wk ,*
=En
JCA' VASS, USA.
Woman Power
Five local activists will be honored by the Anti-Defamation League.
LONNY GOLDSMITH
Staff Writer
IV
hen the clocks moved an
hour ahead earlier this
month, Joyce Keller said
she couldn't afford to
lose the time.
That type of dedication is what
the Anti-Defamation League will
salute when Keller and four others
re honored at the second annual
Women of Achievement Dinner, on
April 21, at the St. John's Armenian
Church and Conference Center in
Southfield.
"It's such a tremendous honor to
get the award, since so few women
have been chosen for it," said Keller,
executive director of the Jewish
Association for Residential Care
ARC), which operates group and
individual homes for developmentally
disabled adults.
Keller's resume reaches far beyond
the walls of JARC. She
was a founding mem-
ber of Forgotten
Harvest and served on
its board, as well as the
boards of the Coalition
or Temporary Shelter
and Angel's Place,
developing a program
similar to JARC's in
the Catholic commu-
nity.
In 1995, President
Bill Clinton appointed
her to the President's
Committee on Mental
etardation. Last
month, Gov. John
Engler appointed
Keller to the
Community Health
Advisory Board.
"I see the ADL and
I JARC having a similar fight and mis-
sion and passion," Keller said.
1 "Without very active advocacy, people
get shorted. Both groups make sure
people aren't treated badly."
Said dinner co-chair Cheryl
Bloom, "Joyce is working for a very
important, very worthwhile organiza-
tion for a piece of the community
that is under-represented. Because
JARC's so successful, she's taken
those skills and shared with other
organizations."
Also being honored by the ADL
are: Eleanor Josaitis, the co-founder of
Focus: HOPE; Denise Ilitch Lites, a
co-founder of the Lovelight
Foundation; and Betty Maple, the
national director of diversity for
Deloitte & Touche LLP. A lifetime
achievement award will be presented
to Helen Milliken, wife of former
Michigan Gov. William Milliken, and
she will speak about current concerns
in the women's movement.
Milliken was first lady of Michigan
from 1968-1982, and was an advocate
for women's rights and the environ-
ment.
In 1977 and 1985, she was a
Michigan delegate at the International
Women's Year Conference, and from
1978-1982, she was co-chair of
ERAmerica.
Currently, Milliken sits on the
board of directors for the Michigan
Nature Conservancy, Planned
Parenthood and the Women's
Resource Center of Traverse City.
Right: JARC Executive
Director Joyce Keller.
GARFIELD & MARKS
JOAWDAVID
&Ida
HANDBAGS & BELTS
Cyd & Sarnm
& More!
INSIDE
ORCHARD MALL
West Bloomfield
Orchard Lake Rd.
North of Maple
248-626-0886
\l
'OesownirmmomlareW
_A Ileikhoriwod Center
with
• _Attitude
Bottom: Lifetime
Achievement Award
recipient Helen
Milliken.
• Styl
• Convenience
• 40 Sizopd-S) ervice3
•.1,4,1
b.... #.1
• v...
OR
WEST BLOOMFIELD • MICHIGAN
Orchard Lake Road • North of Maple
(248) 851-7727
1
NATIONWIDE
INSURANCE
NATIONWIDE IS
BY YOUR SIDE
41 All
the women are very giving of
themselves in their professional and
volunteer lives," said Nancy Bechek,
ADL development director. "These
honorees work to build bridges
throughout the community."
The five were chosen from a pool
of 30 nominees, said Bloom. "We're
lucky to live in a community with so
many women to choose from," she
said.
Last year's honorees were Susan
York, Jane Thomas, Brenita Crawford
and Dalia Garcia, with Mildred Jeffrey
earning the first lifetime achievement
award. ❑
For tickets to the ADL Women of
Achievement dinner, call the ADL
at (248) 355-3730.
Jeffrey
Kaplan
Agency
(248) 539-070
Sll(11P IRE{
Orditrdik.. Rd.
West Sled
4/17
1998
21