Metro
SPECIAL REPORT
MORE to the STORY
ANenline
Federation
CEO Robert
Aronson
Harry Kirsbaum
Staff Writer
T
hree empty Starbucks
and Caribou Coffee
cups populate the
desk of Robert Aronson, 54,
CEO of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit — and boy,
does he need the caffeine.
A steady stream of meetings
and appointments keep him in
1989 - 2006
hyper-gear as soon as he hits
his office. He has two phones, a
Blackberry and two ears. Not bad
for a part-timer, who spreads
his time and talents between
being the "big picture guy" at
Federation, and helping two
major philanthropists decide
which causes and programs will
help Jews around the world.
Just a few days before a
fund-raising gala at the Jewish
Community Center in West
Bloomfield May 3 in honor
of his chai, or 18th, year,
Aronson spent some quality
time with the Jewish News.
reviews
the past
and looks
toward the
future.
"Bob is a unique
individual who has
really solidified our
community and
brought great
stability to the
Federation and
community at
large, bringing us
all together in a
way we never have
been."
- Peter Alter, Federation president
What's your role
now? You're listed as
14 hours a week on
the Federation's tax
forms.
(Laughter.) "14 hours, my tuches.
It's going to be 14 hours today
alone. I'm not so sure what that
means. I've been blessed to have
the opportunity to work with
certain national philanthropists.
Its a blessing to work with Bill
Davidson, who's so generous and
so visionary in terms of how he
Full Speed on page 20
A list of Federation's major accomplishments under CEO Robert Aronson:
1992: Federation moves to
the Max M. Fisher Federation
Building, Bloomfield Township.
• Strategic plan instituted to run
Federation like a business, set
priorities, move the community
forward and redefine the rela-
tionship between the Federation
and Foundation.
1993: Federation's first
Campaign Challenge Fund
changes Federation fund-rais-
ing by adding a "second line"
and urgency to the Annual
Campaign.
• First Miracle Mission sets the
standard and record for commu-
nity "mega-missions" to Israel.
Detroit's Federation has brought
more people to Israel (4,165
on five Miracle Missions) than
any Jewish community in North
America.
1994: Partnership 2000
region of the Central Galilee
in Israel, considered a model
around the country, is Detroit's
living bridge between Michigan
and Israel. P2K continues to
establish and sustain creative
programs to enrich Jewish life
and strengthen ties between our
communities.
1996: Renovations and
renewal of the Jimmy Prentis
Morris Building of the Jewish
Community Center; improve-
ments included a pool, gym and
other amenities.
• The Commission on Jewish
Eldercare Services (COJES)
coordinates quality services for
Jewish older adults and their
families; a partnership between
Federation and Jewish Family
Services, Jewish Apartments and
Services, JVS, JCC.
iN
1998-2000: Millennium
Campaign for Detroit's Jewish
Future, a $60 million initiative,
Federation's largest fund-raising
effort to enrich Jewish family
experience. Included $35 mil-
lion in renovations to the D. Dan
and Betty Kahn Building of the
JCC in West Bloomfield — the
Health Club, Harry & Jeanette
Weinberg Judaic Enrichment
Center/ORT/ Shalom Street.
Timeline on page 20
May 11 • 2006
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