Hearts of Gold

Two Jewish
volunteers
earn
United Way's
most
prestigious
award.

BILL CARROLL
Special to the Jewish News

F

6 44

ern Katz and Nathan .
Shiovitz have only a few
things in common. They
both live in Southfield
and are outstanding volunteers in
the Jewish community who will be
honored Wednesday, April 25, when
they receive Heart of Gold Awards
from the United Way Community
Services.
Other than that, Katz and
Shiovitz are as different as day and
night.
She's a widow with two sons and
four grandchildren, very outspoken
and communicative, a public speaker
and an activist involved in several
high-profile organizations. He's never
been married, feels uncomfortable
talking about himself and spends
almost all of his time in the quiet

confines of hospitals, nursing homes
and residences taking care of dying
people.
Fifteen volunteers from southeast-
ern Michigan will be honored in five
award categories at a 2001 Celebrate
Volunteers Luncheon at Cobo
Center in Detroit. Katz and Shiovitz
are among eight to get the coveted
Heart of Gold Awards presented to
"outstanding individuals known for
their personal contribution and dedi-
cation to making a significant differ-
ence in the community."
The National Council of
Jewish Women (NCJW) nomi-
nated Katz for her volunteerism
in human, civil and women's
rights. Shiovitz was nominated by
the Jewish Family Service (JFS),
with support from Beaumont
Hospice, for his commitment,
passion and dedication to hospice
patients and their families.

Always An Activist

"My husband used to say I always
seemed to be going in many direc-
dons at one time," Katz reflected,
"and I guess that's still .true. If you
want to be a volunteer, it simply
requires many hours of your time
each week in order to do it right."
Born in Detroit, Katz, 73, gradu-
ated from Central High School
(Class of 1945) before obtaining a
physics degree at Wayne State
University, then a teaching certifi-
cate. After her marriage, she lived in
Oak Park and taught math there for
27 years, retiring in 1992.
For NCJW, Katz served a stint as
vice president of administration and
finance and helped launch the orga-
nization's computer system. Now, as
associate treasurer, she does the pay-
roll for the 18 employees at two
thrift shops. She also was chairper-

son of NCJW's Court-Appointed
Special Advocate (CASA) program
in conjunction with Oakland
County Probate Court.
"Fern is a tireless advocate for all
of the issues that NCJW stands for,"
declared Linda Bloom, president of
NCJW's Greater Detroit Section.
"She's out there in the community
discussing the rights of women, chil-
dren and families. She speaks out for
all of them."
Katz's forte is her activism in
human and women's rights. She
serves as national board member and
secretary for Women's Action for
New Directions (WAND), orga-
nized to empower women to act
politic lly
She belongs to the Women's
Legislative Lobby (WILL), geared to
giving women a bigger voice and
more of an influence in legislative
matters, and to encouraging young

4/20

2001