Warming Haven's Hearts on Valentine's Day

Contributed by: Nancy Sechrist

The “season of giving” never really stops when the holidays are over.  There is a need for help and assistance throughout the year: winter, spring, summer and fall.  Over the last few weeks, The Center Team has come together to make 30 fleece blankets for the women and mothers at a women’s shelter called Haven in Oakland County. Haven offers a comprehensive program for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault and provides shelter, counseling, advocacy and educational programming.

The Center’s Creativity and Charitable Committee, along with other Center Team members spent time together cutting and tying knots of soft and colorful fleece material to make warm blankets.  We all know how good it feels when you receive something handmade - whether it’s a picture drawn by your grandchild or a knitted scarf – what makes it special is that somebody took the time to make something unique for you.  The blankets will be delivered to the women as a Valentine’s Day surprise, with the hope that these blankets will brighten and uplift the women at Haven to give them comfort, warmth, and knowing they are cared about.

As Author Leo Buscaglia wrote, "Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."

With hopes that all are kept warm and safe during this cold winter season…

Nancy Sechrist is the Office Manager at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

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Raymond James is not affiliated with Haven.

Our 30th Anniversary Party at Ford Field

Contributed by: Nancy Sechrist

This coming Sunday is Opening Day at Ford Field.  It was just a few short months ago that we were celebrating an event of our own on the Lion’s big stage, so we thought we’d do a little bit of reminiscing…

When you’re celebrating 30 years serving clients, you have to do it in a big way. Around here, there’s not much bigger than the home of the Detroit Lions, Ford Field.  About 300 of our clients, Center team members, and family helped us celebrate. Entertainment included talented musicians, a magician, a juggler, and caricature artists. The fun performers and the delicious food gave an old Detroit nostalgic feel to what we called the “Street Fair” themed event. A photographer used green screen technology to help guests create their own photos to take home.  And the Detroit Lion’s mascot Roary wandered around showing off his sense of humor and taking pictures with everyone. Many also enjoyed a tour of Ford Field. Some of us even got to have a little fun throwing a football around right on the field itself before the party started. 

We also had an additional reason to celebrate … the retirement of two of the founders of the company, Marilyn Gunther and Dan Boyce. Enough can’t be said about the genuine gift of guidance, direction, accomplishments, and mentoring that Dan and Marilyn have given. We credit them for building The Center up from scratch and passing on the real meaning of the soul of the company. In the beautiful, sunlit atrium, Tim Wyman delivered a gracious presentation thanking the founders as well as our clients for making The Center what it is today.

Nancy Sechrist is the Office Manager at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.