metro »
Warm Hearts
» h ere’s
Esther Babayov and
Monika Herschfus
of the Suit Depot
Three forces join together
to aid Detroit’s homeless.
Rochel Burstyn | Contributing Writer
Alan Reinstein
recently
earned the
2016 Lifetime
Contribution
Award for the
Midwest Region
Reinstein
of the American
Accounting
Association.
This award was given “for his con-
tinuous leadership, guidance and
support for the Midwest Region.”
The award is not given annually —
only when individuals have made a
significant impact on the organiza-
tion. Reinstein is the first academic
to earn this award since 2007.
D
etroit’s homeless will be
20 years, began his Man of Steel Project
warmer this winter, thanks to in 2015 in memory of his friend Officer
a coat drive sponsored by the Sidney Taylor, who died in December
Suit Depot, the Man of Steel Project and
2014. One month earlier, Wallace had
the Detroit Police Training Academy.
visited his sick friend in the hospital
This is the second annual coat drive for
while dressed in a full Superman cos-
the Suit Depot in Oak Park. The first was tume, ignoring the surprised looks from
instigated after owner Marty Babayov
onlookers.
visited Washington, D.C., in 2014 and
During that visit, an image of the
noticed the many homeless people living homeless appeared on TV, prompting
in the nation’s capital. He was particu-
Taylor to pledge help when he recov-
larly disturbed by how many nearby gov- ered. Wallace agreed to assist him, the
ernment offices and lawmakers seemed
two shook and hugged on it; and a few
unconcerned.
days later, before his scheduled trans-
Babayov was further shocked to learn
plant surgery, Taylor reminded Wallace
of Detroit’s large homeless population.
of their pact, adding, “Keep our prom-
According to the Homeless Management ise, even if I don’t make it …”
Information System, the streets of Metro
That was the last time the two spoke.
Detroit are home to more than 34,000
Determined to keep his word, last win-
individuals; the state of Michigan has the ter, Wallace, once again in his Superman
fifth-biggest homeless population in the
costume, handed out 385 care packages
country.
to the homeless, together with his stu-
Babayov felt the solution shouldn’t
dent officers and their families.
solely be left in the hands of the govern-
This year’s dual coat drive started
ment. “We all have to do our part to
with coat donations from the Suit
affect the change we want to see in the
Depot. To encourage donations, the
world,” he said.
store is offering 25 percent off any new
That winter, the Suit Depot ran a coat
coat purchase with the donation of an
drive with the Do Foundation.
old one in good condition. Donations
One of Babayov’s employees later
of scarves, hats, gloves and warm blan-
enrolled in the Detroit Police Training
kets are also being accepted, as well as
Academy and needed a volunteer
coats for any gender and size.
opportunity to complete his training. He
“We’re hoping this initiative will
remembered the Suit Depot’s coat drive
bring in many coats,” Babayov said.
and suggested joining forces.
“Our goal is to collect 1,000 coats, but
“It was the perfect solution,” Babayov
even just 100 would make a world
said. “We can collect coats, but distribu-
of difference to the 100 people who
tion was a challenge. This year, police
would be warm this winter.”
recruits from the
The coat drive runs through
police academy will
January. Drop boxes are at the
go out on the streets
Suit Depot, 26158 Greenfield,
and distribute the
Oak Park, the Detroit Police
coats, getting to
Training Academy, and any
know the communi-
business or school can request
ties they’ll be serv-
one by emailing esther@
ing.”
thesuitdepot.com. For details,
Officer Mark
visit www.thesuitdepot.com/
Wallace, who has
served Detroit for
Sidney Taylor and Mark Wallace coat-drive.
to
Scott Cohon, for-
merly of Southfield,
of Boca Raton, Fla.,
has been elected
the 73rd Supreme
Master (international
president) of Alpha
Cohon
Epsilon Pi, an inter-
national Jewish col-
lege social fraternity.
Cohon, a 1991 graduate of Wayne State
University, worked for AEPi for eight
years following graduation, serving the
fraternity as a chapter consultant and
director of risk management. Since then,
Cohon has been an active volunteer and
has served on the International Board of
Directors for the last 16 years.
Merrill Lynch has hired Donny Wohl as a private wealth advis-
er from J.P. Morgan’s Private Bank in Michigan.
Wohl spent more than 10 years with JP Morgan’s Private
Bank, taking on increasing responsibilities within the firm. He
was an executive director and ran the investment practice for
the State of Michigan, directing 10 investment professionals.
He began his financial services career in 2006.
Wohl
Heller
Jacobs
Kaploe
Kaplow
Lax
Michael
Maddin
Richard
Maddin
Roth
*
20 January 5 • 2017
Saperstein
Sallen
Wolock
Maddin, Hauser, Roth & Heller, P.C. announced that several of its attorneys have
been recognized in DBusiness Magazine’s list of 2017 Top Lawyers. The recipients
and respective categories in which they were honored include: Harvey R. Heller,
legal malpractice law; John E. Jacobs, real estate law; Evan H. Kaploe, tax law;
Robert D. Kaplow, trusts and estates, tax law; Charles M. Lax, employee ben-
efits law; Michael W. Maddin, real estate law; Richard J. Maddin, real estate
law; Richard F. Roth, real estate law, trusts and estates; Steven D. Sallen, real
estate law; David M. Saperstein, legal malpractice law; Steven M. Wolock, legal
malpractice law.