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

