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Project Chessed's Success
A Community-Wide Effort
I want to express my gratitude and
appreciation for the Jewish News' cover-
age of Jewish Family Service's Project
Chessed ("Health-Care Transition:' Jan.
23, page 1).
As you know, Project Chessed has
helped thousands of families and indi-
viduals in the Jewish community to
access health care services that would
otherwise have been out of reach over
the last 10 years. I have no doubt that
the program has saved the lives of
many.
We're extremely proud of the legacy
Project Chessed will leave as we move
into a health care navigation model
under the Affordable Care Act. I'd like
to reiterate that Project Chessed was
truly a community-wide effort. The
program has been managed by JFS,
but it was made possible by the com-
mitment of thousands from across the
community, and by generous financial
support from the Jewish Fund.
We owe a tremendous debt of grati-
tude to the nearly 800 physicians who
have volunteered their services over the
years, and we are profoundly thank-
ful for the contributions of the health
systems and pharmacies. These institu-
tions helped make the full circle of care
possible for our clients.
Participating health systems included
Beaumont, Botsford, Detroit Medical
Center, Henry Ford, Karmanos,
Millennium Diagnostic Center, St.
John/Providence and St. Joseph Mercy
Oakland.
Pharmacies included Sav-On Efros
Drugs, Warren Prescriptions, the
Medicine Cabinet, Lincoln Drugs and
EHIM Pharmacy Benefits Management.
At the same time, we recognize this
moment as an opportunity for cel-
ebration. Project Chessed served an
absolutely critical function in our com-
munity during its time, filling the cov-
erage gap for our neighbors who could
not qualify for Medicaid, but who, for
one reason or another, could not access
health insurance.
Between the expansion of Medicaid
in Michigan, which will take effect
on April 1, and the availability of
subsidized insurance on the Health
Insurance Marketplace, created by the
Affordable Care Act, all Project Chessed
clients will soon have access to perma-
nent, affordable health insurance. This
is truly a great thing.
Perry Ohren, chief executive officer
Jewish Family Service
of Metropolitan Detroit
West Bloomfield
Column On Patterson
Stepped Over The Line
It may be appropriate to take issue
with Brooks Patterson on some of his
remarks, but the tone and language
in Ben Falik's "Jewfro" column in
Red Thread are disturbing ("Brooks
Patterson Is Our Coleman Young; Jan.
30. page 29).
The subject matter is more appropri-
ate for a general circulation magazine
or paper. It is not a uniquely Jewish
issue that deserves a full-page attack
on someone who many Jews, including
me, consider a friend. Hoping "that his
political career ends while he is still in
his 70s" is something I might expect
from Glenn Beck, not the Jewish News.
Brooks is owed an apology, not
because we agree with him but for
allowing a vicious attack to be carried
out in the JN.
Donald B. Lifton
Bloomfield Hills
Mark Lit Benefited JCC
With Exciting Programs
Mark Lit is a visionary who brings
his ideas to fruition. He implemented
many new exciting and interesting
programs at the Jewish Community
Center. (See related story on page 14).
The JCC was lucky to have him as its
executive director.
Rona Rones
Farmington Hills
Yiddish Limerick
Barbara Mitteldorf packing
goody bags for kids
On January 26th,
JARC's Kraft Social
Action Committee
Let It Snow!
held its 19th
Dis shnay* keeps on falling, oy a
klog**
They say it will last far a gantze
tog.***
Ich shribe a bissl,**** read a bissl
Ess***** some soup here in a
shisl.******
Zay****** no one indroysn,*******
not even a dog.
* Dis shnay — the snow
** oy a klog — oy a calamity
*** far a gantze tog — for a whole
day.
**** Ich shribe a bissl — I write a
little
***** Ess — eat
****** Shisl — bowl
******* Zay — see
******** Thdroysn — outside
annual "Heart
To Heart". Over
35 volunteers
packaged 560
Valentine's Day gift
bags for children.
The sweet treats
will be delivered
to Beaumont
Children's Hospital,
Lighthouse of
Oakland County,
Orchards Children's
Services and
— Rachel Kapen
Neinas Elementary
School in Detroit.
Volunteers Gail Elkus
and Diane Starr
S
hare the joy of your simchah
with the community in the
JN's March 20 Celebrate!
issue.
We're inviting readers to send in
photos from their weddings, bar/bat
mitzvahs, brit milah, baby namings
and other ceremonies from 2013-
14 for our annual "Community
Portraits" feature.
Photos must be high-resolution
jpgs (500k-lmb) and not taken by a
professional.
Email photos by March 6 to
jheadapohl@renmedia.us along with
a caption that identifies the people in
the photo, their city of residence, the
ages of any children pictured, and the
date and place of the event.
Questions? Call (248) 351-5110.
Support JARC Today!
Make your gift
at jarc.org
or 248.538.6611
JN
February 6 • 2014
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