"iNIk,'
» on the cover
•
F
r
rl
Federation's Centennial Fund will
Elizabeth
r
provide long-term support.
to the Jewish News
Applebaum I Special
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Camps, Hillel Day School, Akiva Hebrew Day
School and MSU Hillel, among other Jewish
institutions in Metro Detroit.
Nanci
Farber, married to the Farber's
son,
David, admires Bill's love for his grandchil
dren and dedication to his gentle wife, to
"The
advantage
of this
campaign
permanent, ongoing and will be
an
-
help:'
Nanci says this is a value he taught to
everyone in his family: «This is what you do;
it's
a
If you have it, you
responsibility.
give
if'
The Matthews
Farber's value is
concept that Dr. Robert
Matthews, another donor to the Centennial
a
Fund, understands well.
His father, Joseph, was
worked
during the
day
an
as a
immigrant who
civil
engineer
and at night toiled in his aunt's
dry cleaning
plant, sending his earnings back to his family
in Romania. Bob's mother worked most of
her life
as an
executive
port her husband and
secretary to help sup
son.
It was
«just the
right thing to do;' Joe always said.
Joe and his wife, Gloria, had only one
child, Bob, who loved baseball and enjoyed
all sports. He became
as an
an
orthodontist
as
well
adjunct professor at the University of
Mercy-School of Dentistry.
Detroit
In 1999, Bob Matthews watched, with a
terrible sadness, the fate of an elderly first
cousin who became ill and had to
a
move
into
nursing home.
independence, he also
lost his will to live;' Matthews recalls. His
died shortly after moving into the
c,ousin
29
the cousin, was still in her own house. An
aide came to help with light housework, but
Gloria remained
independent and enjoyed a
quality of life for many years.
Matthews was so affected by the difference
wonderful
that, back in 2000, he established a fund to
provide assistance to older adults, enabling
•
2015
she's
As
Dr. Robert Matthews
taking things a bit slower.
a
woman,
young
to-door collecting funds for the
15 local senior
«The
advantage
campaign
is that it's
permanent, ongoing and will be an asset to
the Jewish community forever;' he says of the
Centennial Fund.
And the reward to Matthews?
Simply the
help.
«My wife, Sandy, and I are truly blessed;'
opportunity
he said.
to
Being part of the Centennial Fund
is «our way of saying 'thank you' for all the
good things in our life:'
The Grosfefds
helping seniors, the
creating opportunities for
generations to receive a Jewish day
husband coached sports at the Jewish
Community Center. Their daughter, Nancy
school education.
Grosfeld, inherited her parents' passion for
volunteering and supporting the Federation.
Today,
Grosfeld
serves as
chair of the
She worked for many years as a nurse, and
compassion she brought to that career
extends to the entire Jewish community. For
Grosfeld, a past Federation president, the
Centennial Fund is all about community.
of this
cared for and enabled
are
future
the
regular assistance for
Jewish
In addition to
Grosfelds also
Welfare Federation of Detroit while her
Support Centennial Fund provides for per
sonal care, housekeeping, shopping and
families.
are
self-sufficient as
the youngest of 13 children.
Babcock went door
Centennial Fund Campaign.
other
as
not
them to stay in their own homes. Today,
the Matthews Family Foundation In-Home
«We want the
community to feel empow
«Ultimately, the Centennial Fund is about
security;' she says, «providing the Detroit
Jewish community with a strong and vibrant
future for decades to come:'
Agencies Impacted
Support from the Centennial Fund already is
being put into action at a number ofJewish
agencies.
«Through its support for Tamarack
Camps, the Centennial Fund is helping
ered, and we want everyone involved;' she
ensure
says. She is grateful for "gifts at any lever'
Because it is an endowment, the money
grows, so the $100 that buys a pair of shoes
our
today can grow to $1,000 enough to feed
a family for a month.
She's impressed by the diversity of those
choosing to give.
range of program
-
«That has been
exciting and heartwarm
ing;' she says. «It's a wonderful surprise to see
people step forward who have not previously
Sylvia Babcock was still play
ing bridge; seven years ago, she was always
up for a game of golf. But that was back
been involved with the Federation
when she was 97 and 94, and she's 101 now,
cause
Four years ago,
«Once he lost his
8 January
so
mother, about 10 years older than
be
possible. This is
surprising, considering that older adults
always have been an important part of her
life. Her grandmother lived with the family
for many years; and her mother, Sylvia, was
to
-
His
She and her husband, James, have directed
gift toward ensuring
their own Centennial
that older adults
Jewish community forever."
nursing home.
exactly where they want them to
go:'
asset to the
whom he has been married for 60 years.
«He's a quiet man who never really wanted
money for himself,' she says. «But once Bill
had it, he knew exactly what to do with it
make certain it got to those who needed
dollars go
is that it is
or our
agencies.
«It's
slow process;' Grosfeld says, «be
we are making sure that
everyone's
that Jewish identity remains strong in
community for generations;' said Steve
Enger, Tamarack Camps executive director.
«The
gifts have helped to support a wide
areas
and facilities, includ
ing village renovation, upgrading program
areas,
staff housing and support for
our
Horizons/Avodah program for children and
young adults with special needs:'
Perry Ohren, CEO of Jewish Family
Service, said, «Federation's Centennial Fund
campaign is completely forward-thinking
and spot -on. It will
ensure
a
Future
on
page 10
the future of the