OUR COMMUNITY

T

he B’nai B’rith Great Lakes 
Region, centered in Metro 
Detroit, held several com-
munity service programs over the 
summer, including a golf tournament 
fundraiser and donations made to the 
Children’s Hospital of Michigan and 
Yad Ezra. 
On July 9, Great Lakes Region 
President Lila Zorn and Vice 
President Joel Marwil presented 
a donation of B’nai B’rith Diverse 
Minds books to the Children’s 
Hospital of Michigan. The donation 
was accepted by Sinéad Nimmo, 
Child Life Projects specialist at the 
hospital. Diverse Minds books were 
created in the B’nai B’rith Diverse 
Minds Youth Writing Challenge, held 
from 2006-2018, which awarded col-
lege scholarships to high school stu-
dents who wrote and illustrated books 
for young readers that promoted a 
message of tolerance and diversity. 
The winning books were published 
by B’nai B’rith and donated to chil-
dren’s facilities nationwide. Marwil 
has distributed Diverse Minds books 
to libraries, schools and community 
centers in the area. 
On Aug. 2, B’nai B’rith Great Lakes 
Region held its 39th annual B’nai 
B’rith Stephen B. Zorn Memorial 
Golf Outing fundraiser at the Tam-
O-Shanter Country Club in West 
Bloomfield. Proceeds raised from 
the event benefitted a variety of B’nai 
B’rith programs and went toward 
scholarships for four students. 
On Aug. 30, Lila Zorn and Judi 
Shapiro, Great Lakes Region Project 
H.O.P.E. chairperson, presented a 
$1,500 check to Yad Ezra, which pro-
vides kosher and traditional Passover 

food, health care products and 
household items to vulnerable Jewish 
families in Southeast Michigan. 
Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov, exec-
utive director of Yad Ezra, accepted 
the check. Project H.O.P.E. — Help 
Our People Everywhere — works 
with community family service agen-
cies and local Jewish social services 
to provide and deliver food packages 
to communities in need across the 
United States. The B’nai B’rith Great 
Lakes Region supports Yad Ezra 
year-round as part of its community 
service programs. 
The Great Lakes Region covers 
Michigan, Fort Wayne, Ind., and 
Toledo, Ohio, with most of its activ-
ity centered in Metro Detroit, which 
is home to active lodges, units and 
numerous community programs. 

B’nai B’rith Great Lakes Region holds numerous 
community programs over summer 2021.

A Successful 
Summer of Giving

JN STAFF

24 | OCTOBER 7 • 2021 

On Aug. 30, Great Lakes Region President Lila Zorn 
and Judi Shapiro, Great Lakes Region Project 
H.O.P.E. chairperson, presented a $1,500 check 
to Daniella HarPaz Mechnikov (center), executive 
director of Yad Ezra. 

The winning team of the 39th Annual B’nai B’rith 
Stephen B. Zorn Memorial Golf Outing included David 
Lubin, Glen Young, Charlie Young, Ron Ruks, Nick 
Haratsaris and Jeffrey Tackel.

Scholarship Committee Co-Chairs Rick Sherline (left) 
and David Lubin (right) with Jaden Jubas, one of four 
students who received scholarships funded by the golf 
tournament proceeds.

On July 9, Great Lakes Region President 
Lila Zorn and Great Lakes Region Vice 
President Joel Marwil presented a 
selection of B’nai B’rith Diverse Minds 
books to Sinéad Nimmo (center), Child 
Life Projects specialist, on behalf of the 
Children’s Hospital of Michigan. 

