THE STAND GASTRO BISTRO HOSTS HAPPY HOUR FOR HOPE TO BENEFIT CASTRO FAMILY AND NEW DAY FOUNDATION, MAY 19

John Kelly, owner of The Stand Gastro Bistro in Birmingham, Mich., believes that a restaurant can be much more to the community than simply a place to eat. Through his restaurant, Kelly strives to support local artists, contribute to his community and create a sense of family amongst employees.

It is this sense of community that propelled him to take action after Ricardo Castro, a former employee, suddenly lost his wife, Ana, to cancer over the holidays. Ana, just 37-years-old, left behind four boys between the ages of five and sixteen, when she passed away just over three months ago. Today, Kelly is stepping up to not only help the family financially, but also bring awareness to the New Day Foundation for Families, a metro Detroit charity that helps ease the emotional and financial burdens of families facing cancer.

Happy Hour for Hope will be held Thursday, May 19, from 6 -9 p.m. at The Stand Gastro Bistro, 34977 Woodward Ave. in Birmingham. The event will benefit the New Day Foundation for Families and the Castro family. Enjoy a strolling dinner, a premium open bar and live music by Grace Elizabeth Lee for $50 per person. Executive Chef Paul Grosz will feature an array of dishes including braised beef short ribs, eggplant involtini, and brussel sprout quinoa salad. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.foundationforfamilies.org/happy-hour-for-hope/ and VIP corporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Call (248) 494-0436 for more information.

“We are pleased to participate in this fundraiser, and we hope it will serve to build awareness of our mission to help reduce the financial and emotional burdens that families facing cancer must endure,” said Gina Kell Spehn, executive director of New Day Foundation for Families. “We know that crushing expenses, fear and stress do not discriminate when cancer strikes. Families like the Castros can be devastated by a cancer diagnosis. We can be the first light of hope by providing emotional support programs and immediate financial assistance.”

All ticket sales and donations for the Happy Hour for Hope will be doubled because the event falls during the foundation’s Hope-a-Thon fundraising drive. The Hope-a-Thon is a matching gift challenge to raise money for the New Day Foundation for Families. Every donation made during the Hope-a-Thon will be matched by New Day donors, up to $100,000. The goal is to raise a total of $200,000 by May 20 to fund New Day programs across metro Detroit. #NDHopeathon

The New Day Foundation for Families, a 2016 Top-Rated NonProfit by GreatNonprofits and Silver Level Guidestar organization, is a Rochester, Michigan, non-profit organization dedicated to helping families who have children under the age of 18 in the home as they face the many physical, emotional, and financial challenges that accompany the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. The Families First program seeks to alleviate financial burdens in order to provide hope and stability in the midst of crisis, often providing rent or mortgage, auto or home repair, utility payments, counseling services, cleaning services, grocery and fuel gift cards. Connect with New Day on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About The Stand Gastro Bistro

The Stand Gastro Bistro opened its doors at 34977 Woodward Ave., in downtown Birmingham, Michigan, in 2013 providing a rustic but refined take on modern American cuisine. Executive Chef Paul Grosz and General Manager John Kelly focus on serving fresh, high quality ingredients from local, organic farms, and partnering with Michigan craft breweries, boutique wineries and local artisans. Guests of The Stand are warmly welcomed to experience this inventive metro Detroit dining destination for lunch, dinner or special events. For more information, please visit thestandbistro.com. Connect with @StandBirmingham on Twitter, Instagram and on Facebook.