Metro

AROUND TOWN

Making An Impact

Friends of the IDF supporters raise funds to send Israeli soldiers to college.

Donna Katz, Tammy Kahan and Adi Hartman, all of Bloomfield Hills

Nancy Pomish, Brenda Wayne Berris, Tamir Oppenheim and Karen Weiss, all of West
Bloomfield

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well on his way to becoming a lawyer as a result of the program. He thanked partici-
pants for their support and generosity.
"My father always told me that I must believe and have faith and everything else
will work out:' he said. "As you can understand, this IMPACT! scholarship has been
very significant in my life. This scholarship has made me believe:'
In 2008, the Friends of the IDF granted 2,000 scholarships; 113 came from the
Michigan chapter. The group's goal this year is to help 2,500 Israeli soldiers pursue
higher education.
"These are no doubt extremely difficult economic times:' said Brenda Wayne
Berris of West Bloomfield.
She co-chaired the luncheon with Nancy Pomish and Karen Weiss, both also of
West Bloomfield. "It is your dedication and commitment of your time and resources
that allows us to accomplish all we do for the IDF," Berris told the crowd. "Your sup-
port is critical to their well-being and to their future and ours."
Spotted in the crowd were: Susie Becker of Keego Harbor; Lauren Bienenstock of
Commerce Township; Shari Kaufman of Orchard Lake; Ann Newman, Ilene Kahan
and Gloria Meer, all of Bloomfield Hills; Nancy Katzman and Eunice Ring, both of
Franklin; and Libby Sklar and Lisa Shiffman, both of West Bloomfield.

air Shmueli, 27, a student at Tel Aviv University, is busy drawing up plans
and designing buildings of the future. He attends classes at the David Azireli
School of architecture on an IMPACT! scholarship granted by the Friends of
the Israel Defense Forces.
Shmueli traveled to Michigan to share his story with about
280 people at Tam O'Shanter Country Club in West Bloomfield
Sept. 10 during the local chapter's annual Friends of the IDF
Women's Luncheon. All proceeds from the event benefit the
IMPACT! program, which awards full four-year scholarships to
Israeli soldiers who have completed their military service and
face financial hardship.
"As long as I can remember, I've dreamt of being an archi-
tect," Shmueli told the crowd. "My father grew up with 10
brothers and sisters and had to help the family; therefore, he
wasn't able to pursue an academic degree. I feel today that I am
not only fulfilling my own dream, but also my father's dream,
too:'
Another student, Avishay Efergan, 26, of Dimona, Israel, is

Jennifer Ellenbogen of Bloomfield Hills,
Pamela Azaria of Birmingham and Lisa
Winer of Oak Park

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September 24 • 2009

Marianne Sacks and Debbie Karp, both
of West Bloomfield

Lenore Yellen of West Bloomfield, Miriam Susan Becker of Keego Harbor with
Larry Wayne and Wendy Roth, both of
Ferber of Orchard Lake and Ida
West Bloomfield
Wiener of Commerce