FEBRUARY 27 • 2020 | 25
continued on page 26
F
or 12 years, the University
of Michigan-Dearborn
helped fund a Hillel pres-
ence on its campus.
That changed in December
2019, when the school ended its
annual $25,000 contribution to
Hillel of Metro Detroit (HMD).
HMD is a regional Hillel
chapter that coordinates Jewish
student life across six different
Metro Detroit universities. In
addition to UM-Dearborn,
it has a presence at Lawrence
Technological University,
Oakland Community College,
Oakland University, University
of Detroit Mercy and Wayne
State University.
Miriam Starkman, executive
director of HMD, told the JN
they are still currently going
to UM-Dearborn occasionally,
once a month or so, and are still
in contact with the students but
do not have the presence now
that they once had.
“
As a graduating senior who
has worked so hard to fight
for Jewish students’
rights on
this campus, it concerns me,
”
UM-Dearborn senior Jordan
Wohl said. “Hillel enabled the
perspective that Jewish students
were and are welcomed on this
campus. They were the consis-
tent body that students needed
at UM-Dearborn.
”
Ken Kettenbeil, vice chan-
cellor of external relations at
UM-Dearborn, said in a state-
ment to the JN that the school
was working to secure HMD
funding through other means,
and it had received a lead gift
from an anonymous donor.
“We are still continuing to try
and find a matching gift for that
lead so we can rekindle the rela-
tionship with Hillel and ensure
that we would be able to con-
tinue to fund campus engage-
ment here at UM-Dearborn,
”
Kettenbeil said.
Shortly after the April 2019
appointment of Domenico
Grasso as UM-Dearborn’
s
new chancellor, according
to Kettenbeil, the university
revealed it was experiencing
budget difficulties, primarily
related to a decline in the num-
UM-Dearborn Pulls
Financial Support for
Campus Hillel Group
The university is working to secure outside
donations for the program instead.
CORRIE COLF STAFF WRITER
COURTESY OF HILLEL OF METRO DETROIT
Jordan Wohl and other
UM-Dearborn students at
the JSO Pre-Chanukah/
Holiday Movie Night &
Party in December 2017
.
Provides Joy to Children
Across the Country
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS
Get involved,
go to
friendshipcircle.org/
foreverfriendship
Great Bike Giveaway
There are few greater joys for
a child than riding a bike. For
thousands of children with special
needs, that joy is almost impos-
sible. Friendship Circle’s Great
Bike Giveaway has made that joy
attainable for children across the
country.
Mikhail Reytsman was once
given a bike by a stranger. The
only stipulation was that he pay it
forward. He reached out to Tzvi
Schectman of Friendship Circle
to see if there was a child in need
of a bike. That was in 2011. Since
then, Friendship Circle has taken
Reytsman’s simple act of kindness
and turned it into more than
1,000 adaptive bikes given to
children with special needs.
“What is so special about
Great Bike Giveway is that it’s a
national effort that also becomes
a community effort wherever the
child lives,” said Sara Daniels,
Friendship Circle marketing
director.
Through Friendship Circle’s
online resource blog, founded
through support from the D. Dan
and Betty Kahn Foundation
, peo-
ple across the country connect,
sharing special needs information
and expertise. Using the blog
as its launching point, the Great
Bike Giveaway is able to reach
individuals across the country
to nominate children in need of
an adaptive bike. In addition to
voting for a winner, thousands of
people use the Great Bike Give-
away website as a fundraising
platform to rally behind children
in need of an adaptive bike.
Jadiel Ceberino is one of
those amazing children. “I don’t
even know about 80 percent of
the donors, which shows that
generosity still exists,” said Jen-
ny, Jadiel’s mother. “When this
event comes around again I will
be a donor to another amazing
boy or girl, just like other people
did for me.”
A simple joy and a dream
come true. That is the blessing of
an adaptive bike that will allow a
child with special needs therapy,
exercise and a way to experience
a fuller life every day.
“Jadiel has gone bike riding
every single day, and there is no
way I was going to be able to
afford this kind of joy for my little
angel,” Ceberino says. “I will be
forever grateful.”
To nominate or vote for a
child, or donate to an
adaptive bike fundraiser, visit
www.greatbikegiveaway.com.
Jadiel
Ceberino