Special Report
ON THE COVER
Future from page A17
The
Aronson
Years
1989* •
Robert Aronson leaves Milwaukee to
take helm of the Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit.
1992 • •
Federation moves from down-
town Detroit 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 relation-
ship between the Federation and
Foundation.
While working at the Milwaukee Federation 1975, Aronson had the chance to visit
with Israel's legendary Golda Meir.
1993 • •
Federation's first Campaign
Challenge Fund changes Federation
fund-raising 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, consid-
ered 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 com-
munities.
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) coor-
A18
October 23 2008
Detroit Jewish community leaders David Hermelin, David
Page, William Davidson and Aronson in 1992
Detroit will always be my priority"
And the community has benefited from that commitment.
"In looking back on almost 20 years of his leadership, I think
he has lead this community through a major transition as agen-
cies have morphed and the role of the Jewish community has
changed dramatically from the late '80s to today;' said Mark
Schlussel, Federation president when Aronson was hired in 1989.
"I think Bob's willingness to envision a changing community and
act on that vision and bring consensus around those changes is
an additional gift.
"I think Bob has earned the right to create a unique position
that will be essentially invaluable for the community," Schlussel
said. "He'll maintain a role in connecting the community with
those individuals who have the resources to ensure the viability
of the Detroit Jewish community"
A testament to Detroit's fundraising prowess is that as the
nation's 21st-largest Jewish city, Detroit ranks fourth in total
campaign giving among all federations. During Aronson's ten-
ure, the Annual Campaign has grown from $27 million in 1989
to $34 million in 2008.
Vision And Creativity
Every person contacted for this story eventually came around to
the "V" word when describing Bob Aronson.
"He's a great visionary:' Blumenstein said. "He sees the Jewish
Federation officials Michael Burke, Mark
Schlussel and Aronson in 1990.
world in a way many don't!'
Throughout his career, Aronson has been able to step back and
be a big-picture guy — and then follow through on his vision by
putting funds and support in place.
Early on as ' CEO, Aronson realized the disconnect between the
downtown Federation offices and the suburban Jewish communi-
ty. Federation moved into the Max M. Fisher Federation Building
in Bloomfield Township in 1992.
With a deep love and commitment to Israel, Aronson followed
a model from the Milwaukee Federation and organized Detroit's
first Miracle Mission in 1993. The mega-missions, which have
brought more than 4,000 Detroiters to Israel, helped bring the
community closer to Israel and also to Federation.
"He had the vision to see that we [Federation] needed to reach
out to the community and become more than just an exclusive
club:' said Franklin philanthropist Jane Sherman, a Federation
board member. "Part of the reason we started the Miracle
Missions was to do that so we were not just a lead organization,
but a Federation for the entire Jewish community — and, at the
same time, to reach out to the non-Jewish community and let
them know what we were all about!'
In 1996, the renewal of the Jewish Community Center in
Oak Park and the continuation of interest-free loans via the
Neighborhood Project helped ensure a stable Jewish community
in Oak Park and Southfield and revitalized north Oak Park.
On the fundraising front, Aronson was able to foresee future
challenges to our community and plan for them.
His innovative Millennium Campaign for Detroit's Jewish
Future, a $60 million initiative to enhance Jewish family experi-
ence, was begun in 1998 and led to a major renovation of the JCC
in West Bloomfield, improvements to the Oak Park JCC — and
also funneled funds into Jewish education and continuity.
"Bob did this long before any other Jewish community in
the country did anything similar," Sherman said. "This was his
vision; he knew we would have to plan for the future!'
In 1993, Aronson also pioneered the concept of "challenge
funds" targeting specific initiatives or emergency needs here
and in Israel. And now, to bolster Detroit's oldest and youngest
populations, he has instituted the Pillar Campaigns for the Jewish
elderly and Jewish education.
"Bob absolutely brings creativity and visionary thinking:'
said Jeff Solomon, president of the Andrea and Edgar Bronfman
Philanthropies in New York. "He has started more initiatives as