metro Community Legacy JFS celebrates 85 years of helping and supporting Detroit Jewry. Attendees help create a mural representing JFS programs and services. N early 300 people attended the Jewish Family Service (JFS) 85th Anniversary Celebration and Community Recognition event May 29 at the Jewish Community Center in West Bloomfield. The evening was filled with emotion, inspiration and excitement as guests experienced JFS' history and future. A major donor pre-glow, co-chaired by Sandy and James Danto and Barbara and Irving Nusbaum, began the evening. The main event took place in the Berman Center for the Performing Arts, where a video of 12 past presidents showed a historical perspective of JFS pro- grams over the past 60 years. One story told was of a young woman who became a Holocaust survivor at age 5, who later received home care services and emotional support from her JFS case manager. Other stories were of children placed into foster care homes after being sent to the United States alone in the 1950s. Marcy Feldman, past president of resettlement services, talked of how meaningful it was to help "New Americans" coming to Detroit from Russia and how the community rallied to help them settle here. The importance of volunteerism within JFS became clear from the emotional video and awards presentation. More than 1,000 volunteers support JFS each year through a wide range of activities, including visiting the elderly, mentoring children in need of support, providing access to prescrip- tion assistance, raking leaves for homebound seniors, build- ing ramps to eliminate barriers and so much more. During the event, Rick Segal was honored with the Mentor of the Year Award for his commitment to support- ing a young man and for his help and leadership in recruit- ing more mentors for youth. Evelyn Lipitz, 91, was honored with the Volunteer of the Year Award for her administrative support of many JFS departments over the years. Mindi Fynke, founder and CEO of EHIM, a pharmacy benefits management company in Southfield, was hon- ored as Community Partner of the Year for EHIM's work in support of JFS' Project Chessed. EHIM's team also has worked with the JFS Prescription Assistance Program to provide easier access to free prescription medications to thousands of individuals in our community. 16 June 20 • 2013 This historic JFS photo shows a volunteer working with an older adult. Honoree Mindi Fynke, CEO and founder of EHIM, and Volunteer of the Year Evelyn Lipsitz (with flowers) Karen Sosnick Schoenberg surrounded by her proud family The Employee of the Year Award was given to Diana Mukh, a JFS transportation dispatcher. Described as a "behind-the-scenes" employee, she manages the rides schedule and juggles more than 30,000 rides each year, mostly for older adults who are picked up in their homes and escorted to medical appointments. Celestine Keys received the Employee Lifetime Achievement Award for the more than 30 years she has spent at JFS, working closely with older adults to ensure they are able to live safely and independently in their homes. JFS Vice President Jennifer Lerner Friedman was emcee for the evening. At the end of the event, she Norm Keane, former CEO of JFS, Arleen and Don Rochlen, announced the 2013-2014 board slate. and JFS CEO Perry Ohren Sheldon Stone will continue as board president. New board members are Dorothy Barak, Suzan E Curhan, Gail Danto, Sharyn Gallatin, Betsy Heuer, Mark Jacobs, munity. Barbara and Irving Nusbaum sponsored the mural, Jeffrey Lev, Kelli Saperstein, Abbe Binder Sherbin, Rabbi which will be displayed at the Jewish Family Service West Aaron Starr, Jon Goldstein, David Lerner and Rabbi Yisrael Bloomfield building. Pinson. Sponsors for the evening included Grant Thornton; Dawda, Mann, Mulcahy and Sadler PLC; Amherst Partners; During the night, guests participated in the creation of Morris-Phillips Philanthropic Fund; and Videoburst. a mural designed by artist Daniel Cascardo to celebrate JFS' 85th anniversary. The mural represents programs and To learn more about Jewish Family Service, visit www. services that continue to support the Detroit Jewish com- jfsdetroit.org. ❑