Traverse City Events: More than 100 business and civic leaders from throughout the Traverse City area will be “arrested” and put “behind bars” for the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Lock-Up fundraiser on April 17th at the City Opera House.
Accused of having big hearts and being heavily armed with kindness, the “jailbirds” volunteered to be part of MDA’s Lock-Up in order to raise “bail” by encouraging friends, family, co-workers and business contacts to make contributions to MDA that will directly benefit families in Grand Traverse County living with progressive muscle diseases.
“I’m already having fun letting friends know I’m going to be arrested,” said Elizabeth Edwards of Traverse, Northern Michigan Magazine. “Hearing ‘no way!’ from friends and then being able to ask them to contribute to the bail I’m raising to help MDA is yielding positive feedback and great donations. Several of my friends have even joked that they’ll give extra to MDA just to keep me locked up. Edwards continues:
"I HAVE A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO RAISE BEFORE I GET OUT OF JAIL. PLEASE HELP AREA FAMILIES DEALING WITH THE COST AND PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY BY CLICKING HERE TO CONTRIBUTE."
Each MDA jailbird’s “bail” is set at $1,600, which will allow him/her to be released for good behavior. The Association's goal for the Traverse City Lock Up is $45, 000!! We would like to thank the City Opera House, Cherry Capital Cadillac Subaru, D.J. Ryan Rousseau and the Traverse City Fire Department Local 646 for supporting the event by donating their time and effort.
MDA also assists jailbirds in creating personalized Lock-Up donation websites to help raise their bail ahead of time online. The links for these websites can be emailed to friends, family and co-workers who could make secure online donations.
“It’s amazing how our community jailbirds have rallied around MDA and are doing a great job as they continue to raise bail donations,” explained Syndi Fornwalt, Fundraising Coordinator of the local MDA office. “The actual day of the Lock-Up will be a fun celebration of the work each person did to help families who live right here in our community.”
Lock-Ups are one of MDA’s signature fundraising programs, benefiting local individuals living with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related progressive muscle diseases in the Grand Traverse County area.
The event also will help send Grand Traverse-area youngsters to a special week at MDA summer camp at YMCA Camp Sherman Lakes in Augusta, Michigan. Youngsters with muscle diseases, as well as the many volunteers who help create magic at MDA summer camp each year, enjoy a wide variety of activities designed specifically for youngsters with limited mobility. Some activities include horseback riding, swimming, football, and arts and crafts.
The Traverse City Opera House is located at 106 E. Front St., Traverse City, MI 49684