March 14, 2022 — The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan’s Kidney Ball, often called the most fun black tie event in metro Detroit, is back! The annual Kidney Ball starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, April 2, at the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Avenue in downtown Detroit. This signature fundraiser hosts hundreds of area business, healthcare and philanthropic leaders to support the NKFM’s many programs and services for preventing kidney disease and helping the over one million Michigan residents living with it. The NKFM expects to raise $375,000.
The evening features an open bar with delicious drinks and appetizers, unique live/silent auctions, dinner and dancing. Enjoy browsing along several hallways of over 150 eclectic silent auction items, including the popular Meijer Kids Room. Dinner at 7:30 p.m. is followed by a short program, hosted by Jason Carr from WDIV – Channel 4, and an exciting live auction. This year’s live auction offerings include a private chef’s dinner for eight at Iridescence, a dinner cruise on a 70-foot yacht, a Detroit Tigers Opening Day/Season Tickets package and much more. Afterwards, top off your night by visiting the late-nite coney dog station and dancing in the Sound Board to the band, 50 Amp Fuse. Regarding COVID, the NKFM will be following the latest CDC guidelines.
“We’re so happy to be back in-person at the Kidney Ball. We have missed seeing all our wonderful supporters and celebrating the programs and services that we offer across the state,” said Linda Smith-Wheelock, NKFM President and CEO. “The pandemic continues to highlight the health disparities in our communities, and we are doing all we can to meet those challenges with our long-term kidney disease plan.”
Co-Chairing the Kidney Ball are John Magee, MD, Professor of Surgery, Section Head of Transplant Surgery, and Director of the University of Michigan Transplant Center; Scott LaRiche, Executive Manager and Vice President, Lou LaRiche Chevrolet; and Loren Venegas, President, IDEAL Group.
Major sponsors include the Michigan Medicine/U-M Transplant Center, Meijer, Loren and Deb Venegas, the Artichoke Garlic Foundation, CareDX, Fresenius Kidney Care, General RV Center, Henry Ford Transplant Institute, Print-Tech, Molson Coors, MotorCity Casino, Natera, and VTC Insurance Group.
Tickets for the Kidney Ball are $350 per guest and are available at www.nkfm.org/kidneyball or by calling the NKFM at 800-482-1455.
