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Editorial
Communal Assets A Community Pillar
I
t works under the public radar, but
it's a financial powerhouse, con-
trolling nearly $500 million — the
collective monetary and real estate
assets of the Detroit Jewish communi-
ty. It's called United Jewish Foundation
(UJF), the banking and investment
arm of the Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit, our chief plan-
ning and fundraising agency.
There's no mistaking that Jewish
Detroit depends on UJF's professional
and lay leaders exercising fiscal prow-
ess to keep Foundation investment
yields as well as Federation fundrais-
ing support coming.
From its investment perch, UJF
commands a long view of community
activities and resources while working
with Federation to help meet Jewish
needs locally, in Israel and elsewhere
in the diaspora.
The Foundation keystone is the
Jewish Community Endowment Fund,
which stands at more than $350 mil-
lion. This umbrella represents more
than 1,700 separate funds endowed by
generous local donors. Earnings sus-
tain the Fund.
The UJF real estate ledger shows
more than 2 million square feet of
space with an insurance value of
$300 million. The communally owned
property houses partner agencies
that provide an array of services. The
Jewish Community Center is an exam-
ple of a larger partner.
UJF President
Todd Sachse was
able to give the 325
attendees at the
Sept.10 combined
annual meeting of
Federation and UJF
an encouraging fore-
Todd Sachse
cast thanks in part
to the Foundation's
"balanced pool" (investment portfolio)
earning an eye-popping return of 17.8
percent for the fiscal year ending May
31. That followed an average annual
return of 8.3 percent over the three
previous years — a nice four-year haul.
Combined income for the 2012-2013
fiscal year increased to more than
$100 million, the result of Federation
donor contributions and Foundation
investment earnings.
This past year, UJF committees
oversaw a variety of new construc-
tion and major renovation projects,
including a new Yeshiva Beth Yehudah
preschool and girls' high school in
Oak Park and a new playground at
the Oak Park JCC. There also were
improvements at Tamarack Camps'
Camp Maas in Ortonville and at
the Eugene and Marcia Applebaum
Jewish Community Campus in West
Bloomfield. Ever-important security
in our schools and other facilities was
upgraded as well.
The Foundation peered into the
future on behalf of Tamarack campers
and adopted the most comprehensive
master plan for them ever. It also con-
ducted a planning review of needed
repairs and maintenance at all prop-
erties to try to stave off a crushing
unexpected expense. Property upkeep
is a continuing and necessary battle.
To help secure Jewish Detroit's
future amid our stagnant popula-
tion and Michigan's uncertain econ-
omy, the Federation/
Foundation Centennial
Campaign, under
Nancy Grosfeld's
leadership, has
secured $80 million
in lifetime and testa-
mentary gifts toward
Nancy
a goal of $250 mil-
Grosfeld
lion by Dec. 31, 2015.
The Centennial Campaign is posi-
tioned to be a pivotal supplement for
Federation's Annual Campaign, our top
communal fundraiser but still subject
to the whims and cycles of donors.
We as a Jewish community only
need to look to the city of Detroit's
bankruptcy filing to appreciate the
value of money management. UJF
has a proven management and invest-
ment record. But that doesn't mean it
shouldn't be held to the highest levels
of openness and transparency.
Such accountability not only show-
cases our excellent investment divi-
dends, but also underscores — and
assures — the fiscal cleanliness of our
investment managers.
❑
Guest Column
Be Part Of The Literacy Solution
F
or most children, the arrival of fall
and the start of a new school year
is an exciting time. They are eager
to meet their new teachers, make friends
in class, and learn fresh and exciting skills
and ideas. Yet for too many students, this
is a scary time. They worry whether they
will be able to keep up with their class-
mates and perform. They are fearful and
embarrassed and know they are lagging
behind. And they know they are lacking
the one essential skill that can unlock the
key to their success: the ability to read.
These children are worth our invest-
ment. The Detroit Jewish Coalition for
Literacy (DJCL), a program of the Jewish
Community Relations Council (JCRC),
can help you be part of the solution. DJCL
will offer current and prospective literacy
volunteers "a buffet" of resources at its
free "Tools to Teach Your Students to Love
Learning" event at the West Bloomfield
Township Public Library on Friday, Oct. 4,
from 10 a.m. to noon.
The workshop will provide new and
veteran volunteers the opportunity to hear
a librarian's review of the latest children's
books, gain skills for reading recovery and
special needs students, discover iPad apps
for enhanced learning, gain insights from
36
September 26 • 2013
AM
volunteer school
coordinators and
learn about exciting
new DJCL volunteer
opportunities. A
light breakfast and
lots of inspiration
will be served.
Limited resources
in our schools make
it nearly impossible
for teachers and
principals to provide
the individualized attention needed to help
students struggling with literacy. DJCL
engages more than 500 literacy volunteers
in schools throughout Oakland County and
the city of Detroit, helping students learn
to read and develop a love of reading. The
program arranges volunteer placement,
provides resources, tools and workshops for
volunteers, and free books for students.
DJCL partners with numerous commu-
nity organizations, synagogues, temples,
school alumni groups and literacy agencies
to facilitate this important work. Repair
the World coordinates DJCL programs in
some of the Detroit Public Schools. Many
DJCL volunteers have been trained by the
Detroit Public School Reading Corps to
work with begin-
ning readers (Pre-K
and K) using the
Reading Corps
method.
Beyond Basics,
another DJCL litera-
cy partner, provides
literacy education in
some of the lowest-
performing schools
in Detroit, employ-
ing one-on one-
tutors to bring children up to reading at
grade level in as short a time as six weeks.
DJCL volunteers are trained by Beyond
Basics to serve as "reading buddies" who
listen to children read and provide assis-
tance and encouragement.
Thirkell Elementary School in Detroit,
where Beyond Basics has operated a one-
on-one tutoring program for reading,
writing and word comprehension for eight
years, was recently ranked No. 1 in a new
statewide report card from the Mackinac
Center for Public Policy.
Most DJCL volunteers make a weekly
commitment to read at least one hour to
students in pre-kindergarten through third
grade. And while its motto is "Give an
hour a week and change the life of a child:'
DJCL offers other volunteer options for
those who are out of town for part of the
winter or who cannot volunteer regularly.
We, DJCL co-chairs Sue Birnholtz
and Ruth Grey, and literacy coordinator
Linda Foster are ready to help you join
the Jewish community's efforts to fight
illiteracy in our community. We will work
hard to find the best placement for any
volunteer.
We invite you to join us at DJCL's Oct.
4 volunteer workshop and be part of the
solution. DJCL will provide you with the
resources and tools, but it is the children
who will provide the rewards.
Program space is limited, and advanced
registration is strongly recommended.
To register, visit volunteerliteracyevent.
eventbrite.com. The West Bloomfield
Township Public Library is located at 4600
Walnut Lake Road. For additional infor-
mation about the workshop, or to learn
more about DJCL volunteer opportunities,
contact JCRC Literacy Coordinator Linda
Foster at (248) 642-2656 or at foster@
jfmd.org.
❑
Ruth Grey and Sue Birnholtz are co-chairs of
the Detroit Jewish Coalition for Literacy.