WMFC Highlights

WMFC and Junior League of Saginaw Valley Host Valentines Dinner

Imagine a candle-lit dining room dressed out in Valentines décor…you are surrounded by people you know, people who care about you. The smell of an elegant meal wafts from the kitchen. This was the scene set for 25 West Midland Community couples~ many of whom are regular participants of the Monday Night Parent Education groups.

This gala event occurred in conjunction with the Junior League of Saginaw Valley. All evenings activities were free of charge including dinner and a vast array of activities for the children. The evening was designed to be all inclusive, in this way busy parents didn’t have to concern themselves with childcare or figure out a way that they could come up with the funds for an expensive dinner out. It was an evening dedicated to the foundational role that parents have to the family. “So many times parents are engulfed by the difficulties of life that their relationship takes a ‘back burner.’ We wanted to do something so that parents could spend some well-deserved quality time together and just enjoy one others company,” said Renee Young, Family Services Director. The evening included an opportunity for each couple to have a portrait taken; there was an amusing round of ‘The Newlywed Game,’ door prizes and dancing to the music of Nightlife entertainment. According to Monica Rethman Membership Chair-in-training, “We were looking for a worthwhile project to support in Midland County and it so happens that club member Tangie Neal has done some volunteering at WMFC so she initiated the contact. There was immediate interest and right from the start we began working on the Valentines event together, it has been a lot of fun.”

“WMFC owes a heartfelt thank-you to the ladies of the Junior League of Saginaw Valley who approached us at just the right time to help make this event a reality. Their hard work and enthusiasm is greatly appreciated”, commented Gail Crosby, Connect & Serve Coordinator. "Thanks also go out to Jeff Henning of NIGHTLIFE ENTERTAINMENT who volunteered his time and talents to bring a touch of musical romance to the environment and to Ben Tierney and Robert Miller who volunteered their time and talent by providing professional photographs to each of the couples," continued Crosby. "Thanks as well to Kurt and Rebecca Faust who so graciously took their place as kitchen staff. Kurt, is the founder of STEP UP - Success though Education and Positive Coaching. He facilitates DAD2DAD (an in-depth journey though Fatherhood) at West Midland Family Center on Monday nights", concluded Crosby.

WMFC would also like to offer a big thank-you to Domino’s pizza for providing a pizza dinner for the children, to Lil’ Pear Tree for donating a corsage for each of the ladies and to all of the many other volunteers that helped to make the evening a success. Once again WMFC experieienced the beauty formed in partnerships. Just as in marriage, great things are accomplished when everyone is working together for the same goal. WMFC Valentine's Dinner Midland Daily News Article