14 | JUNE 30 • 2022
says. “We start in August
and pick our focus area; for
example, the last two years
focused largely on mental
health, and the teens take
their role very seriously.”
She described how smaller,
breakout groups then
conduct site visits, reporting
their observations to the full
Teen Board for discussion.
“This year, we added an
antisemitism focus as well,”
Charnas says. “I think site
visits really help the teens see
the programs they’re going
to fund, and that usually is
what drives the choices the
board makes.
“The Teen Board is a
practical way of introducing
teenagers to the mechanics
of philanthropy.”
Yakira Hyman, whose
second-year Teen Board term
ended this May, says her
experience was a deep dive
into the grant application
process, and deciding to
award KKC money for its
ceremony fell squarely within
the group’s mandate.
“Our mission statement
this year was to help
support mental wellness in
the community and Kids
Kicking Cancer isn’t only
an organization that helps
kids with cancer through
breathing techniques and
mental health advice,” she
says, “it also helps other
children and families in the
community, even if they
aren’t sick.”
Hyman added how
participation gave her “the
opportunity to make a
difference in our community
while educating me further
on grant processes and
nonprofit organizations. And
we feel like we’re making a
difference even though we’re
young.”
Having graduated earlier
this month from Farber
Hebrew Day School in
Southfield, the 18-year-old
is taking a gap year in Israel
at Midreshet Torat Chessed
in Netanya, and then
matriculating into SUNY
Binghamton, in New York
state.
THE VALUE OF
COMMUNITY
With the two dozen
students sitting in front, Lila
Lazarus, veteran Detroit
journalist and Heroes
Circle president, acted as
master of ceremonies. She
welcomed family and friends,
and effusively praised
participants, acknowledging
the significance of gathering
collectively.
“Do you know what
experts say our No. 1 most
important health crisis is?”
Lazarus asked the crowd
during her opening remarks.
continued from page 13
continued on page 16
TOP: Sruly and Bayla Berman of Oak Park, along with their son Dovid,
2, attended the Belting Ceremony to watch Dovid’s older brother,
Zevi, 7.
ABOVE: Entrepreneur Barak Leibovitz, 32, joined Rabbi Elimelech
Goldberg, founder of Kids Kicking Cancer. Leibovitz attended on
behalf of his family’s charitable organization, the Leibovitz Family
Foundation, which has pledged a six-figure gift to KKC.
OUR COMMUNITY
ON THE COVER