Fundraisers with ‘Days of Our Lives’ stars benefit DNR Outdoor Adventure Center

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2015

Contact: Jeanne Micallef (IMJ Communications), 313-757-7567 or
Linda Walter (DNR), 313-396-6876


DNR Outdoor Adventure Center partners with Michigan Positivity Project,
Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps to help Detroit-area youth

Fundraising events hosted by ‘Days of Our Lives’ stars Shawn Christian and
Arianne Zucker set for July 31-Aug. 2 in Northville

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Outdoor Adventure Center has joined forces with The Michigan Positivity Project and Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps to bring a youth-mentoring program to downtown Detroit.

A series of fundraising events – hosted by Michigan native and "Days of Our Lives" star Shawn Christian and his co-star Arianne Zucker – are scheduled for July 31-Aug. 2 in downtown Northville, in conjunction with the Buy Michigan Now Festival. Proceeds from the fundraising events will go toward the opening of Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps (which help at-risk children) at the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center. Tickets are now on sale at www.arrow-heart.com/events.

“This partnership will enable the Outdoor Adventure Center to offer a free, high-quality youth-mentoring program for teens, which is one of our goals,” said DNR Outdoor Adventure Center Director Linda Walter. “These events will help jump-start the funding needed for this program.”

In partnership with The Michigan Positivity Project, Christian and Zucker are working to bring Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps’ mentoring program to children in Detroit at the Outdoor Adventure Center. Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps is committed to enriching the lives of young teens through challenging outdoor adventures. The program inspires kids to want to make better choices and to build character, confidence, credibility and critical thinking skills. Each child also is required to do service work in his or her community as a component of the program.

“As soon as I met Shawn and heard him speak so passionately about how the Arrow-Heart program helped kids get exposure to the great outdoors while building character and leadership skills, I knew we needed to bring that program to Michigan. Detroit’s new Outdoor Adventure Center provides the perfect home for the program,” said Lisa Diggs, founder of The Michigan Positivity Project and Buy Michigan Now.

“I feel so privileged to work with these incredible organizations. Buy Michigan Now, The Michigan Positivity Project and the Outdoor Adventure Center's generosity, kindness and confidence in Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps help us toward our mission to build a healthy and enriching community for teens in Detroit,” said Arianne Zucker, co-founder of Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps.

"I'm grateful for the inspirational forces of family and friends in Michigan who have given me the tools to experience the adventurous life I have now as an actor and producer. I want to pay the adventure forward. I'm so proud of the team we've assembled to empower the Detroit youth through Arrow-Heart Adventure Camps,” said Shawn Christian.

Those who want to support Arrow-Heart Detroit and The Michigan Positivity Project can join Christian and Zucker for the following fundraising events:

• Shindig at the Shop (Friday, July 31, 7-10 p.m.): Mix, mingle and explore Northville’s new Village Workshop, a multilevel hub of creativity and innovation, while enjoying local food and beverages and live entertainment and watching creative projects come to life. Every ticket comes with a free souvenir made on site at the Village Workshop. Tickets are $35 in advance and $40 at the door.
  
  
• Special movie screening of “Spanners” and Q&A with star Shawn Christian (Saturday, Aug. 1, 3 p.m.): A unique opportunity for sci-fi movie fans to catch a private screening of the award-winning film “Spanners” at the Emagine Theatre Novi. The screening will be followed by a 30-minute Q&A with Christian. Tickets ($12) are available for purchase online.
  
  
• Toast of Michigan Wine and Beer Tasting (Saturday, Aug. 1; VIP 6-7 p.m. and general admission 7-10 p.m.): Sample the many wine and beer offerings at the event space located inside Northville Square. Tickets are $50 in advance and $60 at the door and include light hors d’oeuvres, eight tasting tickets, dessert bar, live entertainment and a silent auction.
  
  
• Brunch with a Heart (Sunday, Aug. 2, 10 a.m. to noon): Guests can enjoy brunch with Christian and Zucker in a more intimate setting at the Garage Grill & Fuel Bar. This unique 1940s-era building was converted from a body shop to a cool restaurant with spectacular food. Brunch will be served buffet-style in a private room. Tickets are $45 in advance. There will be no day-of-event purchases available.

A VIP weekend pass, available for purchase for $200, includes admission to all three weekend events (Shindig at the Shop Friday, Toast of Michigan Wine and Beer Tasting Saturday, and Brunch with a Heart Sunday). The weekend pass also includes access to the VIP reception Saturday, which will include drinks and light hors d’oeuvres and a gift bag.

To purchase individual event tickets and VIP weekend pass tickets in advance or get more event information, visit www.arrow-heart.com/events. For more information about the Buy Michigan Now Festival, visit www.buymichigannowfest.com.

Learn more about the DNR Outdoor Adventure Center at www.michigan.gov/oac or www.facebook.com/MiOutdoorAdventureCenter.