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Mazel
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FRIEND IN DEED

Hillel Day School presents Martin Goldman with its Dream Maker Award.

DIANA LIEBERMAN
Staff Writer

1,1 artin Goldman likes the spotlight, his friends say
— as long as it's on someone else.
So, when the many charitable organizations
he's helped support over the years have wanted to
reward him for his generosity, he's always declined, politely but
firmly.
But on June 3, the Bloomfield Hills philanthropist finally let
himself accept the thanks of the community at the annual dinner
of Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit. And, once again, it
was all in the name of tzedakah.
Along with his friend and business partner, the late David
Hermelin, Goldman has helped Hillel grow and prosper through
the Goldman-Hermelin Educational Foundation, which the pair
founded 16 years ago. In November 2001, a brain tumor took
Hermelin's life. The world lost a hero, Goldman said, and he per-
sonally lost one of his most valuable friends.
Hermelin's son, Brian, remembers how his father and Goldman
started the foundation "when the school was having some hard
times."
"While Marty has always been a generous philanthropist, he's
always opted to do it in private," said Brian Hermelin, who now
is Goldman's business partner.
"My mom [Doreen Hermelin] and my brother-in-law [outgo-
ing Hillel president Robert Orley] asked him to accept this
award, and he was gracious enough to say yes, hoping his name
would be a draw to make the event a success."
"The only person I couldn't say no to is Doreen Hermelin,"
Goldman admitted.
The dinner drew more than 800 people to Congregation
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield and, according to Brian Hermelin,
attracted new donors to the Farmington Hills school while
encouraging existing benefactors to renew, or even increase, their
donations.
Goldman received the school's Dream Maker Award, while
another behind-the-scenes Hillel benefactor, Anaruth Bernard,
was presented with the Rabbi Jacob Segal Award.

Footing The Bill

Clockwise from the left:

The idea for the Goldman-Hermelin Foundation was simple,
said A.J. Goldman, a son of the honoree.

Doreen Hermelin and Martin Goldman at the Hillel dinner.

Ti
N nrrn or

,

Brian Hermelin and former Hillel headmaster Rabbi Robert Abramson.

Dr. Mark Smiley, completing his final year as Hillel headmaster, congratulates eight-grade
speaker Jonathan Warsh of Bloomfield Hills.

6/20
2003

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