Detroit, MI - September 25, 2006 On Saturday, September 30th at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, 6 p.m., the Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC) will host its 27th Annual Civic and Humanitarian Awards Gala. This year, ACC is dedicating its annual fundraiser to those who are Building Hope . . . Building Lives with proceeds to benefit the Seven Mile Streetscape project and Artisan Center in Detroit.

Attendees include Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Keynote speaker Michael Brennan, President of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan. The evening’s honorees have been chosen based on their contributions to the City and their dedication to rebuilding communities and lives across Detroit.

Morning news anchor and health reporter Carolyn Clifford of WXYZ Channel 7 will emcee the evening’s program. This year’s 2006 honorees are:
• Craig DeRoche, Speaker of the House and State Representative, State of Michigan
• Buzz Thomas, State Senator, State of Michigan (D-Detroit)
• Sharon McPhail, General Counsel, City of Detroit
• Janet Olszewski, Director, Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH)
• Renee Hanna, Director of Sales, Detroit Marriott Hotel and ACC Board Member
• Sister Xavier Ballance, St. John Health Systems

“The support for this evening has been tremendous,” said ACC President and CEO Haifa Fakhouri. “People are excited about our plans for the future and we are too.”

ACC’s Streetscape project and Artisan Center is currently underway in the Seven Mile District of Detroit (between Woodward and John R.) with the support of the Michigan Department of Transportation, Wayne County and the City of Detroit. It will include new sidewalks, decorative lighting, street trees, park benches and receptacles. The planned Artisan Center will house artists’ workspaces, display area, adult learning classrooms and a Middle Easter themed café.

ACC is proud to celebrate as we continue to make a difference in our communities as the leading educational, employment and healthcare human services organization. This year’s gala will attract more than 1,500 guests, including leaders representing national and state policy-making, members of the judiciary, leaders of the corporate world and health care industries, and educational institutions and foundations. In the past, ACC has hosted President and CEO of the Chrysler Group Dieter Zetsche, The Prince of Jordan His Excellency Prince Hamzah and Princess Noor of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Tickets are still available; please call 248-559-1990 for more information.

ACC is the largest non-profit human service organization to provide services to the Middle Eastern Community in Southeast Michigan. For more information on ACC services, please visit us at www.myacc.org.