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.