December 2021
2021 was a year of perseverance: many twists and turns; but above all, progress. With hopes to transition programming in person, 2021 was a year of continuing to imagine innovative and unique ways to connect with our community. Despite the constraints, we are proud to share moments “beyond the screen” and reflect on the memories, new activations, and stories that made up our 2021: Zoomed out.
OUR MEMORIES:
Remembering Marcia Applebaum
“We were always inspired to give back and make a difference. Gene had a love of the city which came from growing up here… and a love for everything about Detroit. It’s important that we help people, because when you have the means to do it, it makes a difference in someone’s life.” Marcia Applebaum, 1939-2021
In June, we lost a special soul, Marcia Applebaum. Marcia led a life filled of love and purpose. She was a partner to her husband Eugene in all aspects of life. They were champions for causes which advanced education, health and medical research as well as organizations that enhanced the arts and culture and strengthening of the Jewish people and Israel.
Marcia’s understated elegance, kindness, and exquisite lens on life will forever be an extraordinary part of who we are. May her memory be a blessing.
We were so touched and honored by all the tributes made in memory of Marcia Applebaum. We appreciate the special stewardship by Jewish Family Service of Metropolitan Detroit and the American Friends of Magen David Adom. We look forward to advancing those causes dear to Marcia Applebaum through Applebaum Family Philanthropy and sharing more stories in our #ApplebaumLegacy series in the years ahead.
NEW ACTIVATIONS
We explored new ways to connect with our Applebaum Fellows, grow our Applebaum Internship Program, relaunched the Applebaum Family Compass Fund and forged a new partnership with the Business + Impact Program at the University of Michigan Stephen Ross Business School.
Applebaum Salon Sessions
To build and connect the community of Applebaum Fellows, we launched Salon Sessions: Conversations with Community Leaders. Two engagement sessions were held with partner organizations Detroit Symphony Orchestra, featuring Anne Parsons, President Emeritus and Mark Davidoff, Board Chair; and Wayne State University, featuring Dr. M. Roy Wilson, President and Dr. John Corvino, Dean of the Irvin D. Reid Honors College.
Applebaum Internship Program (AIP)
This year’s cohort comprised 16 students from Detroit area colleges receiving a paid internship opportunity at community non-profit and cultural institutions: Arts and Scraps, CCS, Detroit Historical Society, DIA, DSO, Detroit Zoological Society, Empowerment Plan, Friendship Circle, Hazon Detroit, InsideOut Literary Arts, MOCAD, Mosaic Youth Theater, Motown Museum, University of Michigan Museum of Art and Wayne State University Art Collections.
Applebaum Family Compass Fund Relaunch
The Applebaum Family Compass Fund relaunched with third generation Applebaum Family members, Rebecca Applebaum-Wyett and Molly Applebaum-Wyett serving as Co-Trustees. The fund provided grants to six organizations — College for Creative Studies, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Wayne State University – Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Friendship Circle, Gary Burnstein Community Health Clinic and Tamarack Camps — to support and promote innovation while strengthening overall mission.
Business + Impact Program at the University of Michigan Stephen Ross Business School
We launched a new partnership with U-M Ross Business School and their Business+Impact initiative. The partnership funds a range of impact and design activities, including an Applebaum Innovator-in-Residence, Applebaum Impact Design Fellows, prototype development for models of social impact and community outreach and research. We were so pleased to meet the Fellows and students in person. We look forward to growing the program in future years.
A SELECTION OF STORIES
Despite the continued effects of the pandemic, we are thrilled that our impact efforts were able to reach and inspire a diverse collection of individuals and organizations within our mission priorities. Looking back, our direct programming included 21 hosted sessions and events, engaging over 200 fellows, students, and individuals.
Some key program highlights are included below reflecting priority areas of Education, Arts and Culture, Jewish & Israel, and Medical & Health.
EDUCATION
Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream Program
The Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream Program at the University of Michigan continues to synergize. Since inception in 2004, Dare to Dream has provided grants and funding opportunities to more than 1300 students enabling them to incubate and develop student-lead entrepreneurial ventures. We were fortunate to host our first in person Applebaum Pitch in close to two years. More here
Applebaum Fellowship Program at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO)
Now its sixth year, the Applebaum Fellowship Program at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra provides a hands-on paid internship experience for Wayne State University students at the iconic cultural institution. The opportunity enables students to receive bona-fide career experience, mentorship, and leadership development skills through a variety of unique offerings that go beyond music. This year’s group included six student interns.
