Dove Dinner 1999

Ecumenical Institute honors 3 community leaders for building interfaith bonds.

SHELLI DORFMAN
Editorial Assistant

W

d_le schools, both in West
Bloomfield. Blewett said the schools
have been actively involved in the
Ecumenical Institute Young
Ambassadors program, instituted in
honor of Deputy Superintendent
Faber.
The dinner, the Institute's prima-
ry fundraiser, is chaired by
Ecumenical Institute board member
Tarik Daoud, president of Al Long
Ford Inc., and Merton Segal, chair-
man and CEO of Meadowbrook
Insurance Group Inc.

ith a theme of "Making
a Difference," The
Ecumenical Institute
for Jewish-Christian
Studies, at its annual Dove Awards
dinner, has chosen to honor three
members of the Detroit community
who have done just that.
The Ecumenical Institute gives
the Dove Award to those who have
made significant contributions to
building bridges between Jews and
Christians in southeastern Michigan.
Awards will be presented this year to
Gary A. Faber, Ed.D., deputy super-
intendent of West Bloomfield
Schools; Rev. Lottie Jones-Hood,
Ed.D., pastor, First Congregational
Church of Detroit; and Frank D.
Stella, chairman, CEO and founder
of F.D. Stella Products Company in
Detroit. TDavid Blewett, executive
director of the Southfield-based
Ecumenical Institute, called the
three recipients, "outstanding indi-
viduals representing the educational,
religious and business communities."
He said they "exemplify the mission
of the Ecumenical Institute, which is
Gary A. Faber, deputy superinten-
to help Jews and Christians learn
dent, has served as administrator in
more about each other's beliefs with-
the West Bloomfield School District
out attempting to convert their reli-
for 16 years. He was West
gious practices.
Bloomfield High School principal
. Past recipients of the award
for 10 years. During his tenure as
include Temple Israel Rabbi M.
principal, the high school was pro-
Robert Syme, retired Anti-
claimed a National Exemplary
Defamation League/Michigan
Secondary School (1986 and 1992)
Region Executive Director Richard
and was twice selected as a state blue
Lobenthal, Temple Beth El Rabbi
ribbon-awarded high school.
Emeritus Richard Hertz,
Faber earned an educational doc-
Congregation Shaarey Zedek Rabbi
torate in curriculum development
Irwin Groner,
and leadership
Temple Kol Ami
from Wayne State
Rabbi Norman
University. His
Roman and
The 1999 Dove Awards
awards include
Adam Cardinal
Dinner is Thursday, April 29,
Michigan High
Maida.
at Congregation Shaarey
School Principal
In addition to
Zedek, 27375 Bell Road,
of the Year in
the three hon-
Southfield. The 6 p.m. recep-
1992 and the
orees, the
tion will be followed by dinner
Kennedy
Ecumenical
and the awards ceremony.
Center/Alliance
Institute will pre-
Ticket cost is $150 per person.
for Arts
sent a Youth
For reservations, call Barbara
Education School
Dove Award to
Yuhas, (248) 557-4522.
Administrator
Orchard Lake
Award (one of
and Abbott mid-
five awarded) in

❑

Gary A. Faber

4/23
1999

44 Detroit Jewish News

1989. The National Center for
School Safety recognized him as one
of 210 U.S. principals in 1988.
In 1993, the West Bloomfield
Clergy Association established the
Ecumenical Institute's Ambassadors
of Goodwill Program in Faber's
honor. The program involves young
people in churches, synagogues and
public and private schools.
Faber has just completed a term
as president of the Oakland County
Association of Assistant
Superintendents.
Faber serves on the boards of
Henry Ford Hospital in West
Bloomfield, Anti-Defamation
League/Michigan Region, West
Bloomfield Optimist Club and
Jewish Community Council of
Metropolitan Detroit. He is a for-
mer Temple Israel board member
and has volunteered for Project
Impact and Habitat for Humanity in
Homestead, Fla.

service and dining equipment corpora-
tion.
President Richard Nixon named the
Army Air Force veteran to the
Presidential Commission on Federal
Statistics in 1970-1971. President
Ronald Reagan named Stella to the
Commission for White House Fellows
in 1983 and 1991. He represented the
U.S. at the 40th anniversary of the
Liberation of Rome in 1984.
Stella served on national and state
Christopher Columbus
Quincentennial Commissions from'
1989-1992. In 1994, he served on
the Michigan International Year of
the Family Council.

Rev. Lottie Jones-Hood

Frank Stella

Frank Stella, chairman, CEO and
founder of the F.D. Stella Products
Company of Detroit, was one of the
earliest board members of the
Ecumenical Institute, also serving as its
treasurer from 1990-1992. He was co-
chair of the first Dove Dinner in 1994.
Stella has served several presidents of
the United States, worldwide political
and religious leaders and organizations,
public and private corporations, hospi-
tals, symphony orchestras, universities
and community colleges and, literally,
hundreds of thousands of children.
During his career, he was chairman
and CEO in 1985 of F.D. Stella
International Inc., a N.Y.-based food

The Rev. Lottie Jones-Hood, pastor of
First Congregational Church of Detroit,
became one of the first African
Americans to enter the John Robert
Powers Finishing School of Detroit and
later served as the first operator of a fin-
ishing school for young black women icy
Detroit. She trained as a court reporter
and became executive director and presi-
dent of the National Council of
Alcoholism and Drug Dependence in
the Detroit area.
In 1979, Jones-Hood created and
nurtured the substance abuse program
known as BABES (Beginning Alcohol
and Addictions Basic Education
Studies). The Mississippi native and
ordained minister is a life member of the
NAACP, president of the NX7SU College
of Lifelong Learning Alumni
Association, member of the Michigan
Neighborhood Association and
BRIDGES, African American Male
Health Initiative. She's an adjunct of the
Ecumenical Theological Seminary.