Bah-Humbug: Birmingham Nonprofits Bicker Over Holiday Events

BIRMINGHAM, MI – An apparent feud between two nonprofits will mean fewer kids and their families will be able to partake in a local holiday tradition this year. The riff between the Birmingham Youth Assistance organization and The Community House also could leave people confused over the location for an event slated for Dec. 2.

In past years, up to 350 kids and parents went to the Birmingham Youth Center’s “Breakfast With Santa” event. This year, organizers expect about 160 attendees. The organization’s treasurer, Richard Stasys, says the lower number is because the group had to move the event to a smaller venue, at the St. James Episcopol Church on West Maple Road.

Previously, the event was at The Community House on South Bates Street. That organization, however, informed the Youth Center last summer that it wanted to go “in a new direction,” Stasys said, and that the organization would have to move its event elsewhere.

"They indicated that they had other things booked" for the Dec. 2 date, Stasys said. "We decided to just move it."

Turns out, The Community House introduced a competing program of its own, called "Nibble At The North Pole," which was scheduled for the same date. And, Stasys noted the event followed the same format.
"It caught us off-guard," Stasys said. "We’re both providing services for kids."

In another odd twist, The Community House’s "Nibble At The North Pole" was canceled on Wednesday, said Gigi Nichols, spokeswoman for The Community House. Bill Seklar, the organization's executive director issued a statement, saying the decision to cancel the event was done "in the spirit of giving and friendship" and "out of a deep respect and deference to the Birmingham Youth Assistance."

Seklar was not available on Thursday for further comment.

Meantime, however, those who registered for "Nibble At The North Pole" have been notified of its cancellation, Nichols said. And, if those folks want to go to the Birmingham Youth Center's "Breakfast With Santa," they are more than welcome to go, she said.

Asked about how much money the event raises, Stasys said the "Breakfast With Santa" event typically breaks even. He did not have expense and revenue figures available for the event, he said.

According to 2016 tax documents filed with the Internal Revenue Service, the organization raised a total of $55,550, including $10,443 came from events. In comparison, IRS documents show The Community House had revenue of $3.9 million and expenses of $3.7 million in 2015, its most recent filing.

File image by Alexander Koerner / Getty Images Stringer