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Step Forward from page 10

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Federation and its partner agencies
deliver to the community:'
To deliver the message to the com-
munity, all Federation Campaign-
related materials carry the StepForward
logo. Also, a website at jewishdetroit.
org/stepforward has been created to
share campaign-themed information
and programming, including videos,
a blog and a "donometer" tracking the
latest totals.
Federation's "1,000 Donors in 100
Days" program — an effort to recruit
1,000 new donors to the Campaign by
April 29 — also is part of the site.
In addition to its recent Super
Sunday event, Federation already is in
the planning stages for a number of
2012 Campaign events and programs,
including the Women's Department's
Stretch To Help, YAD's Epic Event,
CommunityNEXT's Do It For Detroit
2012 and a variety of mission-based
trips to Israel.
"We sincerely believe Detroit is the
most passionate, committed and deter-
mined Jewish community anywhere
Kaufman says. "And the recent numbers
prove that. We're making progress in
preserving our legacy and establishing
a new foundation for our future. People

JEWELRY

Great Gifts for
Valentine'

248-851-5030

6881 Orchard Lake Rd. on The Boardwalk

A page from Federation's Step
Forward website

we haven't seen for years are showing
up at events and making donations.
We're developing new alliances and
partnerships with community organi-
zations all over town.
"Most amazing of all, young people
are starting to move back to Detroit from
cities across the country. To me, that's the
ultimate measure of success:' El

Federation's marketing department
contributed to this report.

Prentice from page 1

become a Mentor

A small amount of your time can make an impact!
The Waterford School District is recruiting volunteers ages 21 and older to
mentor students. Volunteers meet with students at least once a week and mak:-

a year long commitment to the student.

Youth who are mentored are:

46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs
27% less likely to begin using alcohol
52% less likely to skip school
37% less likely to skip a class

Contact Teresa Bruno
248.421.6497 I brunot01 owsdmi.org
www.waterford.k12.mi.us/safeschoolsimentor

Waterford

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February 2 = 2012

He said a key to success is attracting
both Jewish and non-Jewish clientele.
"We are not looking to make this
a kosher restaurant, but rather a bis-
tro that just happens to be kosher;'
Prentice said.
"There will be subtle kosher signs,
but the non-kosher eater will be com-
fortable. And it will not cost more than
any other bistro in town."

Bringing Jobs
Among the 400 employees to be hired
by the Detroit-based Matt Prentice
Restaurant Group in the next six
months are those who will join the
staff at Adat Shalom Synagogue in
Farmington Hills, where Prentice
began kosher catering this past
November.
"The phones there are ringing off
the hook; we're booking like crazy," he
said of both private parties and com-
munity events.
Prentice, who owned the now-closed
kosher Milk & Honey restaurant con-
tinues to operate Milk & Honey kosher
catering out of the Jewish Community
Center in West Bloomfield.
"In addition to our restaurants, our
catering team is growing like crazy:'
he said. "And we are expanding on the
corporate level also, adding staff to our
office
Prentice declared personal bank-
ruptcy in January 2011, but maintains

it remains separate from his business
endeavors.
"The Matt Prentice Group (owned
by Stanley Dickson Jr.) is as healthy
today as it has ever been in its 30-year
history," he said. "Our new projects
bring us to 12 restaurants with a total
of 20 facilities. That may make us the
biggest in the city. Even in this rough
economy, we're doing great."
In addition to the kosher restau-
rant, Prentice plans to open four
non-kosher ones. Construction on
Gastronomy in Southfield begins next
week, hoping to open in April. Morels
— which Prentice calls a reinvention
of a restaurant by the same name that
closed in Bingham Farms in 2006 —
will open on Northwestern Highway in
Farmington Hills in mid-March. Plans
also call for a restaurant in Milford to
open in early summer.
On Jan. 30, Prentice announced
a fifth restaurant: Flat Iron Grill, an
inexpensive, casual prime steak house,
estimated to open in late May in West
Bloomfield.
He is actively searching for a site for
the kosher restaurant.
"The Jewish community has
embraced me, and I am so grateful
and lucky," Prentice said. "They are the
best dining customers in the world;
they give positive feedback when it's
right and when we screw up, they tell
us, so we can fix it." ❑