JUNE 8 • 2023 | 11

YOUNG LEADERSHIP AWARDS
The Sylvia Simon Greenberg Young 
Leadership Award has been recognizing 
rising female leaders since 1965, when 
Greenberg’s family established it as a 
memorial to their beloved wife and mother. 
This year’s honoree, Amye Goldhaber of 
Franklin, has focused her efforts on Women’s 
Philanthropy, sitting on the board of directors 
and becoming co-chair of Young Women’s 
Philanthropy. In November, she’ll travel 
to Israel with the Susie and Norm Pappas 
Inspire Campaign Leadership Program. 
“Motivating is a word I’
d use to describe 
winning this award,
” says Goldhaber, who 
owns an interior design firm and is also active 
at Hillel Day School, where her two children 
attend. “It fuels my efforts to realize that 
something I enjoy doing is making a mean-
ingful contribution.
”
In 1961, Frank A. Wetsman’s family estab-
lished an award to recognize exceptional 
leadership potential and service to the Jewish 
community by a young man. Shimon G. 
Levy, this year’s recipient, has dedicated his 
life to serving his community, both in his 
native Israel, where he was an IDF squadron 
commander — and his adopted hometown 
of Detroit. 
Levy, 37, began his volunteer journey 
with NEXTGen Detroit, where he sat on the 
executive board through 2022. He’s held lead-
ership positions on JFNA
’s Young Leadership 
Cabinet, Federation’s Board of Governors and 
has led missions to Israel, Cuba and Hungary. 
He sits on several Federation committees.
A father of two young children who runs 
investing and consulting firms, Levy is also 
passionate about combatting antisemitism 
and anti-Israel sentiments and building com-
munity, which he and his wife do by hosting 
large Shabbat dinners and community events 
at their home. “The understanding that 
Federation gives you so much more than you 
give it is a guiding beacon,
” he says. “What 
you give, you get back tenfold.
”
Created in 1993 by Florine Mark and fam-
ily, the Mark-Lis Family Young Leadership 
Award recognizes an established NEXTGen 
Detroit Division leader with a track record 
of remarkable commitment and success in 
the division as well as Federation’s Annual 
Campaign.
This year’s honoree, George Roberts of 
Detroit, has been involved in NEXTGen 

Detroit since 2015. Under his leadership as 
president, the NEXTGen Detroit campaign 
raised more than $1 million for the first time 
in 2022, and Roberts attracted more young 
people to NEXTGen Detroit by refreshing 
everything from events like Epic to the orga-
nization’s social media strategy. 
A real estate developer who focuses on 
building equitable communities across 
Detroit, Roberts, 34, also applies his pro-
fessional skills to volunteer work: He’s 
leading the revitalization of the Isaac Agree 
Downtown Synagogue. 
“I’ve always looked up to Federation lead-
ers [who are] part of our history and commu-
nity,
” he says. “I’m hoping that sharing how 
meaningful leadership has been for me will 
inspire others.
”
Madge and Bill Berman, both of blessed 
memory, established the Mandell L. and 
Madeleine H. Berman Award for Outstanding 
Professional Service in 1988 to acknowledge 

exceptional communal professionals. These 
individuals’ hard work and commitment is 
key to advancing Federation’s mission. 
This year’s honoree, Tracey Proghovnick 
Edelstein, has dedicated her career to help-
ing others, particularly those unable to help 
themselves. She’s worked for Jewish Senior 
Life for nearly 25 years, during which she’s 
helped countless seniors and their families 
navigate the challenges that come with mov-
ing into assisted-living facilities. 
As the director of residential marketing 
and community relations, Proghovnick is 
responsible for getting the word out about 
JSL — which serves about 850 seniors across 
Metro Detroit — and representing the orga-
nization at events and conferences. 
“When you do your work every day, you 
do it because you care, not because you’re 
looking for accolades,
” says Proghovnick, who 
lives in West Bloomfield. “This is the biggest 
honor I could ever imagine.
” 

Shimon 
G. Levy

Amye 
Goldhaber 

George 
Roberts 

Tracey 
Proghovnick 
Edelstein

