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CH.AMPION from page 65

"We are delighted that our incom-
ing president is coming from Detroit
and carrying on the tradition of lead-
ership from that community," says
Richard Siegel, NFJC executive direc-
tor. "The Detroit Federation has been
one of the stalwart supporters of our
organization.
"We're excited that Jim is president
as the foundation is expanding its
presence in communities across the
country and influencing the commu-
nal priority of renaissance and renew-
al. His experience and expertise in
marketing and communication will be
valuable in expressing the foundation's
message."
August, who graduated from
Cranbrook Schools and the Medill
School of Journalism at Northwestern
University, holds a master's degree in
business administration from the
University of Michigan. After working
at Simons Michaelson Advertising, he
moved on to the Doner Agency before
joining with Ron Stone for 30 years
and serving as president of Stone,
August, Medrich & Co.
Cultural institutions, such as the
Detroit Symphony Orchestra, have
been very important to August's client
base. When he headed up his own
marketing firm, there was a division
devoted to nonprofit organizations,
which mostly were cultural.
"My family is a longtime communi-
ty family, and it was just natural for
me to become involved," says August,
who intends to maintain his commit-
ment to other Jewish organizations,
including the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency and the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, as well as
ArtServe Michigan, which promotes
all kinds of cultural programs without
regard to ethnic considerations.
"My grandfather was on the board
of governors of Federation, and my
father was on the first medical execu-
tive committee of Sinai Hospital. My
mother was president of the Women's
Division of Federation."
August also has had leadership posts
with Congregation Shaarey Zedek,
Congregation Beth Shalom, the Jewish
Vocational Service and ORT.
George (Mike) Zeltzer, a founding
NFJC member and former president
active in the Detroit community,
introduced August to the organiza-
tion he is about to head.
"Jim always has been active in the
cultural world," says Zeltzer, who
thinks of the growth of Jewish studies
programs across the country as one of
the foundation's greatest achievements.
"When Jim takes a job, he becomes

5/25
2001

68

dedicated to it, and he has a good
understanding how communities work
through organizations."
Close to home over the past year,
audiences saw NFJC stage the presen-
tation of the Pilobolus Dance Theater
in Ann Arbor and the Carolyn
Dorfman Dance Co. in both perform-
ance and workshops at various metro
sites. In addition, the foundation
sponsored several films at this year's
Jewish Community Center Lenore
Marwil Jewish Film Festival.
Recent NFJC programs, attended by
August in other parts of the country,
offered support to Trembling Before God,
a film about Orthodox gays and les-
bians, and See Under: Love, a new Corey
Fischer play confronting the profound
effects of the Holocaust on the modern
psyche. The foundation also helped
sponsor a tribute to comedian Sid
Caesar, a pioneer in television comedy.
"I like the enormous menu of activi-
ties by artists and scholars that taps
into the Jewish experience and is very
meaningful," says August, one of the
founding members of the Jewish
Ensemble Theatre, housed at the West
Bloomfield Jewish Community
Center. "If we took everything off our
agenda, we could fill it up again with
projects that are standing around wait-
ing and just as meaningful.
"The playwright and actress Donna
Blue Lachman, who did a perform-
ance of The Thirst: A One-Woman Play
for Jew and Clarinet in Chicago, is one
of the many NFJC-sponsored Jewish
artists to watch."
August, who saw Lachman's

"People support what
we do by enjoying Jewish
cultural work and
understanding the
relevance of Jewishness
to how they experience
art," says August.

funny and soulful examination of what it
is to be an American Jew at the end of
the 20th century, is devoted to JET pro-
ductions.
"The foundation is very lucky to
have Jim as president," says Evelyn
Orbach, JET artistic director. "He's
both positive and productive and
never takes any issue as a downfall.
"A group had been meeting about
the founding of JET for two years
before we actually started, and once
Jim came on board, things began hap-
pening. He has been respected and
trusted for his leadership, became our
first president and was a tremendous
force in the formation of JET"
August and his wife, Doris, have
opened their Bloomfield Hills home to
NFJC programs and supporters. When
composer-musician Frank London was
in the area for a performance, the
Augusts hosted a reception for him.
"Frank's background is in African-
American music, but his exposure to
our activities has enabled him to
understand that there's a lot that's
Jewish about what he does," August
says. "He has things to say to Jewish
audiences, and he has things to say to
general audiences that reflect his
Jewish experience. His name is anoth-
er to watch."
Robert Frankel, NFJC board chair-
man, touts August's talents in tapping
into financial resources, including
endowment plans. There's a lot to cover.
In 1999, the NFJC awarded
$700,000 in grants for
artists, scholars and cul-
tural institutions;

$120,000 in graduate fellowships;
$150,000 for film completion;
$30,000 for new play commissions;
and $300,000 for projects at archive
centers and libraries.
"We always need to raise funds, and
Jim has been good at that," Frankel
says." He's a terrific advocate as the
foundation has been growing out of its
container. Jim took the lead in
redesigning our newsletter, which has
become a news magazine distributed
to 35,000 readers, and he changed the
quality and appearance of our Web
site (www.jewishculture.org)."
Robert Aronson, chief executive offi-
cer of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, also values
August's financial insights. The two
recently worked together in bringing the
Doilman dance program to Michigan.
"Jim has helped in the development
of our marketing strategy, and he has
reached out to new constituencies,"
Aronson says. "He's one of our best
leaders because he has a sense of what
communities want and can establish
new relationships."
Lynn Korda Kroll, outgoing NFJC
president, has been working closely with
August to effect a smooth transition.
"Jim brings a rare combination of a
true commitment to and enjoyment of
the arts with business experience and
acumen," she says. "He also has a
belief in and understanding of the fed-
eration system. As we have worked on
the transition, I've become impressed
with the way he thinks things
through."
Besides scouting financial support
from his base community, August
hopes to promote interest in the aes-
thetic opportunities offered by NFJC-
funded artists and events.
"People support what we do by
enjoying Jewish cultural work and
understanding the relevance of
Jewishness to how they experience
art," says August, who made cultural
experiences important to his three
sons.
"As an institution, we need that, but
the institution is not as important as
the focus. The Jewish cultural enter-
prise is what's important, and you sup-
port that by going to theater, listening
to music, buying books, visiting gal-
leries and being conscious of it and
recognizing its value.
"What has the biggest payoff is
increasing access of Jewish audiences
to Jewish artists and scholars and
access to Jewish audiences by artists
and scholars. My focus is going to be
on programs and activities that
enhance access." O

