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interactive ❑
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West Bloomfield JCC to house theplanned Ford Motor
Company Center for Exploration and Discovery.
‘otioNtatemetweivmeNZOSINANCIPIL Miningrmw le m o g i n er\ :
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A
$2 million grant from the Ford Motor
Company Fund will bring a multimedia
Jewish education center to the Jewish
Community Center in West Bloomfield.
The contribution toward the Ford Motor
Company Center for Exploration and Discovery is
a part of the Millennium Campaign for Detroit's
Jewish Future, a multimillion-dollar fund-raising
initiative developed by the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit and its finance arm, the
United Jewish Foundation.
The major goals of the Millennium Campaign
are to fund programs that promote Jewish conti-
nuity and identity, and to transform the JCC into
a true "center" for culture and education.
The Ford Motor Company Center for
Exploration and Discovery, covering 3,500 square
feet, will be housed in the Harry and Jeanette
Weinberg Judaic Enrichment Center. The
Weinberg Center also will include the David B.
Hermelin ORT Resource Center, a 2,500-square-
foot interactive technology center. These three
entities bring together educational facilities, cur-
riculum and electronic communications.
The Ford Center will be near the main entrance
area of the JCC's D. Dan and Betty Kahn
Building, adjacent to the Janice Charach Epstein
Gallery.
The Ford Center, designed for non-Jews as
Related editorial: page 27
well, will include a series of interactive spaces,
demonstrations, artifacts, traveling exhibits and re-
enactments of Jewish history and culture.
"The Ford Motor Company Center for
Exploration and Discovery will dramatically
change the way people view the JCC as a destina-
tion of choice for quality time spent with the fam-
ily," said JCC President Sharon Hart.
"The Ford Center will be a conduit for infor-
mal Jewish education," she said. "It will enable
people of all faiths to visit the JCC, and to learn
about Judaism in a casual environment, outside of
the classroom."
The heart of the Ford Center is a hands-on
"Town Square," a gathering place where visitors
can walk around storefronts to observe and parti-
cipate in crafts and entertainment reflecting
Jewish culture from communities worldwide.
Other features will include a virtual bus tour,
transporting visitors to Jewish communities
throughout North America and the world; "The
Sharing Home," reflecting the centrality of the
family and demonstrating Judaism as a way of life;
"Under the Stars," an exhibit teaching visitors
about the influence of the lunar calendar on
Jewish life; and "Nature's Way," emphasizing man's
stewardship over the world and illustrating the
experience in the Garden of Eden.
It is anticipated that construction will begin
this fall and take about a year to finish.
"Ford Fund is proud of its relationship with the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit," said
Dr. Martin Zimmerman, group vice president of
corporate affairs at Ford. "Education is Ford
Fund's top priority, and this is an excellent oppor-
tunity to further metro Detroit's understanding of
Judaism and its culture."
The Ford grant is spread over two years.
Larry Jackier, president of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, said: "Not
only will the Ford Center for Exploration and
Discovery act as a magnet, attracting children and
community members to the Jewish Community
Center on an ongoing basis, but this grant is a
great example of the growing relationship between
Ford Motor Company and the Federation."
He added, "With Ford's grant, Federation is
seeing continued growth of its Partners Program,
which offers giving opportunities to the corporate
and foundation community."
Mark Hauser, the United Jewish Foundation's
president, echoed Jackier. "The Ford Center will
be a wonderful testament to the collaborative
efforts of many organizations and people from dif-
ferent background's. The United Jewish
Foundation, along with the Jewish Federation, is
thrilled to see the Millennium Campaign and the
JCC garnering such widespread support." ❑
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2002
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