Detroit's Jewish Fund
marks 10th anniversary.
Rabbi Elimelech Goldberg heads Kids Kicking Cancer.
Robert Naftaly of West Bloomfield, Jewish
Fund chair; and Mervyn Manning of
Bloomfield Hills, board member.
Kids Kicking Cancer participants
perform.
Mark Davidoff of West Bloomfield, Jewish
Fund board member; and Sandy Danto of
Bloomfield Hills, Jewish Family Service
chair.
Rabbi Levi Shemtov of Friendship
Circle, a Jewish Fund beneficiary.
Jodee Fishman Raines talks with Jewish
Fund partners.
uietly and without fanfare,
Detroit's Jewish Fund has
distributed more than $35
million in grants over the last 10 years,
improving the quality of
life for thousands of people,
from the elderly to children
with special needs.
The fund, established in
1997 with proceeds from
the sale of Sinai Hospital to
the Detroit Medical Center,
has supported 80 non-profit
organizations over the years.
Its focus is to help provide
excellent and compassion-
ate care for those in need,
continuing the legacy of Sinai Hospital
which was a Jewish community-funded
facility in northwest Detroit (from 1953
to 1997).
"We're kind of a quiet, unknown
asset:' said Robert Naftaly of West
Bloomfield, chairman of the Jewish
Fund board. "I think we've been a god-
send to this community"
More than 200 people gathered June
12 at Congregation Shaarey Zedek
Southfield for a festive luncheon to cele-
brate the fund's 10-year anniversary. One
of the founding board members, Florine
Mark of Farmington Hills, served as the
afternoon's emcee. Mark also co-chaired
the luncheon with fellow board member
Dr. Richard Krugel of Bloomfield Hills.
The event featured a karate demon-
stration by 20 children (ages 3-19) who
have cancer and are part of the program
"Kids Kicking Cancer" which was cre-
ated with the help of the Jewish Fund. In
partnership with the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit, the fund also
supports numerous programs for
seniors, including transportation and in-
home support services, allowing older
Q
adults to age in place with dignity.
"We fund programs that assure the
health and well being of the people of
Metro Detroit, in the Jewish community
and the broader community:'
explained Jewish Fund executive
director Jodee Fishman Raines
of Huntington Woods. "The lun-
cheon was really a nice way to
celebrate with our partners and
to see all the support from the
community"
The fund's leaders say wise
investing and spending policies,
and an active, hands-on board,
have helped make it such a suc-
cess.
"When you look at the list of things
we've supported over 10 years, you get a
great sense of accomplishment:' Naftaly
said. "We'll be able to continue serving
the community for years to come'
Spotted in the crowd at the Jewish
Fund luncheon were: Dana Burnstein,
Ben Falik and Yisroel Pinson, all of
West Bloomfield; Sharon Luckerman
of Detroit; Linda Klein, Barbara
Nurenberg, and Susie and Norman
Pappas, all of Bloomfield Hills;
Doug Bloom, Susan Sosnick, Jeff
Schoenberg and Karen Sosnick
Schoenberg, all of Birmingham;
Joyce Keller of Waterford; and Sandy
Schwartz of Franklin.
Endowments Needed
The Jewish fund is seeking donors
to support endowments for future
older adult programs and ser-
vices. For more information, call
executive director Jodee Fishman
Raines at (248) 203-1487 or go to
the fund's Web site:
www.thejewishfund.org .
August 2 • 2007
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