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 

