Carol Cain in the Detroit Free Press yesterday covered Kelly Rossman-McKinney’s recent fundraiser for the Women’s Caring Program – featuring Governor/bartender Rick Snyder:
“I have been a single working mom most of my life and remember with great clarity the times I scrounged around for empty bottles in garbage cans so I could turn them in for the deposit money to help pay for child care,” said Rossman-McKinney, a divorced mother of four who has remarried.
It’s the third year Rossman-McKinney and her husband, Dave Thompson (who also has four children) have hosted the event at their Delta Township home. Over 250 movers and shakers — mostly women from Grand Rapids, Lansing and Detroit — gathered for the evening gala.
Snyder made a few remarks before suddenly putting on a bartender’s apron and announcing he would pour a glass of wine for anyone who would donate $1,000 to the organization.
“It was the best $1,000 glass of wine I ever had,” said Karole White, president and CEO of the Michigan Association of Broadcasters who was among the first to pony up.
“I had no idea the governor was going to offer his services as a bartender for hire,” said Rossman-McKinney. “ We raised an additional $5,000 in about five minutes thanks to his generosity.”
Rossman-McKinney and her husband ended up raising $35,000 for the organization.
