Emagine’s Novi drive-in to host benefit for the Boys and Girls Club
More children and young adults in Macomb, Oakland and Wayne counties will have the opportunity to join the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) through a fundraiser presented by Emagine Entertainment’s Novi Drive-In.
Showing on Sept. 23 as part of the event to benefit BGCSM is “The Wiz.”
“We are passionate about giving back to the community. We have always supported the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeastern Michigan (BGCSM) and their mission. This event will give us yet another opportunity to raise money that will help empower deserving youth in our communities,” said Anthony LaVerde, CEO of Emagine Entertainment in a news release Tuesday.
Tickets are $50 per car. Each ticket sold will pay for a year’s membership in the BGCSM for a deserving child between the ages of 6 and 18.
After 94 years of service, BGCSM remains a safe place for youth to learn, have fun and reach their full potential as change agents in their life, club and communities, the release by Emagine stated. By providing high quality youth development programs, BGCSM has reimagined the future of after-school learning and continues to stay agile and expand to better support the needs of our changing youth, ensuring that they are career, startup and homeowner ready.
“Since COVID-19 devastated our communities, BGCSM has continued to be that safe place for youth by safely providing summer camp programs, serving youth of essential workers, and most recently launching
The cast of “The Wiz” — Michael Jackson, left, Nipsey Russell, Diana Ross and Ted Ross — pose for a publicity shot in 1978 in New York. The movie directed by Sidney Lumet and produced by Universal Studios will be the feature presentation at the Sept. 23 fundraiser for the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan.
our affordable fall learning pods,” said Shawn Wilson, BGCSM president and CEO.
“The Wiz” starring Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, Ted Ross, and Nipsey Russell is a re-imaging of “The Wizard of Oz, set against an urban background with an African American cast. Dorothy is a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher from Harlem, who along with her dog Toto are lost in a snowstorm on the night of Thanksgiving and end up in the Land of Oz, which looks like a strangely surreal version of New York City. Dorothy learns the only way she can get home is to ease on down the road to see the Wiz. Along the way she meets a scarecrow made of garbage who wants a brain;
a Tin Man, who is a turnof-the-century mechanical carnie from Coney Island who wants a heart; and a lion who was banished from the jungle and must make his living as a statue in front of the main research branch of the New York Public Library. “The Wiz” is rated G.
“Emagine Theaters has been a longtime champion of BGCSM youth and the funds raised will help us remain agile in order to serve youth during these uncertain times,” Wilson added.
The show (Rated-G) begins at 8:15 p.m.