metro Volunteer Extraordinaire Community builder Nancy Grosfeld to be honored with Butzel Award. H and as it is to imagine, Nancy Grosfeld's first contribution to the Detroit Jewish Federation — nearly four decades ago — was not an easy sell. As she recalls, her first inkling of the word Federation came with a call one day from a woman asking her to make a pledge. "I was really caught by surprise to be asked for money over the phone Grosfeld recalled. "So I called my friend Bob Slatkin, who explained to me what Federation does and the purpose behind this fundraising technique. I made my first pledge that day because of Bobby. I was in my mid-30s at the time:' Grosfeld's first commitment of $100 to Federation would grow into her life's work as a community volunteer. A regis- tered nurse and social worker by training, she has taken on scores of community projects and leadership roles over the years in dozens of organizations includ- ing JARC, Jewish Hospice and Chaplaincy Network, the Jewish Women's Foundation, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the College of Creative Studies, the Jewish Fund and the Michigan Humane Society. She has served with dis- tinction as Federation's campaign chair, then as its president, as well as heading up Federation's Women's Philanthropy. "There are no words to adequately describe Nancy's impact on our Jewish community," said Scott Kaufman, Federation's CEO. Nancy's enthusiasm and commitment have held considerable influence over her husband, Jim, who often credits her with his own unflagging support of charitable causes and organizations in Detroit, out of state and in Israel. Together, the Grosfelds are leading the charge to meet some of Federation's great- est challenges. And their generosity has extended locally and nationally to numer- ous universities, hospitals and institutions, including the College for Creative Studies and the Cancer Genetics Center in their name at Beaumont. Nancy has a passion for animals. At her Bloomfield Hills home she lovingly tends to four stray dogs, seven cats and two birds who have their own room to fly. Here is an excerpt from an interview with Nancy Grosfeld, who will be honored with the Fred M. Butzel Memorial Award for distinguished community service on Sept. 17. 8 September 17 • 2015 JN edit: John Hardwie Vivian Henoch Special to the Jewish News Nancy Grosfeld will be presented the Fred M. Butzel Award. Early Years And Influences Tell us about your family background and your early influences. I was born in Northwest Detroit. My earliest recollections are of a flat where my maternal grandmother lived upstairs and we lived downstairs. I went to Halley School, Liggett and then to Dondero High School, when my family moved to Huntington Woods. My parents, Sylvia and Samuel Babcock, were both very involved with various local Jewish organizations. My mother grew up in Pontiac, the youngest of 13. I have a picture of her in my mind decades ago addressing envelopes and going door-to-door fundrais- ing for the Federation. She also served as a JCC vice president and was involved with the Jewish Historical Society, National Council of Jewish Women and Temple Beth El. My father, who grew up in Detroit, was a star athlete at Central High School and taught basketball at the JCC. I recall he was also involved with a garden project there. Jimmy and I have been married 35 years — we actually met on a blind date. He had a son, Jason, who was 4 when we met, and my daughter, Rachel, was 5. We are the happy grandparents of six adorable grandchildren, ranging from ages 5-10. Federation Leadership How did you get involved with Federation? A friend kept calling me to ask for my help at Super Sunday. Finally, I accepted because I ran out of excuses. I didn't know much about Federation. With every call, I prayed that no one would answer the phone because I just dreaded asking for money. The person I really have to thank for get- ting me started with Federation was my former mother-in-law, [the late] Belle Kukes, who insisted I attend a Lion of Judah meeting with her. Little did I know to what extent that first meeting would determine my future. Through the Lion of Judah Committee, I met Penny Blumenstein, who was to become my good friend and mentor. At Penny's encouragement, I got involved with the Ruby Division and, ultimately, took on the role of the Women's Campaign Chair. As I think back, whenever I've been asked to take on a new position at Federation, I'm taken by surprise. I never think beyond what I'm doing at a particular moment in time. On Israel You and Jim also have played a pivotal role in Federation's mission program to Israel. Why? When I was the Women's Department Chair (2002-2004), I went to Uzbekistan and traveled from there to Israel with a group of people making aliyah. For me, that was really when the light came on. It was a life- changing experience. In Uzbekistan, we had an opportunity to see Federation's overseas partners in action through the work of the JDC and the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI). I'll never forget the feeling of pride in know- ing we had been a part of the process that made it happen. How did the Grosfeld Leadership Program evolve? Out of everything we do, this is the program that means the most to Jimmy. We established it in 2001 with the goal to identify and mentor young adults with leadership potential for the community. The program culminates each year with a trip to Israel and Poland, and its impact on the group is profound. The stats that have come out of the pro- gram are just phenomenal: Grosfeld Mission participants of the past now hold 90 seats on Jewish community boards, 50 seats on Jewish Federation committees; 15 are recipi- ents of young leadership awards; they com- prise 10 percent of the present Federation board; and five have served as agency board presidents. Some have become Federation officers. Federation Challenges As Federation president, you inherited some of the toughest years in recent times. I became president in 2008, and it was right after the Fisher Meeting in September when the economy started to really turn downward. It was a very difficult time. But our partner agencies as well as other Jewish organizations pulled together to create pro- grams to help hundreds of individuals and families in crisis. Then we took a bold step and quietly raised almost $6 million from 10 families to create the Urgent Needs Fund. For about five years, that fund was a lifesaver, plug- ging holes in our community safety net services and lifting some of the burden off the shoulders of our agencies. Your greatest challenge to date is the Centennial Fund; tell us how that started. During my term as Federation president, we came to realize the funds raised through the Annual Campaign and the Challenge Fund were not sufficient to secure our growing needs into the future. We cre- ated the Centennial Fund, an endowment fund that provides donors the opportunity to direct dollars to specific programs or services important to them within four broad areas of focus: Social Welfare Needs, Jewish Education and Identity, Israel and Global Jewish Responsibility and PACE (Perpetual Annual Campaign Endowment) and Legacy. Our goal for the Centennial Fund is to raise $250 million dollars. Today, we have 95 families participating and $160.5 million committed to the fund. How does it feel to be the recipient of the Butzel Award? A little surreal! And very exciting. I am honored and never would have thought that I would be receiving such an award. ❑ The Fred M. Butzel Memorial Award for distin- guished community service will be presented to Nancy Grosfeld at the Annual Meeting of the Jewish Federation and the United Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1Z at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield.