The Jewish Federation of Detroit has announced that Douglas Bloom will receive the Fred M. Butzel Award for distinguished community service. The award will be presented to Douglas at the Jewish Federation’s 2018 Annual Meeting on September 13, 2018, 7:30 pm at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield.
Douglas has served in a variety of roles within the community including President of the Jewish Federation, President of the Jewish Community Center, Chair of the American Jewish Committee, Chair of Federation’s Annual Campaign, and—his favorite role—Chair of the Planning and Allocations Steering Committee. In addition, Douglas has served on the boards of Jewish Senior Life, JVS, Temple Kol Ami, The Jewish Fund, United Jewish Foundation and various committees throughout the community.
“Doug has held a number of leadership roles at the Jewish Federation and several Jewish agencies and synagogues,” says Howard Neistein, Chief Officer of Strategic Partnership for the Jewish Federation. “In every instance Doug brought with him a sense of Kol Yisroel, the idea that all of these organizations are part of one community and that their link to one another has enabled them to do more together than any could accomplish on its own.”
Scott Kaufman, Chief Executive Officer of the Federation, adds: “Doug is a true community champion who has always commanded the deep respect and admiration of the people around him, including the staff and volunteer leadership of the Federation. We are all so grateful for all he has done, and so happy to see him receive this much-deserved award.”
Douglas and his wife Barbara are the benefactors of the Barbara and Douglas Bloom Matzah Factory held each year at the JCC. Hundreds of local Jewish children learn how to make matzah the exacting, traditional 18-minute way every Passover. He and his wife also sponsor the Barbara and Douglas Bloom Acts of Loving Kindness Fund, which helps seniors with financial difficulties remain in Fleischman Residence.
Barbara and Douglas have three children and several grandchildren. They reside in Birmingham.
About the Butzel Award
The award dates back to 1951, when a special committee – comprised of the presidents of Federation’s member agencies, the president of the Detroit Service Group, the president of the Women’s Division and the chairman of the Federation Executive Committee – was formed to identify an individual that encompassed four factors:
- Length of service to the Jewish community
- Service to the total Jewish community as well as its constituent parts
- Service as a representative of the Jewish community in the organized general community
- Character and integrity in communal affairs
Today, the Fred M. Butzel Award stands as the community’s highest honor for volunteer leadership.