metro » Power Couple Named JCRC Activist Awardees A conversation with Drs. Lynda and Conrad Giles. Vivian Henoch | Special to the Jewish News A 20 May 19 • 2016 L: The one thought that comes to mind is not that I have a dream of starting any- thing new but rather hopes of finishing what I have started. I would love to see the SPARC program feel secure in its funding so that Jewish single-parent families can stay connected to Jewish institutions, their peers and the Jewish community. I would love our University of Michigan Hillel to have the funding it needs to continue to excel in fulfilling its mission: to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. John Hardwick sk Dr. Conrad Giles when he and his wife, Dr. Lynda Giles, plan to “retire,” and emphatically he’ll tell you: “We have no intentions of retiring. I have a wife who is a clinical psy- chologist in private practice.” Conrad himself maintains his own busy practice in pediatric ophthalmology as the chief emeritus of ophthalmology at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and as a clinical professor at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. The couple will receive the Jewish Community Relations Council’s 2016 Activist Award on June 8 at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills. The very definition of activists, in their 38 years of marriage, the Giles have been true partners — champions of health, edu- cation and charitable causes — serving as leaders and community-builders with the Jewish Federation, a focal point of much of their work on both the local and national levels. A past president of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Conrad was recognized in 1993 as the recipient of the Fred M. Butzel Award for Outstanding Community Service. On the national stage, he has an equally long his- tory of leadership and service to organiza- tions. A deputy president of World ORT since 2013, Conrad is about to assume one of his most prestigious roles to date when he is named president of World ORT in May. Lynda’s abiding passion for Jewish educa- tion, as well as her focus on young adults, has propelled her to take leadership roles fostering the growth of Federation’s educa- tional services and programming. Following her role as president of Federation’s Agency for Jewish Education (AJE), she became the founding co-chair of the Alliance for Jewish Education. A Federation board member, she has played pivotal roles in fundraising and other community initiatives with a cur- rent focus on University of Michigan Hillel and the Single Parent Alliance and Resource Connection (SPARC). Together, Lynda and Conrad have earned numerous accolades from the com- munity, including the State of Israel Bonds Prime Minister’s Award and Yeshiva Beth Yehudah’s Golden Torah Award. Drs. Conrad and Lynda Giles Q: What does it mean to be an activist? CONRAD: Simply stated: As a member of this community, you can make choices as to how you spend your time. You can either involve yourself in community in areas where you think you can bring something to the table or you can partici- pate in other ways. We have chosen to involve ourselves both in the gratifying work of Federation’s campaign and community activities. LYNDA: The word activist is not what comes to mind when I think about myself. I do, however, feel fortunate to have the opportunity to serve as an active volunteer in the Jewish community. Q: Thinking back on your journey in community service, what projects have been nearest and dearest to your hearts? C: No one project comes to mind, but I would say that we embraced Federation first and foremost. The more each of us has given the more we’ve got- ten in return. L: I think both of us have a tremendous amount of energy. We’ve loved the oppor- tunities we’ve had in our roles within the community. Q: Of all your achievements, what has made you the most proud? C: My wife! When Lynda came into my life, I was well on the road to becoming the president of Federation. At that time, I was head of the professional health division. When we got married, I was privileged to introduce Lynda to this aspect of my life and to the Federation community. When you look at the kinds of initiatives she’s been involved with, there is no question — my greatest accomplishment was involving my wife in the Jewish community. L: As much as Conrad is proud of me, I feel that way about him! Q: Is there community work or a project you still dream of starting? C: Becoming president of World ORT in May … I believe is going to provide me with enough challenge for the rest of my life. It’s a four-year term. The offices are in the United Kingdom and 37 countries as far afield as India. This might be the most chal- lenging and difficult job I’ve ever had with the possible exception of the time of the merger negotiations between UJA and CJF (Council of Jewish Federations). That’s his- tory. This is going to be an interesting four years. I don’t plan on starting anything new. Q: What do you tell young people to encourage them to get involved in the community? C: “I’ve been training young residents and fellows now for over a half a century — we’re talking about 500 young people who have come through my service in the medical center. I emphasize to each of them that what they are obtaining as becoming physicians is a trade — a mar- velous trade. They feel good about what they are doing. But that’s not enough! They have some- thing to give beyond using their trade as their sole contribution to society, and that’s something they should think about. L: My central message is that to be com- plete, we need to recognize our responsi- bilities — not only to ourselves, but to our families and our community. This connec- tion means that we need to give back or tzedakah. Being connected to community will only enrich one’s life. * Vivian Henoch is editor of Federation’s myjewishdetroit.org, where this story first appeared. Drs. Lynda and Conrad Giles will receive the 2016 Activist Award from the Jewish Community Relations Council at a spe- cial event in their honor at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 8, at Adat Shalom Synagogue in Farmington Hills. The pro- gram’s featured speaker will be University of Michigan President, Dr. Mark L. Schlissel. Dessert reception following the event, $18. For more information, visit detroitjcrc.org.