Til!,DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Friday, May 4, 1919 15
Coinmunal Support Aim of Association for Retarded
The Association for the Jewish retarded, the asso-
Jewish Retarded has ciation seeks financial and
launched an all-out drive to other forms of support from
gain community-wide sup- individuals and organiza-
port for its efforts to acquire tions within the Jewish
residences for retarded community.
adults.
Its "Buy a Brick" cam-
paign — in which pur-
chasers of a $50 "brick" re-
ceive a specially designed
certificate for themselves or
a named recipient — is the
focus of the undertaking.
Proceeds go toward the
AJR's residence program,
which alre o ady has achieved
some success with the estab-
lishment Of two Haverim
Homes and an apartment
program for retarded per-
sons who are capable of in-
SHARON ALTERMAN
dependent living.
The AJR has received
Many Jewish retarded
increasing recognition persons continue to live in
by agencies that deal sub-standard foster homes
with problems of re- in the inner city, or at home
tarded persons.
with aged parents who may
However, because of its be incapable of caring for
special concern for the their special needs, or in
other situations that are
presently or soon will be
unacceptable.
The AJR is a nonprofit
organization, comprised of
parents and relatives of re-
tarded persons, as well as
synagogues, organizations
and individuals who are in-
terested in the problems of
this special minority in the
Jewish community.
(It has been estimated
that persons with vary-
ing degrees of retarda-
tion make up 3 percent of
the Detroit Jewish com-
munity.)
The aim of the association
is to enrich the lives of these
persons and to provide a
service support system for
their families. Through the
establishment of residences
called Haverim (Friends)
Hoines — one in Detroit and
one in Oak Park — the asso-
ciation enables retarded in-
dividuals to grow in inde-
pendence and to take pride
in being an important part
of a family unit.
Besides the "Buy a Brick"
campaign, the AJR raises
funds through tributes for
memoriams, ,birthdays,
graduations, anniversaries
and other events. A special
tribute card is issued to the
donor or other named indi-
vidual.
Support for the associa-
tion has come from several
sources. On the 80th birth-
day of Joseph Tanzman —
first president of the asso-
ciation — his family and
friends created an AJR fund
in his name.
One couple's 40th an-
niversary provided the
occasion for yet another
substantial gift, from
their grandchildren.
Proving that concern for
the retarded has nothing to
do with age, Temple Israel's
youth group held a dance
marathon on behalf of the
AJR and raised more than
$500 for its programs.
Other organizations and
synagogue groups have
shown their interest by be-
coming active members of
the AJR and expressing
willingness to serve in an
advisory capacity.
Individual memberships
entitle the card holder to re-
ceive newsletters and other
information from the AJR,
as well as attend member-
ship meetings.
For information on the
Brick Fund, tributes and
membership, call the
AJR, 557-7650. Checks
may be sent to the Asso-
ciation for the Jewish Re-
tarded, 24525 Southfield,
Suite 107, Southfield,
48075.
Speakers also can be ar-
ranged for interested ,,rgan-
izations and synagogue
groups. A slide show of the
Haverim Homes and their
residents accompanies the
presentation. For ar-
rangements, call Cheryl
Guyer, 398-6565.
ti
I
* * *
The People Behind the AJR
The Association for the
Jewish Retarded was
formed in 1969 by -a group of
Jewish parents, acting out
of concern for the residents
of public institutions and
the dire conditions of exist-
ing group homes.
Utilizing the supportive
services of vocational re-
habilitation agencies and
the other social and rec-
reational outlets available
in the community, the AJR
set out to establish residen-
tial facilities for retarded
citizens in a Jewish
environment. Its first, on
Evergreen Road in Detroit,
was opened eight years ago.
Since then, the AJR's
growth has been notable. A
second home in Oak Park
was dedicated in December,
and an apartment program
has been functioning since
last fall.
and Executive Director
Joyce Keller. They are as-
sisted by a board of direc-
tors, whose membership in-
cludes:
vice
Sipher,
Ann
president; Robert Boesky,
financial secretary; Marcia
Bennett, recording secre-
tary; Evelyn Bider, corre-
sponding secretary; Sylvia
Schane, treasurer; Dr.
Gerald Berlin, Harry Ber-
lin, Morton Collins, Har-
riet Cooper, Charlotte Du-
bin, Trudy Gilmore, Claire
Kay, Adele Megdall, Sheila
Ordin, Davida Pappas,
Meyer Pearlman, Rhoda
Raderman, Joel Shere,
Anna Slomovitz, Bernard
Sukenic, Joseph Tanzman,
Norman Wachler and Dr.
Elliot Wagenheim.
Serving on the staff are
resident house managers
Faye and Jeff Schreiber,
Evergreen, and Louise
Thompson, Oak Park.
Sherri Alter serves as
apartment coordinator.
Additional services are
being added and new re-
sidences explored as fi-
nancial resources are
made available.
Behind all the activity is Support staff includes
an organization of 300 Shelly Konheim, Miriam
member families, headed by Lifschitz, Debby Platt and
President Sharon Alterman Sherri and Tom Schamante.
* * *
All in a Day's Work .
A recent issue of the AJR
Newsletter described this
typical routine for residents
of the two Haverim Homes:
"Imagine a weekly
routine of attending a pro-
gram by day (Jewish Voca-
tional Service, New Hori-
zons, Oakland County MR
Center, Detroit Association
for Retarded Citizens, or
Phoenix Place).
"Evenings are spent
attending Ferndale High
School (Evergreen), par-
ticipating in a crafts pro-
gram (Oak Park) and the
Thursday Night Social
Group (Jewish Community
Center)."
In addition to a party
and a theater night at the
Fisher with the JCC pro-
gram, "all of our resi-
• •
dents had the choice of
attending a college hoc-
key game, the 'Bugs
Bunny Follies' at Cobo
Hall, a bowling . after-
noon, the Auto Show and
several movies.
At Haverim Home
the Sabbath
Is for Celebrating
There are two warm and loving "families"
in the two Detroit area residences established
by the Association for the Jewish Retarded
WITH
YOUR,
GIFT
OF
HOPE
"Don't forget in-house
birthday parties, shopping
trips, grooming and hygiene
programs, maintaining
bedrooms and day-to-day
chores. Also doctor and de-
ntist appointments, a
weekend visit home, guests
for dinner, jigsaw puzzles
and board games."
— a contribution to the AJR Brick Fund, a tribute in the name of a
loved one, or a membership in the Association —
Now the group is looking
forward to a five-day trip to
Chicago under the auspices
of the Jewish Center with
support from Northwest
Child Rescue Women.
Association for the Jewish Retarded
You can help the AJR in its efforts to build additional residential
homes and better the lives of retarded persons in our community.
24525 Southfield Road, Suite 107
557-7650
Southfield, Michigan 48075
■ IMINI ■ 1111 ■•■ ••It