Night of Warm Hearts 2022
November 4th, 2022
Friday, November 4th
VIP Reception to begin at 5:30 pm
General Reception to begin at 6:15 pm
Dinner & Program to begin at 7:00 pm
Theme: Night of Warm Hearts Gala: Laughter Warms the Heart
Location: MGM Grand Detroit, 1777 3rd Ave, Detroit, MI 48226
The 2022 Week of Warmth (October 29th – November 4th) concludes with THAW’s annual Night of Warm Hearts Gala event, an evening that celebrates THAW’s impact, services, and commitment to Michigan residents.
The 2022 Night of Warm Hearts: Laughter Warms the Heart will include dinner, dancing, exciting silent, and live auction, and an engaging program to share THAW’s excellent work throughout Michigan as well as provide the opportunity to honor a trio of dynamic awardees.
AwardeesPreview the Live Auction lots, and start bidding on Silent Auction items now!
AuctionEntertainment
Comedy by J Smiles
Comedian J Smiles is an engineer, designer, lawyer, entrepreneur and caregiver buoyed by humor.
This polymath’s life shifted overnight when her father’s abrupt death thrust her mom into early onset Alzheimer’s. She halted everything, choosing caregiving.
Stressed by her new life, she stumbled into a comedy class. Standup returned joy to her soul. A vivid high energy story-teller, she enjoys getting diverse audiences to laugh together on divisive topics. Keenly observational, having lived in Europe and Africa; degreed from Howard and Stanford; employed at Fortune 500s and privates — her perspective is vast. Fans laugh and learn at a her shows.
The Conscious Comic, has performed in the Bahamas, Italy, South Korea and throughout the USA. Based in Atlanta with a virtual studio, celebrities and corporations trust her phunny and her professionalism. A few of her clients include: NBC Universal, American Heart Association, Howard University, Jack and Jill of America, Inc., The Yacht Week, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., National Medical Association, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and Stardome Comedy Club.
J’s inaugural USA tour sold out. Smiles toured with Guy Torry and Faizon Love, performed on Tom Joyner’s Fantastic Voyage (Carnival Cruises) and shared the stage with George Wallace, Gary Owen, Luenell, Chris Spencer, Kim Coles, Rodney Perry, Kim Whitley and Shuler King, among others.
Parenting Up! Caregiving Adventures with Comedian J Smiles is a podcast that merges hardship and humor with listeners on every continent. The Alzheimer’s Association and Seth Rogen’s HFC seek J regularly for her unique brand for honest, uplifting comedy.
The Montgomery, AL native owns the nation’s largest private multi-sport collection of game worn authenticated memorabilia, The Jock Michael Smith Collection (TJMSC), LLC. Her partnership with the Smithsonian (NMAAHC) is the singular reason a sports gallery exists in the globally recognized museum.
When she is not serving-up silly or giving care, she is using her passport (stamps from every continent), mentoring, scuba diving or learning something new. The Super Auntie, she has 11 godchildren.