JUNE 9 • 2022 | 17

campaign raised $160,000 for 
the purchase of new vans for 
transporting individuals with 
disabilities and other barriers 
to employment to and from 
job service sites. Without 
consistent transportation, 
JVS + Kadima participants 
risk losing their employment, 
their connections in the 
community and their ability 
to remain self-supporting. 
Approximately 150 people use 
this transportation daily, with 
65 vans typically in service. 
David DeVine, a lawyer 
with the law firm Butzel 
Long, has co-chaired Strictly 
Business for four years; Butzel 
Long has been an ongoing 
sponsor of the event. 
“
Around 15 years ago, I was 
given a tour of the organiza-
tion in Southfield, and I was 
immediately impressed by 
everyone’s passion and com-
mitment to making a differ-
ence in people’s lives,
” he said. 
“Part of the agency’s mis-
sion is to help people improve 
their circumstances through 
employment — whether that is 
finding the right job or learn-
ing new skills necessary to 
secure a job. The funds raised 
through Strictly Business 
have a huge and direct impact 
on the thousands of people 
assisted each year. I am proud 
to be a part of this effort and 
grateful to our excellent plan-
ning committee and team.
” 
DeVine’s co-chair of Strictly 
Business is Richard Shapack.
CEO of JVS + Kadima Paul 
Blatt is aware of the acute 
need by employers throughout 
Metro Detroit for workforce 
development. 
“Two years after the pan-
demic’s outset, the need to 
identify, train, recruit and 
retain a qualified workforce 
has never been more evi-
dent. As employers in every 

industry and of every size are 
looking for employees, JVS + 
Kadima continues to connect 
people — including those with 
disabilities, mental illness and 
other barriers to employment 
— with businesses,
” Blatt said. 
He added that this work, 
supported by Strictly Business, 
ensured that the 12,000 peo-
ple served annually by JVS + 
Kadima achieved meaningful 
employment. “Plus, employers 
benefit from securing qualified 
and dedicated workers,
” he 
said. 

ENTREPRENEUR 
OF THE YEAR
Rebecca Abel Buick, Strictly 
Business’ Entrepreneur of the 
Year, was very familiar with 
JVS + Kadima even before her 
award, working with teams 
of people who have develop-
mental disabilities as they gain 
valuable job training skills at 
her factory. She has even taken 
advantage of a JVS + Kadima 
program herself. 
“I took part in a work-
shop to find out some of my 
strengths and weaknesses,
” 
said Abel Buick, a mother 
of two boys who started her 
business more than four years 
ago and is about to move into 
her fifth new facility, in Taylor, 
due to company expansion. 
She also regularly turns to JVS 
+ Kadima to help her with her 
hiring needs, placing adver-
tisements with the agency. 
“I feel extremely honored 
to receive this award. It will 
continue to grow my relation-
ship with JVS + Kadima to get 
further involved in this amaz-
ing community organization,
” 
Abel Buick said. 

For information,, contact Michelle 

Malamis at michellem@kadimacenter.

org or (248) 233-4343. Virtual tickets 

start at $100 and in-person tickets at 

$200.

Hebrew Free Loan Detroit

6735 TELEGRAPH ROAD, SUITE 300 • BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICHIGAN 48301

@HFLDetroit

Community donations help Hebrew Free Loan give 
interest-free loans to local Jews for a variety of personal, 
health, educational and small business needs.

STORY
Our

STORY
Our

Jaemi Loeb and Craig Payst lived in several cities 
across the U.S. before settling down in Detroit in 2018. 
“One of the reasons we were attracted to Detroit is the 
Jewish community, and how the intrinsically Jewish things 
like Hebrew Free Loan are thriving here, even when other 
places have let them go,” Jaemi said. “It’s a credit to this 
community that those support structures have remained.” 
Jaemi and Craig put down roots in the city, selecting 
a home in a welcoming, walkable Northwest Detroit 
neighborhood. Over the course of a few months, though, 
and through some difficult weather, the couple noticed 
some issues with their roof. 
“We brought in a roofer so we could learn the extent 
of the issues,” Jaemi said. “We were told we could 
replace a few shingles here and there, but that would be 
temporary. Or, we could replace the entire roof and 
make it all secure, which was obviously pricier. We 
could have limped along while we saved up, but the 
problem would also probably worsen with time. While 
no one enjoys spending that kind of money, it’s also true 
that not everyone has that kind of money just sitting 
around, waiting to be used. Hebrew Free Loan was 
amazing, easy to access, and supportive.” 
With the help of an interest-free loan through Hebrew 
Free Loan’s Move-in Detroit loan program, powered 
by Peggy Daitch and Peter Remington, for young Jewish 
Detroiters, the couple replaced their roof. 
“It feels wonderful having that resource to help solve a 
problem before it becomes an emergency,” Jaemi said. 
“We aren’t crossing our fingers and hoping for the best, 
we’re back to enjoying our home.”

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www.hfldetroit.org • 248.723.8184

