Lifetime Service

Two couples earn high Federation honors for volunteer achievement.

A

t the June board meeting of
the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit,
Margot and Warren Coville and
Shirley and Merle Harris were hon-
ored as the 2004 recipients of
Federation's Lifetime Achievement
Award, the community's recognition
for outstanding volunteer service.
In his reflections to the board and
guests of the Coville-Triest and
Harris families, Federation President
Lawrence Jackier remarked that the
award is given as a "small measure to
pay tribute to those whose spirit of
volunteerism, dedication and leader-
ship warrant our deepest gratitude."

The Covilles

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"Margot and Warren Coville have
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shared an extraordinary life together,
chance at happiness.
demonstrating over and again their faith that indi-
A "career volun-
viduals have great capacity for achievement when
teer," she has given
given a chance," said Jackier.
generously of her
In 1987, Warren Coville promised 78 fifth-graders
time — over 11,000
at Roosevelt Elementary School, the elementary
hours at Children's
school he had attended, that if they graduated from
Hospital of Michigan.
high school he would pay for their higher education.
She has served on the boards of Children's Hospital,
These 78 children became part of the I Have a
JARC, the I Have a Dream Foundation and the
Dream program he launched in Detroit.
Trico Foundation. She has also been a member of
The Covilles also established the Coville-Triest
Brandeis University, City of Hope, Cranbrook,
Foundation and have served on its board as chair
Founders Society-DIA, Hadassah and the Sinai
and director. They have also been benefactors of
Hospital Guild.
JARC, establishing the Warren and Margot Coville
Scholarship Fund for Independent Living, and of the
Jewish Family Service, supporting its Group
The Harrises
Apartments for the Elderly Project.
Shirley and Merle Harris are longtime community
A Detroiter since age 7 and founder of Guardian
leaders and benefactors of programs that impact
Photo, Warren Coville holds a distinguished record
many lives in the community.
of volunteer activities, which reflect his interest in
"Shirley and Merle are an extraordinary couple,
photography, the arts and education.
truly
committed to making a difference," said
He has served as chair of the Trico Foundation and
Jackier. "Both Merle and Shirley hold the distinction
as a Ward member of the Cranbrook Academy of
of receiving our community awards for young leader-
Art, the DIA, George Eastman House, Hutzel
ship."
Hospital, Jewish Family Service, Jewish Home and
Merle Harris is the recipient of the Frank A.
Aging Services, MSU Alumni Association, Pistons-
Wetsman
Award and Shirley Harris is the recipient
Palace Foundation, Temple Beth El and United
of
the
Sylvia
Simon Greenberg Award.
Jewish Charities.
The Harris' are the creators and benefactors of the
Currently in Sarasota Florida, Warren Coville
Merle and Shirley Harris Children and Family
serves on the boards of the Asolo Theater Company,
Division for JARC, providing in-home respite care,
the Jewish Family and Children's Service and the
social opportunities, advocacy for inclusion and out-
Jewish Housing Council Foundation.
reach into the community.
Margot Ellen Coville, born in Munich, Germany,
With their gift to Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, the
is a survivor from a children's concentration camp,
Merle and Shirley Harris Birthing Center opened its
who, at age 14, led 10 children to freedom through
doors in the fall of 1999 and has since earned a repu-
the woods to Switzerland. She has carried through-
tation as one of the area's best obstetrics programs.
out her life the strong belief that everyone deserves a

7/16
2004

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Together and as extraordinary individuals, the
Harrises are leaders by example. Together, they
chaired the United Jewish Appeal President's Mission
to Turkey and Israel (1992). Merle Harris has served
on the board the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
Detroit and has chaired its Annual Campaign. His
numerous other civic and volunteer positions in the
past include: president of Jewish Family Service,
chair of Sinai Hospital, president of Standard Club,
chair of the Detroit Chapter of the Young Presidents
Organization and president Franklin Hills Country
Club.
Currently, he serves as chairman of Huron Valley
Sinai Hospital, and is a member of the board of the
Jewish Fund and Northern Trust Bank.
Shirley Harris, the first woman in Federation to
co-chair a division in the Annual Campaign, has
been the chairperson of the Federation Women's
Department and the Federation Women's
Department Campaign. She has served as vice presi-
dent of the United Jewish Foundation, a board
member of the United Jewish Charities and Jewish
Federation. •
Federation's Lifetime Achievement Award was
established in 2001. Past recipients include: Helen
August, N. Brewster Broder, Ruth Broder, Marvin
Danto, Alfred Deutsch, Marvin Goldman, Jerome Y.
Halperin. Diane Hauser, Maxwell Jospey. Milton J.
Miller. Josephine Weiner, Melba Winer, Beryl
Winkleman, Helen Zuckerman. I I

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