor Brewing Company’s award winning beers were complemented by a lively dart tournament, a silent auction and even a Zombie themed “flash mob” by the Dance Arts of Chelsea/ Youth Dance Theater!
The Foundation would like to give special thanks to the American Booksellers Association, our primary event sponsor, whose participation was instrumental in making this event a success. Additional sponsorship from Ingram Content Group, Susan Franke, Financial Advisor with Raymond James, Michigan Commerce Bank and Workman Publishing helped the Foundation surpass its fundraising goal. Thanks to our book industry partners, each attendee was offered a book of their choice, generously donated by Chronicle Books.
The silent auction featured a wide variety of items donated by individuals and companies from near and far. Thank you’s go out to: the Arbor Brewing Company, Barbara Kinzer, Mark Brown, Nicola’s Books, the Detroit Tigers, the Detroit Pistons, Sava, Mainstreet Ventures, the Michigan Theater, Gladwin Center, Spiral Chi Center, Oasis Hot Tubs, Anne Kubek, Trader Joe’s, Morgan & York, Motawi Tile, September Wynne, Café Ollie/MI General Store, Publishers Services, Inc., Joanna Cline, Fathead, and Everyday Wines.
Jen Hawkins and her event committee did a fabulous job of planning the afternoon and keeping things running smoothly. Mark Brown, Jeff Steinhauer, September Wynne, Lori Tucker-Sullivan and Gina Nowak rounded out the fierce planning committee. Thanks to all the volunteers – Jenny Weed, Pam McBride, John Hawkins, Greer Thibodeau, Penny Johnson, Jeanne Joesten, Mike Shubel, LeAnn Hartka, Jodi Jackson, Beth Peery and Mary Fitzgerald – who kept the beer flowing and the auction bidding lively. Donna Shubel put her photographic talent to great use and you can view her pictures here.
You can view a video of the Zombie Flash Mob here. Click on the small orange text in the link to start loading the video.
KERRYTOWN BOOKFEST
Thank you to everyone who visited our table at the Kerrytown BookFest. It was wonderful to share our message with so many book lovers. We are looking forward to making the BookFest an annual event!
Fore more information on Kerrytown BookFest visit: kerrytownbookfest.org
CHARITY YARD SALE
The most memorable moment from our Yard Sale on August 27th came when an unsuspecting customer was perusing the many boxes filled with books for sale and innocently asked “Can anyone here recommend a good book?” The poor woman never had a chance as six Borders Alums went into action!
The first-ever Binc Yard Sale raised over $1200 to support the programs of the Foundation. Donors loved being able to clean out their unused items and have them go to a good cause, volunteers were having fun “selling” again, and customers were enjoying the wonderful selection of items on sale. Before the day was finished there was talk of the “next” Binc Charity Yard Sale.
A huge “thank you” goes out to Jeanne Joesten, who came up with the idea, volunteered her yard for the sale and put in more hours than she will admit to marking, merchandising and selling all the goodies. Helping Jeanne before, during and after the sale were: Carla Bayha, Lisa Brown, Judey Kalchik, Jaye Kerr, Jane Regenstreif, Amy Sample, Jenny Weed, Pam French and Kit Steinaway.
None of this would have been possible without the donations of great merchandise from family and friends. For cleaning out their basements, attics and garages, we thank: Robin & Jamie Agnew (Aunt Agatha’s Book Store), Merrie Atlas, Jane Baker, Peyton Bland, Lisa Brown, Laurie Colatruglio, Alison Foreman, Pam French, Sally Hoyle, Darrell Jacob, Jeanne Joesten, Kay Kohler, Julie Lawler-Hoyle, Mary Matthews, Melanie Rhodes, Amy Sample, Jane Severson, Becki Spangler, Kit Steinaway, Jenny Weed and September Wynne.
Another Yard Sale laugh came when an “early-bird” shopper was put to work by one of our volunteers and was well into arranging merchandise before she found out he was there to shop and not to help out! To his credit, he took direction very well.
SHOPPING FOR A CAUSE
Thank you to everyone who purchased Macy’s “Shopping for a Cause” discount coupons. This was our first year participating in this annual event and we got plenty of good marketing ideas from our supporters to use next time around.
THE BIG HOUSE BIG HEART RUN
One of our biggest fundraisers of the year is the Big House Big Heart Run. Each year when spring comes around we unpack our running shoes and gather with friends and family to run, walk or stroll through the University of Michigan’s beautiful campus in Ann Arbor, MI, finishing on the 50-yard line in the famous football stadium–the Big House. This year’s event was held on April 15, 2012 and we successfully raised over $4600 to support the programs of the Foundation. We are already planning how to make the 2013 Big House Big Heart Run even more successful!