Walled Lake Schools invites you to attend our Community Performances WL Northern HS Performing Arts Center to host PHILHARMONIC "A Phantom, A Witch and A King" Halloween Pops Concert October 25, 2013, 7:30 p.m., WL Northern HS • Featuring the Michigan Philharmonic with music director and conductor Nan Washburn • Special performances by Walled Lake Schools student choirs For ticket information, go to wlcstickets.com or call 248-387-9160. WL Western HS Performing Arts presents "Shrek - The Musical" November 14-17 & 21-24, 2013 7:30 p.m., WL Western HS Keri Guten Cohen Story Development Editor For ticket information, go to wlcstickets.com or call 248-387-9160. WL Northern HS Performing Arts presents "David and Lisa" ■ I November 14-16, 2013 WL Northern HS For ticket information, go to wlcstickets.com or call 248-387-9160. WL Central HS Performing Arts presents 4rel "You Can't Take it With You" December 5-7, 2013 7:3o p.m., WL Central HS For ticket information, go to wlcstickets.com or call 248-387-9160. WL Central, Northern & Western HS choirs, bands and orchestras present Collage Concerts •December 10, 2013 - WL Western HS band & orchestra •December 11-12, 2013 - WL Northern HS choirs, band & orchestra •December 17 18, 2013 - WL Central HS choirs, band & orchestra •December 19, 2013 - WL Western HS choirs - For ticket information, go to wlcstickets.com or call 248-387-9160. WL Northern HS Performing Arts Center to host Holiday Pops with the Phil Presented by the Huron Valley Council for the Arts December 13, 2013 WL Northern HS Featuring the Michigan Philharmonic with music director and conductor Nan Washburn. 1111CHIGAN PHILHARMONIC For ticket information, go to www.huronvalleyarts.org or call 248-889-8660. 1865320 20 October 17 • 2013 Volunteer David Broner motivates others to make a difference, too. D avid Broner didn't set out to become an extraordinary vol- unteer. Before he retired three years ago, he was laser-focused on his family businesses in Auburn Hills. But this high-energy guy knew he was des- tined to give back. His late father, Barney, who started Broner Glove Company in 1933 with his father, Harry, was very involved in the Jewish community "He did what he could to help people Broner said. "I do what I do to prove to my dad that I'm doing the right stuff" One of his best friends, Paul Hooberman of Franklin, thinks that's too simple an explanation. "David just wants to make the world a better place, to lead by example for his family and his [seven] grandldds," Hooberman said. "He wants them to see how a mentsh operates. David doesn't limit the scope of his activity to the Jewish community; he wants to impact everyone. He wants everyone to improve." True to that desire, Broner would only agree to do this story if he could get across this message: "Helping others — even an hour a week — it's possible for you to do:' Broner's own epiphany about volun- teering came three years ago at age 70 when he retired and left two of his three children to run the family's industrial safety equipment businesses. He read the book Don't Retire, Rewire by Jeri Sedlar, and his life was changed by her advice about personal growth and transition. "I thought she had written the book for me said Broner, who has met Sedlar several times in New York. "I had never volunteered before, only worker Now every day of his week is filled with volunteer activities, from helping small business owners in Detroit, to finding jobs for people in the Jewish community, to serving on the board of Hebrew Free Loan, to helping young students improve their reading at Emerson Elementary School in Detroit. Knowing The SCORE For 21/2 days each week, Broner volun- teers for SCORE, a nonprofit association suppored by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that helps small businesses get off the ground and grow. "I help more by listening than by tell- ing:' Broner said. "Most know what to do; sometimes they just need new toolboxes:' On Wednesdays, he heads to the Southwest Detroit Business Association to coach small business owners. He may be in Corktown another day. Additionally, he serves as an SBA Ambassador to all business associations in Detroit. He also does one-on-one SCORE coaching with young Jewish entrepre- neurs he met through Jordan Wolfe, who was instrumental in beginning the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's CommunityNEXT project aimed at attracting and retaining young Jewish people to Detroit. "I think I'm their age," Broner said with a smile. They, in turn, helped Broner acquire social media and marketing skills that he now teaches for SCORE. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs Recognizing that employment is essen- tial for those in the Jewish community hardest hit by the economic downturn and also necessary for retaining young Jews in Southeast Michigan, Broner turned his attention to job placement. Along with Karen Alpiner, Eugene Sherizen, Arthur Horwitz and Hooberman, Broner created CSI (College Student Internships) as a way to attract Jewish college students from Metro Detroit back home by providing summer internships — some that could turn into full-time positions. "It's a very good thing:' Broner said. "We didn't know anything about human resources, but all know people [with businesses] who would give kids a shot:' CSI now has been folded into Emerson Elementary preschool teacher Pat Foster, student Branden Heath and volunteer David Broner Federation and expanded to include job assistance for young Detroiters. About 18 months ago, Broner and Hooberman created jobs@shaareyzedek. org to help people at their shul looking for work. They then spread their email idea to Rich Agree and Joey Bigelman, friends at Temple Israel in West Bloom- field, who started jobs@templeisrael.org . The men divvy up the list and meet with those who emailed them, and then they get together to talk about how they can best help the individuals. They also relay information about resources, such as learning computer skills through places like the Hermelin ORT Resource Center and the West Bloomfield Library. Kids And Literacy Not Retired, Rewired gave Broner the idea of going to a school and help- ing a student. He started volunteering before he retired, going to O.W. Holmes Elementary in Detroit on a Friday morning, and then heading to work. He found the experience rewarding, so he and his wife, Lily, who supports all his efforts, spoke to the Shaarey Zedek sisterhood to entice more volunteers. Eight agreed, and they started volun- teering at Emerson Elementary. Though not officially part of an orga- nized literacy effort, Broner has talked up the experience and added many more volunteers at Emerson. "Volunteers could save the schools:' he said simply. "If people in the commu- nity would say they could volunteer an hour a week, they could help two kids for 30 minutes each. "If you want to do something, go do it:' he urged. "A lot of people need help. I feel so lucky I'm able to do this. "The way I see it is you can sit on your back porch and rock on a chair, but don't hang with me. I want to be with those who help others:' ❑ Do you know someone to nominate as "Mentsh of the Month"? Send nominations to Keri Guten Cohen at kcohen@renmedia.us .