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14 | MARCH 17 • 2022 

attorneys section that launched last fall. 
The real estate group had a brainstorm-
ing session in 2020 to discuss the issues 
members faced due to the pandemic. 
According to Kaplan, participants offered 
great ideas on handling difficult situations 
created by COVID.
Sherman, a 45-year-old Bloomfield Hills 
real estate attorney and investor, is involved 
with the attorney and real estate groups. He 
says the nature of them is really about the 
organic connections made through partic-
ipation.
“I’ve been connected to a number of indi-
viduals that I’ve subsequently done business 
with because of my involvement in the 
Affinities programs,
” he said. “The program 
has set up some really incredible events and 
unique opportunities, too. For example, we 
had a tour of the Pistons’ practice facility 
and got a behind-the-scenes experience in 
the practice facility and then had a chance 

to listen to Pistons’ leadership talk from a 
real estate perspective, a business perspec-
tive and a city perspective. That’s like going 
to business camp. You can’t beat that.
”

LOOKING FOR FUN
Not all groups are career-focused. There’s 
a men’s group called Pound for Pound, 
a social group with programs carefully 
designed to offer a “cool experience that 
makes guys want to leave their houses,
” said 
Kaplan, 43. Whiskey tasting and axe throw-
ing are two examples of recent programs. 
And these are a fraction of what 
Affinities offers. In addition to a young 
women’s philanthropy group, there are mis-
sion programs for those who haven’t been 
to Israel or visited the country many years 
ago. There’s a mission for physicians and 
their spouses, as well as a trip for interfaith 
couples. 
There are also what Kaplan calls entrée 

programs; Launch for men and Debut 
for women. Both started recently and are 
geared toward those looking to get involved 
in the community. These three-session 
programs expose participants to Federation 
and its agencies, and connect them to pro-
grams, events and committees that match 
their interests. 
They also have broad Gen-X engagement 
programs, including annual mega events 
like an ’80s bash, late-night road rally and 
drive-in BINGlow, which typically sell out, 
attracting hundreds of participants. 
“The events have just the right amount of 
Federation content to explain how import-
ant Federation is without pushing too hard 
on the solicitation side of things. It’s really 
a very different approach to fundraising. 
And it benefits everyone,
” said Goldstein, a 
58-year-old ophthalmologist. 
Affinities has become one of Federation’s 
more successful programs, with some 

ON THE COVER

Participants in the Andi & Larry Wolfe Gen X Mission in Israel.

