OUR COMMUNITY

H

illel Day School has begun an 
“Open Space, Open Minds” ath-
letic capital campaign to help fund 
the expansion and enhancement of Hillel’s 
outdoor athletic facilities. 
Currently, Hillel lacks a quality 
field that students can use year-round 
and after inclement weather, said 
Amy Schlussel, Hillel’s Director of 
Advancement-Admission & Giving. The 
current field is also uneven, and Hillel 
students need a safe playing surface for 
athletes of all ages. 
The project includes replacing the current 
grass with synthetic turf and enlarging the 
size of the current field to accommodate 11 
versus 11 soccer play. The all-season field 
will be 107 yards long and 72 yards wide, 
large enough to accommodate Hillel’s sports 
teams, yet flexible enough to host youth 
sports teams. These upgrades will improve 
safety, extend usage, enhance competitive-
ness and engage community use. 
The field will be multi-use, which means 
it can accommodate soccer, lacrosse, foot-
ball and field hockey, just to name a few. 
The field will be funded by the Sue and 
Alan Jay Kaufman family. 
Another major feature of the campaign 

will be the addition of two multi-purpose 
courts. These courts will provide the oppor-
tunity for students to play basketball, vol-
leyball, pickleball, floor hockey, four-square 
and other gross-motor sports. These multi-
purpose courts will be funded by Lori and 
Maurice Pogoda. 
“That will be fenced in so that it also 
allows our youngest learners to be out 
in the front playing without fear of the 
ball or kids going into the parking lot,” 
Schlussel said.
A major feature of the campaign is the 
installation of a new track. Currently, Hillel 
does not have a standard running track. 
Once completed, Hillel will have a two-lane 
track surrounding the athletic field.
The Little Red Schoolhouse, a historical 
landmark, is synonymous with Hillel Day 
School, once housing kindergarten. After 
a recent flood, the schoolhouse has sat 
dormant. Included in the athletic cam-
paign is the plan to convert the Little Red 
Schoolhouse into a hub for athletic sup-
port and activity. The kitchen and bath-
rooms will be updated to allow for stu-
dent-led concessions and spirit wear sales 
and to also serve as a renovated meeting 
place for students, parents and staff. 

A goal has been set to raise $3 million by 
Sept. 1. All donations will be matched by 
the Kaufman family. The campaign went 
public June 1 and has already raised $2 
million. 
Schlussel believes the project is a 
game-changer and something that’s been on 
the minds of school leaders for a while. 
“Since 2014, we’ve renovated every inch 
of the school on the inside to make it a tool 
for 21st-century learning with our vision 
to be innovative and creative; the outside 
should be the same,
” Schlussel said. 
“With the pandemic, we’ve seen how 
important it is for kids to be outside and 
active and the benefit it has for mental 
health,
” she added. “Our tagline is ‘Mind 
and soul. Better together’ and this is why 
the athletic campaign is ‘Open Space, Open 
Minds.
’ We want the kids to be outside 
much more and have usable space.
” 
Hillel is inviting the community to make 
a meaningful gift at any of the giving levels, 
with numerous naming opportunities and 
all donors recognized on an outdoor donor 
installation. To give, visit www.hillelday.org/
giving/open-space-open-minds-athletic-
capital-campaign or contact Amy Schlussel 
at (248) 539-1484. 

‘Open Space, Open Minds’’

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

Hillel Day School starts capital campaign for outdoor athletic facilities. 

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Renderings of the 
track, Kaufman Family Athletic Field and 
Pogoda Family Multi-Purpose Courts.

COURTESY OF HILLEL

28 | JUNE 23 • 2022 

