SEPTEMBER 9 • 2021 | 21

and speakers at the Annual 
Dinner will be General 
Motors Chair and CEO Mary 
Barra, who is this year’s 
recipient of the Outstanding 
Leadership Award, the 
Yeshiva’s highest honor. 
Barra began her 
career with GM in 
1980 as a General 
Motors Institute 
(Kettering 
University) co-op 
student at the 
Pontiac Motor 
Division. She was 
named CEO in 2014. Under 
her leadership, GM envisions 
a world with zero crashes, to 
save lives; zero emissions, so 
future generations can inherit 
a healthier planet; and zero 
congestion, so customers get 
back a precious commodity 
— time.
She is focused on improv-
ing the customer experience 
and strengthening GM’s core 
vehicle and services business, 
while also working to lead the 
transformation of personal 
mobility through advanced 
technologies like connectivity, 
electrification and autono-
mous driving.
“I appreciate Yeshiva Beth 
Yehudah’s commitment to fos-
tering education and growth 
at all stages of life, and I am 
honored to join the ranks 
of Outstanding Leadership 
Award recipients,” Barra said. 
“I have learned that success 
is always a team effort, and 
much of my own has been 
paved by incredible mentors 
and the support of great col-
leagues at General Motors.”

MORE THAN 
‘JUST A SCHOOL’
For more than 100 years, 
Yeshiva Beth Yehudah has 
provided Torah and secular 
education that shapes bright 
young minds into exceptional, 
compassionate leaders. But 
it’s more than just a school. 

It’s a place where communi-
ty members come together 
to grow, connect and be 
inspired. Its Partners Detroit 
program gives Jewish adults 
the chance to enjoy enlight-
ening and invigorating Torah 
study, regardless of their 
background or level of expe-
rience. And its Scholars Kollel 
program enables adult Torah 
scholars to dedicate their 
time and energy to learning 
while serving as ambassadors 
of Torah teachings and role 
models to our community.
“The dinner has been a 
foundation for opportunities 
to introduce the Jewish com-

munity to opinion leaders in 
our broader community and 
allow them to look through 
the lens the Yeshiva plays 
in greater Detroit. It’s like 
Abraham’s Tent — welcoming 
to all with room for every-
one,” said General 
Chair Mark 
Davidoff, also an 
honoree in 2018.
Rabbi Shragie 
Myers, executive 
director of the 
Yeshiva, said 
the dinner showcases the 
partnership between private 
philanthropists, business and 
community leaders, and the 

general public 
for a great cause. 
“We’ve always 
been proud of 
the diversity of 
the crowd — 
both Jewish and 
non-Jewish — 
and that everyone 
on that dais stands for unity,” 
he said.
 “We open a window to 
the Jewish community for so 
many others to look through,” 
he added, “and what they get 
is a glimpse of the Yeshiva 
and all it encompasses, from 
the youngest children to 
the elderly and everyone in 
between. When they see that, 
people, in a word, are uplift-
ed and want to be associated 
with it.
“Everyone in the Detroit 
Jewish community has a 
place with the Yeshiva, either 
through Partners Detroit, 
communal events or the 
annual dinner, which breaks 
down barriers and invites so 
many people who might not 
otherwise feel welcome, to 
come into the tent,” Myers 
said.
This year’s dinner is 
planned and organized 
by Dinner Chair Steve 
Steinour, president and CEO 
of Huntington Bancshares 
and last year’s Outstanding 
Leadership Awardee. General 
Chairs are community philan-
thropists Jim and Nancy 
Grosfeld and Mark Davidoff, 
president and CEO of the 
Fisher Group; Event Chair 
is Jerry Norcia, president 
and CEO of DTE; Honorary 
Chair is Ambassador David. 
T. Fischer, chairman emeritus 
of the Suburban Collection; 
and Campaign Chair is Sandy 
Pierce of Huntington Bank. 
Sponsorship opportunities 
and tickets are available at 
www.ybydinner.org. For addi-
tional information, call (248)-
663-8299. 

Mark 
Davidoff

“IT’S LIKE ABRAHAM’S TENT — 
WELCOMING TO ALL WITH ROOM 

FOR EVERYONE”

— MARK DAVIDOFF

Mary Barra

Rabbi 
Shragie 
Myers

Steve Steinour, 

Huntington Bank

Jim Nicholson,

PVS Chemicals

Mark Davidoff,

The Fisher Group

Matt Simoncini,

former CEO

of Lear Corp.

Gary Shiffman,

Sun Communities

Dan Loepp,

Blue Cross Blue Shield

of Michigan

David Provost,

Huntington Bank 

Peter Cummings,

The Platform

Past Outstanding Leadership 
Award Winners

President Joe Biden & 
President Donald Trump 

UN Ambassador 
Nikki Haley 

UK Prime Minister 
Tony Blair 

General Colin Powell

President George W. Bush 

First Lady Laura Bush 

Then Vice President 
Joe Biden 

Sen. John McCain 

Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice

Past Annual Dinner Speakers

This year’s speaker has yet to be announced.

Mark Fields,

former CEO of Ford Motor Company

