DVS Honors Four
Local Companies

Give your CD
a wake-up call,

6 MONTH

For complete details, call us at 248 358 5170
We can even open your account by phone.

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Franklin Bank

THE NEW THINKING IN BANKING FOR BUSINESS

Phone: (248) 358-5170

Southfield • Birmingham • Grosse Pointe Woods

http://www.franklinbank.com

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10/20
2000

116

*Annual

Percentage Yield et tective as ot I0/05/00. Subject to change.
Minimum balance to obtain the staled An is 51,000. Fees could reduce
FDIC.
earning,s. Penalty fur early ■vithd rawa.. Member FDIC

our local employers
were honored last
month by Jewish
Vocational Service.
Spotlighted at JVS' annual
meeting were Big Lots stores,
which received the
Community Integration
Award; Lear Corporation in
Southfield, Contractor of the
Year Award; Marketing
Displays International (MDI)
in Farmington Hills,
Employer of the Year Award;
and Mercy Network-Central
of Pontiac and Mercy
Network-West of Walled
Lake, a division of St. Joseph
Mercy Oakland, Community
Partner Award.
"We salute the many busi-
nesses and organizations that
JVS board member Liz Kanter Groskind presents
have given refugees, people
the Employer of the Year Award to Robert
with disabilities and other job
Sarkisian, president of Marketing Displays
seekers the chance to prove
International.
they are valuable employees,"
said Barbara Nurenberg, presi-
dent and chief executive offi-
and to function more independently.
cer of Southfield-based JVS.
Many of the participants are earning
Big Lots was honored for helping
paychecks for the first time.
to integrate people with severe dis-
MDI, an international manufac-
abilities into the community. Big Lots
turer of display fixtures and signs, was'
gives people with disabilities the
recognized for providing opportuni-
chance to become independent and
ties for refugees and unemployed
contributing members of the work-
workers. For the past seven years, the
force.
company has worked with JVS to
Several Big Lots stores have
provide employment opportunities to
worked closely with JVS to hire peo-
refugees from the former Soviet
ple with special needs for pricing,
Union. Although these New
stock, and other positions. In addi-
Americans have limited English skills
tion, they have also allowed JVS to
and knowledge of the American
conduct on-site assessments where
workforce, MDI is supportive of such
people with special needs can try out
individuals, who now comprise nearly
actual jobs to help them gauge their
25 percent of its staff.
skills, interests and abilities.
Mercy Network-Central and

Sheltered Work

Lear Corporation, a supplier of auto-
motive interior systems, was honored
for its contributions to the vocational
success of workers with disabilities
who are employed in the JVS shel-
tered workshop. The work provided
by Lear helps people with limited
abilities to develop work-related skills

Mercy Network-West were honored
for providing mental-health services
in collaboration with JVS. This has
allowed hundreds of people with
mental illness to secure employment.
JVS vocational counselors work at
Mercy Network to help clients assess
their work abilities, explore employ-
ment options and develop .a vocation-
al plan of action. 7