22 | APRIL 22 • 2021
C
ongregation Shir
Tikvah in Troy is con-
ducting a shoe drive
fundraiser with drive-thru, con-
tactless drop-off collection dates
noon-1 p.m. Sundays, April 25,
and May 16 and 23.
Shir Tikvah will earn funds
based on the total weight of
the pairs of gently worn, used
and new shoes collected, as
Funds2Orgs will issue a check
for the collected shoes. The
funds will go toward social
action initiatives, arts and cul-
ture education, community out-
reach, membership support and
facility enhancements.
Anyone can help by donat-
ing gently worn, used and new
shoes at Shir Tikvah, 3900
Northfield Parkway, Troy, (off of
Wattles Road, between Crooks
and Coolidge).
All donated shoes will then
be redistributed throughout
the Funds2Orgs network of
micro-enterprise (small busi-
ness) partners. Funds2Orgs
works with micro-entrepre-
neurs in helping them create,
maintain and grow small busi-
nesses in developing countries
where economic opportunity
and jobs are limited. Proceeds
from the sales of the shoes col-
lected in shoe drive fundraisers
are used to feed, clothe and
house their families. One bud-
ding entrepreneur in Haiti even
earned enough to send to her
son to law school.
“We are excited about our
shoe drive,
” said Executive
Director Lorelei Berg. “We
know that most people have
extra shoes in their closets they
would like to donate to us. By
doing so, we raise money for
the important work we do as
a congregation, and we have
the chance to help families in
developing nations who need
economic opportunities. It’s a
win-win for everyone.
”
By donating shoes to
Congregation Shir Tikvah, they
will be given a second chance
and make a difference in peo-
ple’s lives around the world.
Every pair of shoes counts.
For more information, visit
shirtikvah.org.
OUR COMMUNITY
Director of Lifelong
Learning Sarah
Chisholm, Executive
Director Lorelei Berg
and Rabbi Alicia Harris
SHIR TIKVAH
Congregation Shir Tikvah launches
shoe drive fundraiser.
Best Foot Forward
JN STAFF
T
he Jewish Federation of
Metropolitan Detroit
will honor Jewish lead-
ers in our community at its
annual Awards Night on May 3
at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom.
For more than 100 years, the
Jewish Federation has been a
lay-led organization, whose
success has always been made
possible due to the incredi-
ble leadership of community
members. Its success is a result
of the partnership between its
professionals and lay-leaders.
Each year, Federation recogniz-
es a group of exceptional indi-
viduals for their contributions
to the community.
Jeannie Weiner and Neal
Zalenko will receive the 2021
William Davidson Lifetime
Achievement Awards. The
awards were established in
2000 to honor those individ-
uals who have devoted a life-
time of service to the Jewish
community of Detroit and the
Jewish people. In 2016, the
awards were named to honor
the life and legacy of William
Davidson (of blessed memory).
Also, being honored at the
annual Awards Night are three
young people being recog-
nized with Federation’s Young
Leadership Awards. Brooke
Bendix will receive the Sylvia
Simon Greenberg Award;
Jonathan H. Schwartz will
receive the Frank A. Wetsman
Young Leadership Award
and Ilana Goldberg Block will
receive the Mark-Lis Family
Young Leadership Award.
Risa Berris, a communal
professional at Jewish Family
Service, will receive the
Mandell L. & Madeleine
H. Berman Award for
Outstanding Professional
Jewish Communal Service
Driven by their connection
to our Jewish heritage
and history, each honoree
exemplifies the ideal of
exercising positive and
productive leadership for
our community. The Jewish
Federation invites the entire
community to join May 3 as
it celebrates these incredible
individuals.
To register, visit www.
jewishdetroit.org/awards.
PHOTOS COURTESY FEDERATION
Awards night will be May 3 on Zoom.
Jewish Federation
to Fete 6 Leaders
for Devoted Sevice
JN STAFF
Neal
Zalenko
Brooke
Bendix
Jeannie
Weiner
Ilana
Goldberg
Block
Jonathan H.
Schwartz
Risa Berris