As the new year is underway, we are proud to reflect on the creativity and leadership our partnerships inspired in 2022. We are pleased to highlight some of our Applebaum Fellow programs & events which provided opportunity to advance the leadership potential for more than 100 students, entrepreneurs, and artists last year. We hope you enjoy reading this “spotlight” which includes special projects and new video testimonials from our Applebaum Fellows & program partners.
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra & Wayne State University | The Applebaum Fellowship Program
As part of our year-round Applebaum Fellowship Program at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO), five Wayne State University students from the School of Music had the opportunity to receive valuable work experience, mentorship, and leadership development training. Over the course of the winter and spring semesters, these five students held positions supporting a variety of the institution’s organizational capacities including Community & Learning for Detroit Strategy, Artistic Programming, as well as Institutional Advancement. The DSO continues to offer well rounded experiences for students interested in music, performing arts, and non-profit management that cannot be replicated in the classroom.
Hillel Metro Detroit & Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan | Applebaum Engagement Internship Program
Our Jewish engagement & leadership programs with both Hillel Metro Detroit (HMD) and Hillel Campus of Michigan (HCAM) adapted to changes on campuses due to the continued impact of COVID. Both HMD and HCAM were able to engage Applebaum Fellows in tactful leadership training, which promoted them to be better conduits on campus, reaching new students and creating more educational programming. We heard directly from HCAM Applebaum Presidents & Engagement Interns that they were grateful to have a community of leaders to reflect, build, and problem solve with by being part of the Applebaum cohort. To learn more about our partnership with Hillel Metro Detroit read our story from earlier this year here.
Hear more about our partnership from Cindy Hughey, Executive Director, Hillel Campus Alliance of Michigan.
The University of Michigan, Ross School of Business | The Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream Program & The Applebaum +Impact Design Fellowship
This year marked 17 years of the Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream entrepreneurial incubator program at the University of Michigan. The two semester-long, phased program engaged over 30 students from across disciplines at the university, with varying ventures focused on new solutions, ranging from healthcare innovations to the wedding planning industry! See a complete list of the 2022 ventures here. Our partnership with the Business +Impact Studio continues to grow, with eight Applebaum Fellows supporting fourteen +Impact Founders, all with social impact focused startups and ideas. A highlight included the Spring Networking Event, where both the Dare to Dream participants and Business +Impact Founders & Applebaum Fellows were able to “pitch” their ventures, as well as connect on ways to help each other succeed going forward.
Hear more about the Eugene Applebaum Dare to Dream Program from Anne Perigo, the Associate Director, Zell Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies, and LaTresha Howland, an Applebaum Fellow, former Eugene Applebaum Dare-to-Dream Program Participant, and Founder, Breadless.
Another amazing event included our ‘Idea Day,’ where friends of Applebaum Family Philanthropy – Veronika Scott (Founder, Empowerment Plan), Kiana Wenzell (co-Executive Director, Design Core Detroit), and Josh Sklar (Senior Product manager, StockX) – visited the +Impact Studio as guest advisors. Guest advisors worked with students to problem solve and brainstorm ways to take their social impact ventures to the next stage of success. See pictures from the event below and read more about our ‘Idea Day’ here.
The Applebaum Summer Internship Program
Last summer, twelve students from colleges & universities around Michigan participated in a six-week, paid internship program. These students received first-hand work experience at eight different local nonprofit & cultural arts organizations, while building a cohort and taking part in professional and leadership development training. Participating organizations included College of Creative Studies, Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit Historical Society, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, University of Michigan Museum of Art, Wayne State University Art Collection, and the Detroit Zoological Society. We were reminded of the power of the connectivity regained as we were able to again meet in person, fostering greater networking and mentorship opportunities among students and professional supervisors. Read more about the summer here and stay tuned for 2023 program announcements coming soon!
A New Partnership | Oakland University
Last summer also marked the launch of the inaugural Applebaum Fellows Program at Oakland University, with the goal of promoting students to become change agents in their community. Students with a variety of interests and majors were paired with meaningful internship opportunities at local organizations in the city of Pontiac. Their experience was tailored to advance their education, while helping to solve problems and build meaningful and sustainable solutions that impact city residents. The program included an independent study course, featuring mentors and speaker presentations. Beyond the walls of the classroom and more than a traditional volunteer opportunity or internship opportunity, this program aims to benefit both students and community partners alike while promoting civic responsibility and engagement. To learn more about this program read the Advancing Oakland article featured here.
Special Events | The 20th Anniversary of The Eugene Applebaum School of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
To mark the 20th anniversary of the named college, President M. Roy Wilson and Dean Brian Cummings hosted a special celebration at the school’s building. The event honored Mr. Applebaum’s leadership commitment to Wayne State and the Pharmacy School and Applebaum Family Philanthropy’s continued partnership for the future, including our PharmD Leadership & Scholars Program. Guests, including former Dean Beverly Schmoll, reflected on Mr. Applebaum’s founding vision for the college and championing the school’s success. The university’s Art Curator, Grace Serra, shared the significance and benefit of the ‘Arbor Drugs Collection’ on the walls of the Applebaum Pharmacy school. For more information on the maintained collection, you can read about it here.
Hear from David Gutenschwager, former PharmD Leadership & Scholars Program participant at Wayne State University’s Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Applebaum Family Philanthropy Next Generation: The Compass Fund | Year Two
Our community partners rose to new levels of creativity & engagement with the Applebaum Compass Fund projects. The goal of this third-generation-lead granting program is to support piloting and advancing efforts in Southeastern Michigan that unite entrepreneurism and determination toward fruition. This year the Compass Fund supported seven different community partners. Projects varied from creating ‘Lending Libraries’ at Camp Tamarack to provide campers with reading & respite opportunities, to creating first Applebaum Youth Programming Award with Month of Design help to increase artistic skills programming and exposure for Detroit’s youth. The third generation of Applebaum’s carry on and continue to support community partners they are passionate about, including the Friendship Circle Soul Studio, providing tailored skills training in watercolor, mix media, and fashion design for two new artists.
We are so proud of the creativity and leadership our partnerships have inspired in 2022 and have taken time to reflect & strategize the new ways we want to reach our community this year. Our hope for 2023 is to see our Applebaum Fellows Network continue to flourish, with more connectivity and engagement for our past, present and future leaders.