Applebaum Pharm D. Leadership Program at Wayne State Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Welcomed cohort three of the Applebaum Pharm D. Leadership Program. The program is offered to Applebaum College PharmD students who embody an entrepreneurial spirit and passion to advance the community ambulatory pharmacy practice in Detroit. The program provides professional skill development, research practicum and advanced education to prepare the next generation of leaders in community pharmacy. More here
Applebaum Emerging Leaders Program at Wayne State Irvin D. Reid Honors College
Proud to welcome the second cohort into the Applebaum Emerging Leaders Program at the Irvin D. Reid Honors College. Under the leadership of Dr. John Corvino, the program continues to grow, providing practical career and leadership skills beyond the classroom. Students participated in group research projects with local Detroit organizations, Van Dyke Horn PR and Kapstone Employment Services. More here
ARTS & CULTURE:
Applebaum Fellows x Darkroom Detroit and Applebaum Artists in Residence
Celebrated the third cohort engagement of Applebaum Photography Fellows at Darkroom Detroit and launched the new Applebaum Artist in Residence Program this year. The annual Residency enables local and international photographers to have dedicated time and space to work on their practice. This year we welcomed Steve Koss, Lorena Cruz Santiago and Stefanía Santana. More here
ProjectArt Detroit
Lisa Applebaum was honored at ProjectArt Detroit’s 5th Year Anniversary celebration. The event recognized ProjectArt’s impact in the community and served as a catalyst to build community support. ProjectArt empowers youth, emerging artists, and communities through partnerships with Detroit Public Libraries providing tuition-free, after-school art classes to children in divested areas, while developing new artwork in library workspaces. More here
DLectricity
DLECTRICITY, has presented four major light-based art and technology exhibitions to galvanize and connect mid-town Detroit. The Applebaum Family has sponsored Dlectrictiy each year since its 2012 inaugural program. For this year’s effort, Lisa Applebaum sponsored artist, Allison Janae Hamilton, and her work: Waters of a Lower Register, featured at the Horace Rackham Educational Memorial Building in Detroit. More here
Essay’d
After working with Steve Panton in our partnership with the DSO Art@theMax , we were pleased to support his work with Essay’d. The #151-160 installments spotlighted distinct Detroit artists. Essays are free to access on the Essay’d website. Featured image “Transcendence: A Portrait of Corey Teamer,” 2018, Mural at Brush and Baltimore, Detroit. Image courtesy of Ijania Cortez. More here
JEWISH
Applebaum Fellows x Hillel
Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan (HCAM): continued support of The Applebaum Statewide Leadership Engagement Initiative and the engagement of ten Applebaum Fellows from Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Grand Valley State, Kalamazoo College, and Western Michigan.
Hillel of Metropolitan Detroit: continued support of the Applebaum Family Student Internship Program and the engagement of four Applebaum Fellows from Wayne State and Oakland.
Applebaum Fellows x Yiddish Book Centre
Joey Reisberg was this year’s annual Applebaum Family Student in the Steiner Summer Yiddish Program. Now in its fourth decade, the Steiner Summer Yiddish Program offers motivated students the opportunity to immerse in Yiddish language and culture. Joey, a rising senior at Goucher College participated in the seven-week program studying with renowned scholars in a student cohort experience. More here
ISRAEL
AFMDA
Mrs. Marcia Applebaum purchased the “Applebaum” Blood Drive Bloodmobile in memory of her husband, Eugene. The Bloodmobile — a critical lifesaving vehicle — is used to transport vital equipment and rescue teams for emergency care in the central areas of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The “Applebaum” Blood Drive Bloodmobile was manufactured this year and will be in service very soon.
American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)
Hand-to-Hand Program: supporting 1,100 Holocaust Survivors in greater Tel Aviv with trained volunteers who provide companionship to help improve life quality and health.
Hackaveret: 30 Applebaum Fellows participating in JDCs Center for Social Innovation “Accelerator Track.” Mobilizes entrepreneurial solutions to address pressing social challenges by providing mentors, grants and access to help scale ventures toward stability and impact. More here
Tsofen
Tsofen aims to dramatically increase the participation of Arab engineers in the hi-tech industry to advance the economic sustainability of Arab citizens in Israel. Proudly provided an increased grant to support their Hi-Tech curriculum in ten Arab high schools reaching over 3,000 students, the first ever annual parent-student high-tech conference attracting some 250 participants, and the annual High School “Hackathon.”
50:50 Startups
New partnership with Israeli NGO, 50:50 Startups – promotes Palestinian-Israeli coexistence through meaningful connections in venture creation and technological innovation. Direct support for two ventures — Food Chain and Quantum Platform — and their co-founders. Very proud that Food Chain, co-founded by an Israeli Jew from West Jerusalem and a Palestinian from East Jerusalem, was recently featured on I24 News. Click here to watch the I24 News piece.
MEDICAL AND HEALTH
Beaumont
Provided additional six figure investment to the Marcia and Eugene Applebaum Simulation Learning Institute (SLI) for capital and technological improvements to enhance position as a national leading learning, education and research center. Above all, will strengthen Eugene Applebaum’s vision “to assure that future generations receive the best health care education possible (and) that well-trained doctors stay in the surrounding communities.”
Mayo Clinic
Congratulations to Dr. Monica Langley for completing her two-year appointment as the inaugural Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Fellow in the Center for MS and Autoimmune Neurology. Dr. Langley’s research was recently published in the prestigious Journal of Neuroscience. We are also so pleased to welcome the appointment of the second Eugene and Marcia Applebaum Fellow, Dr. Ben Clarkson!
FINAL WORD:
We look forward to a positive year ahead and the opportunity to share future stories of impact and more. To our Applebaum Fellows, community partners and friends, you are the story and we zoomed out together in 2021. Thank you for the invaluable contributions and engagement!
