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She became a life member of
Hadassah in the mid-1990s, when
her children were young, and quickly
became president of the now-dis-
banded Ruach chapter. She recently
served as president of the Aviv chap-
ter, resigning when she joined the
staff.
She previously worked as office
manager for Jewish Senior Life’s
Fleischman Residence, assistant
manager of the Coville Apartments
and general manager of dining
services for Unidine, which served
senior residences in Redford and
Bloomfield Hills. From 2016 until
earlier this year, she was on the pro-
gram staff at Temple Israel.
Richmond has two children,
Ian Bensman, 28, of Ferndale and
Carly Simko, 23, of Auburn Hills.
She was married in February to J.D.
Richmond, director of environmental
services at Jewish Senior Life. They
live in Livonia.
OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT
She says she hopes to create more
family-friendly programming and
more evening events that working
women can attend. She also wants
younger women to realize that vol-
unteers, as well as donors, are wel-
come.
“As a young mom, I didn’t have
a lot of money, but I always felt
appreciated as a volunteer,” she said.
Richmond won the national Judith
Epstein Memorial Award for young
leaders for her work on the Ducky
Derby, a family-friendly fundraiser
held for several years in the 1990s.
Richmond wants to publicize
Hadassah events by upgrading the
email system, making better use of
social media and advertising in the
Jewish News. She also wants to work
with other Jewish groups vying to
attract the same pool of younger
adults. She’s planning a joint soi-
ree with Israel Bonds in December,
where participants will buy a bond
and then donate it to Hadassah — a
win for both organizations.
Richmond participated in a
Hadassah “young leaders’ mission”
to Israel in 1999; she credits the trip
with cementing her dedication to the
organization. Now she is planning a
similar mission to Israel for young
moms in November 2019, in con-
junction with the Jewish Women’s
Renaissance Project. Hadassah
will subsidize a trip to Israel for 13
women with children younger than
18. In return, participants will com-
mit to a year as Hadassah volunteers.
Richmond recognizes that adults
in the millennial generation are
non-joiners, as most organization
and congregation leaders can attest.
So, she hopes to tap into the well
of local women who are already
Hadassah life members through gifts
received at their birth, bat mitzvah,
graduation or wedding. Richmond’s
challenge will be to show them how
Hadassah is relevant to them and get
them involved.
“Randi has big shoes to fill,” said
Greater Detroit Hadassah President
Carol Ogusky of Sylvan Lake. “Evelyn
[Diskin] was here for 28 years and
was very beloved and admired. Randi
has come in with new, fresh creative
ideas. She has lots of enthusiasm and
wants to make a difference and build
on Hadassah’s strengths and take us
further. Change is difficult, but Randi
is trying to make it as seamless as
possible.”
Fran Heicklen of West Bloomfield,
who will succeed Ogusky as Greater
Detroit Hadassah president in
January, agreed. “Hadassah is build-
ing a new structure and direction,
with the lead coming from the
national office,” she said.
“This will help all Hadassah units
to expand membership and work
more consistently between regions.
Change is imperative and welcome
to keep up with the dynamics of our
community and our country. Randi
has many great ideas and enthusi-
asm, and she will help the Greater
Detroit Region of Hadassah reorga-
nize and reach its goals.” •
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September 27 • 2018
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