 OCTOBER 8 • 2020 | 19

Jews in the D

JFMD/Foundation 
Meeting Goes Virtual

T

he 2020-2021 Annual 
Meeting of the Jewish 
Federation and the 
United Jewish Foundation of 
Metropolitan Detroit took place 
on Zoom Oct. 1. Leadership 
formally elected Matt Lester as 
the new president of Federation 
and Dennis Bernard as 
the new president of the 
Foundation. 
Businessman 
Dan Gilbert was 
also presented with 
the Fred M. Butzel Memorial 
Award, the highest honor 
bestowed on a Detroit Jewish 
citizen by the Federation. 
Michigan Gov. Gretchen 
Whitmer made an appearance 
at the virtual event, congratulat-
ing Lester and Bernard as they 
begin their new roles. Whitmer 
also congratulated Gilbert and 
thanked JFMD and the com-
munity during this trying year. 
Outgoing Federation 
President Beverly Liss, outgoing 
Foundation President Alan 
Kaufman, Lester and Bernard 
held a sit-down interview.
“The Federation’
s in great 
shape,
” Kaufman said. “The 
assets under management are 
over $700 million, real estate’
s 
in good shape, we’
ve eliminated 
properties that weren’
t perform-
ing as needed, and our property 
is maintained. The assets that 
are managed by Federation 
have increased over the last 
three years, so I’
m really proud 
to say that the management of 
the Foundation’
s assets are solid 
footing for the future.
”
A big topic was Federation’
s 
response to COVID-19.
“We are stronger when we 
work together,
” Lester said. 

“Our response to COVID was 
frankly unprecedented among 
any Jewish federation through-
out the world ... I think our 
Federation and Jewish com-
munity is extremely well-posi-
tioned to take on any challenge 
that comes our way.
”
Lester laid out his priori-
ties for the year.
“I want to be able 
to enhance our 
fundraising ability, 
and for people to 
feel comfortable without any 
threshold resistance to being 
part of or coming into the 
Federation circle,
” he said.
Lester also said he wants to 
see Federation go “from good 
to great” in terms of business, 
have stronger relationships 
between agencies and “expand 
the tent” further. 
For the Butzel Award, a video 
montage of Gilbert’
s friends, 
colleagues and confidants 
played before Gilbert spoke. 
“I’
m honored to join all the 
past Butzel recipients,
” Gilbert 
said. “We look forward to part-
nering with more foundations, 
both Jewish and non-Jewish, 
to explore solutions to other 
generational challenges that 
have plagued Detroit and 
Detroiters for far too long ... 
Jews have always led the way in 
philanthropy and giving, and 
we are honored to carry on that 
tradition.
”
The meeting did not dis-
cuss the closure of the JCC’
s 
health club. The club sits on 
land managed by the United 
Jewish Foundation, but both 
the Foundation and JFMD have 
said the decision to close the 
club was entirely the JCC’
s. 

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

