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