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DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
theJEWISHNEWS.com
rebuttal
Arthur M. Horwitz
Publisher / Executive Editor
ahorwitz@renmedia.us
Federation Is Transparent
T
John Hardwick
he Jewish News’ Sept. 1, 2016,
in our database when the report has been
editorial titled Federation: Choose
posted to notify the community that this
Transparency rightly points out
information is available.
that transparency and trust are critically
The Jewish News asserts that Federation
important if the Jewish Federation
has become more secretive when, in
of Metropolitan Detroit is to
fact, the opposite is true. Our report-
maintain its legitimacy and posi-
ing to the community is more robust
tion as the community’s central
than it’s ever been and Federation
fundraising address. But to assert
is more open to both the public and
or insinuate that we have been
media, including the Jewish News,
acting in secrecy, as the editorial
than at any time I can remember.
does, is both unfair and untrue.
Chief Executive Officer Scott
Communicating openly and
Kaufman and our leadership — both
ensuring decisions are debated
professional and volunteer — spend a
Lawrence A.
and vetted properly is vital
great deal of time meeting with com-
Wolfe
to establishing trust between
munity members to provide periodic
Federation and the community
updates on initiatives as they develop,
it serves. So, too, is publicly sharing key
to hear concerns and to gather feedback so
information. This is why the “Publications”
that programs and services can be enhanced
section of the Federation website under
and improved.
“About Us” contains the organization’s yearly
I’ve watched Mr. Kaufman and
annual reports, bylaws, financial statements
Federation’s professional staff — all of whom
and allocation reports and can be viewed by
care deeply about this community and in
anyone (jewishdetroit.org/about-us/
many cases have committed their lives to
publications).
serving it — operate with great integrity.
Like most Federations, we no longer print By writing that decisions are being made in
and mail the Annual Report out to every
secret, the Jewish News suggests otherwise.
member of the community because we
Not only is Federation operating transpar-
believe the significant dollars required to do
ently, we are meeting our community’s dif-
so are better spent on programs support-
ficult challenges head-on. After Federation
ing those in need. This year, we will email
discovered the significant financial discrep-
a notice and link to all of the constituents
ancies at the JCC, we moved quickly to stabi-
F. Kevin Browett
Chief Operating Officer
kbrowett@renmedia.us
lize the center and get it back on solid foot-
ing, which included the very painful decision
to close JPM. The financial challenges at the
Center have been going on for many years,
but we made the deliberate decision to deal
with them openly and directly and not “kick
the can” down the road.
In addition, with many of our aging agen-
cy facilities needing significant repair and
maintenance, we centralized management
of Federation’s entire real estate portfolio to
ensure our agencies have operational and
safe spaces for many years to come. We are
also working with our agencies more closely
and collaboratively than at any time in our
recent history, and we routinely hear from
our peers in other communities that this
relationship is extremely unique. These are
just a few examples; there are many, many
more.
As a community-driven organization and
the primary instrument of Jewish philan-
thropy in Detroit, we know that transparency
and honesty are critical to our success. We
will continue to operate as we have — in an
open and forthright manner. We also will
continue to evaluate our communication
methods and governance processes to ensure
that we always live up to that standard.
*
Lawrence A. Wolfe is president of Jewish Federation
of Metropolitan Detroit.
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| Detroit Jewish News
letters
Literacy Efforts
Make Impact
I would like to thank the more than 300
dedicated volunteers of the Detroit Jewish
Coalition for Literacy (DJCL) who truly
made a difference in the lives of the children
they tutor in schools throughout Oakland
County and Detroit. Through Southwest
Solutions, DJCL expanded our reach by
establishing partnerships among synagogues
and temples and several Detroit Public
Schools in the community.
In a recent letter of appreciation to DJCL,
Kaity Nicastri, site coordinator for Bennett
Elementary School in Southwest Detroit,
stated, “We are so grateful for your partner-
ship with Bennet during the past school year.
Your contribution of time, materials and
volunteers to the school is much appreciated
by our staff, parents and students. You were
able to help 75 students feel more confident
about reading and, more importantly, to feel
valued by a positive adult! Thank you for
committing time and effort to encourage our
6 September 15 • 2016
students to be successful.”
Limited resources in metro-area schools
make it nearly impossible for teachers and
principals to provide the individualized
attention needed to help students strug-
gling with literacy. The Jewish Community
Relations Council (JCRC) created DJCL to
help fill this gap and become part of the
solution. DJCL engages literacy volunteers,
helping students in kindergarten through
third grade learn to read and develop a love
of reading.
I invite you to join our corps of caring,
committed and generous volunteers. No
experience is necessary, just one hour or so
of your time each week and the ability to
care about the education and future of our
community’s children. DCJL will provide you
with the tools, training and placement you
need. And I promise, the reward you receive
from the children you tutor will be priceless.
If you would like more information about
DJCL, or you are interested in volunteer-
ing for any of DJCL’s programs throughout
Oakland County and Detroit, I welcome
you to contact JCRC/AJC Literacy and
Community Relations Associate Sandy
Lippitt, slippitt@jfmd.org or (248) 642-2640.
Sue Birnholtz, chair
Detroit Jewish Coalition for Literacy,
a program of JCRC/AJC
CORRECTION
• “Still In The Red,” about the Jewish
Community Center’s finances (Sept. 1, page
14), should have stated that the J CC’s CEO
Brian Siegel’s children are Natalie, 18, and
Griffin, 15, and that he is an owner of Star
TRAX, along with Geoff Kretchmer.
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