To Life!

AROUND TOWN

Million Dollar Cause

Young adults collectively pledge to give $1 million
to Federation's Annual Campaign.

hen it comes to chari-
table giving, 52
young, Jewish, Metro
Detroit singles and couples- are in
a class by themselves. Ifs called
the Class of a Million.
"We can't keep looking to the
older generation and we can't
hide under the nomenclature of
`young lead-
ers' or next
generation,'"'
said Josh
Opperer of
Huntington
Woods. "It's
our genera-
Robin
tion; it's our
Schwartz
time."
Columnist
Opperer
came up with
the idea of assembling a group of
donors, younger than 40, to col- •
lectively donate $1 million to
Federation's Annual Campaign.
Each couple or individual
pledges to give $10,000 or more
by 2009. The goal is to get 100
participants in the next three
years. They're already more than
half way there.
"There are good hearts in this
community," Opperer said.
"It's wonderful to see the
involvement," said Marcie Orley
of Franklin. She and her hus-
band, Bob, hosted an inaugural
reception for the Class of a -
Million at their home on Jan. 12.
The evening included drinks and
hors d'oeuvres, thank you's from
some of Federation's top leaders
and a brief talk by Ellen
Yashinsky-Chute, clinical serv-
ices director at Jewish Family
Service of Metropolitan Detroit.
The West Bloomfield-based
organization provides domestic
violence counseling, addiction
recovery, older adult programs
and other services thanks to
funding from Federation. The
Class of a Million wants to make
sure agencies like JFS continue to
flourish.
"We're part of a generation
that has big shoes to fill," said
Robb Lippitt of Bloomfield
Hills. "I think it's a great idea. I
feel very fortunate to be able to

W

26

January 26 • 2006

participate."
"We have the responsibility of
giving back to the community
everything we've received," added
Regina Colton of Birmingham.
Between now and 2009, there
will be unique programming for
Class of a Million members.
When they "graduate" and reach
their goal, the group will partici-
pate in their own mission to
Israel. People can join any time
in the next three years.
"Every gift is important,"
Opperer stressed. "Whether
someone is giving $18, $180,
$1,800 or $18,000."
Among those already signed
up for the Class of a Million are:
Meredith and Robert Colburn,
Gene Goodman, Lilly and
Howard Jacobson, and Susan
and Marc Schechter, all of
Bloomfield Hills; Nicole and
Matthew Lester of Orchard
Lake; Jennifer and Paul
Silverman of Franklin; Laura
and David Gorosh and David
Jacobson, all of Birmingham;
and Gayle and Lorne Gold,
-
Ellen and Marc Lipton, Scott
Kaufman, and Rachel and
Jason Zimmerman, all of
Huntington Woods.
"This is one of the most excit-
ing programs we've ever had:
said Class of a Million committee
member Sheri Wagner of
Birmingham. "It's our genera-
tion's way of saying to the com-
munity that we're here, we get it,
and we're ready to step up. The
message is powerful and the
camaraderie it's building is con-
tagious." Fl

Photos: 1: Ellen Yashinsky-Chute of Farmington Hills. 2: Lea Narens of Bloomfield Hills and Sheryl
Wolberq of Huntington Woods. 3: Craig Menuck and Laura Gorosh, both of Birmingham. 4: Marcie

Orley of Franklin and Meredith Colburn of Bloomfield Hills. 5: Lyle and Sheryl Wolberg of Huntington
Woods with Rob Orley of Franklin. 6: Lisa Stern of Franklin with Robb and Debbie Lippitt of

Bloomfield Hills. 7: Event co-chairs Jason Zimmerman of Huntington Woods, Josh Opperer of

Huntington Woods and David Jacobson of Birmingham. 8: Lowell Salesin of Bloomfield Hills, Randy
Wertheimer of Birmingham, Jason Zimmerman of Huntington Woods and David Gorosh of
Birmingham

.3YA

The Class of a Million is
open to individuals or cou-
ples younger than 40. For
more information or to
join, contact Kari Alterman
at the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit,
(248) 203-1470 or alter-
man@JFMD.org

