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Annual Gala/Honorees

Meet our 2023 Honorees

Jewish identity and continuity are the primary motivators for Paula and Lou Glazier. Simply look at the significant impact they have made on their family, Hillel Day School, and the Jewish community locally and nationally. This dedication and devotion comes from the volunteerism and Jewish learning strongly modeled by their parents and grandparents. In fact, Paula and Lou both graduated from afternoon Hebrew high school, where, luckily, they met. 

Together, Paula and Lou also lead by example. They made the transformative decision to give a comprehensive Jewish education to their daughters, Ilana Glazier (1990) and Mindy Civan (1992), by sending them to Hillel. The girls thrived and Paula and Lou created many lifelong friendships while becoming actively involved in the school. It brings them great pride that Ilana and Mindy followed in their footsteps by sending all of their children to day school. Ilana, who is currently Treasurer of Hillel’s Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance Committee, titles her father also held, and her husband Lowell’s three boys, Benji (2018), Ryan (2020), and Kobi (2023), attend(ed) Hillel, and Mindy and her husband Jesse’s children, Rena (2018), Aviva (2020), and Noah (2025), attend(ed) Perelman Jewish Day School in Philadelphia, where Mindy is also a teacher. 

Many of Hillel’s past presidents recognize Lou as Hillel’s unsung hero and chief strategist. His behind the scenes work resulted in the placement of the traffic light at the school’s entrance. He co-chaired the historic $13 million capital campaign that added 28,000 square feet to the school and created the middle school wing, media center, chapel, science wing, and renovated administrative offices. Hillel has Lou to thank for its wonderful relationship with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit as he made the initial presentation to the Federation that began their annual support which is so vital to the school today. In addition to Lou and Paula being active ambassadors and solicitors for Hillel, Lou represented the school in labor negotiations and led the tuition assistance allowance committee and search committees for key administrative positions. It is evident that Hillel would not be the strong institution it is today without Lou’s time, passion, and dedication.

In addition to her commitment to Hillel, Paula has served as President of Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy, as well as President of the Michigan Region of Women’s American ORT and Detroit Friends of ALYN Hospital. She was on the board of Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Israel Bonds Women’s Division, the Alliance for Jewish Education, Shalom Street, and many other organizations. For all of this and more, Paula received Federation’s William Davidson Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020. Today, Paula is involved with Bookstock, the Jewish Fund, and is President-Elect of the American Friends of ALYN Hospital. 

The couple, along with the entire Glazier-Schmeltz-Civan family, are exemplary role models in their Jewish communities. Paula and Lou are most heartened to witness the success Hillel currently enjoys and greatly appreciate how the next generation of leaders continue to move Hillel forward. 

We are thrilled to bestow upon them the 2023 Dream Maker Award for the incredible and indelible impact they have made on Hillel Day School.
TODD FINK
2023 rabbi jacob e. segal (z"l) award 

When Todd Fink's first child, Madelaine, enrolled in first-grade at Hillel, Todd began to get involved in the school. Little did he know that he would spend the next decade, and then some, in service to the school and have a role in some of the most impactful changes to the school since its founding in 1958.

Todd, a graduate of the University of Michigan and Wayne State University Law School, is a co-founder and managing partner of the private equity firm O2 Investment Partners. Todd brought his financial acumen and strategic thinking to the table as a member of the Hillel Day School Board of Trustees beginning in 2004. He served on the executive committee for eight years and was elected President in 2014. During his tenure as President of the Board of Trustees, Todd oversaw the transformation of Hillel's facility. He helped bring the IDEA Collaborative, MakerSpace, new science, art and music studios, prototyping and audio/visuals studios, new cafeteria, new kitchens, and the new Gan, 1-2, 3-6, and 7-8 learning community wings to fruition. Todd also spearheaded a $10 million endowment campaign and ensured that technology was available in every classroom for every student.

In addition to his dedication to Hillel, Todd served on the Board of Trustees for the Goldman Hermelin Education Foundation. Todd and his wife, Niki, have been married for 27 years and give their time and resources to many organizations within our Jewish community and beyond. They are the proud parents of; Maddie (2013), Aerin (2016) and Andrew, who also attended Hillel.

For his unwavering dedication to Hillel Day School, we are proud to bestow upon Todd Fink the Rabbi Jacob E. Segal Award.
GREG KAPLAN (class of 2000)
distinguished alumni award

Greg Kaplan graduated from Hillel in 2000, North Farmington High School in 2004, and the University of Michigan Ross School of Business in 2008. After business school, Greg began his career at Microsoft where he earned his CFA charterholder designation. Greg made his way to the Bay Area to join Specialized Bicycles as the Leader of Strategic Finance and Operations. At Specialized, Greg blended his Jewish values of tikkun olam and his commitment to DEI initiatives with his professional endeavors. Greg deployed Specialized resources and spearheaded efforts to support paralympians at the 2020 Tokyo Summer games, worked with Forrest Stump, an advocacy organization whose mission is to promote equitable access to physical activities and improve bike fittings for individuals with disabilities, and even recruited Tom Hanks to get involved. Most recently, Greg rode the final leg of a 1,700-mile Honor Ride dedicated to the memory of six fallen soldiers from a paratrooper unit in Afghanistan with Colonel Chris Kolenda. Greg coordinated the design of a custom-made Specialized bike Col. Kolenda used for the ride. Greg, a DEI champion, mental health advocate, Jewish community supporter, and overall doer of good, is now the Senior Vice President of Newfront, an insure-tech company.


Annual Gala 2023 Sponsors*

List of 9 items.

  • Dor L'Dor Sponsor

    In Memory of Herbert & Reva Lazarus and Moishe & Bess Glazier
  • Gala Event Sponsor

    Load One Transportation & Logistics
    John Elliott
  • The Major Donor Reception Sponsor

    Leah & Shaya Baum
  • Bar Sponsor

    Samantha & Ross Partrich
    RHP Properties
  • Dessert Sponsor

    Nancy & James Grosfeld
  • Raffle Sponsor

    Honigman
  • Silent Auction Sponsor

    The Schostak Family
  • Education Sponsor(s)

    Bottom Line CFO Services
    Dorothy & Eddy Barak
    Doris & Fred Blechman
    Robyn & Bob Canvasser
    CIBC and Richard & Jordan Sheiner
    Mindy & Jesse Civan
    Jenny & Eliezer (z"l) Dorfman
    Shari & Stanley Finsilver
    Ilana Glazier & Lowell Schmeltz
    Sandra & Manny Glazier
    Sharon & Marty Gene
    Gerych's
    Karen & Ken Goss
    Hour Media
    Kaufman Insurance Group LLC, Sabrina & Brian Kaufman, Karen & Jerry Kaufman
    Lisa & Danny Kurzmann
    Nicole & Matt Lester
    Beth & Steve Margolin
    Fran & Aaron Martin
    Susan & Howard Tapper
    Vitale Events
    Steven Weisberg
    Dora & George Weiss
    Ellen & Marc Whitefield
     
  • Friend of Hillel Sponsor(s)

    Rena, Aviva, and Noah Civan and Benji, Ryan, and Kobi Schmeltz
    Linda & Bob Finkel
    Barbara & Michael Horowitz
    Sheri & David Jaffa
    Quality Kosher Catering
    Kelly & David Victor
    Andi & Larry Wolfe
*in formation

List of 1 members.

  • Photo of Amy Schlussel

    Amy Schlussel 

    Director of Advancement
    248-539-1484

List of 6 items.

  • isacs

  • ism

  • jewish federation

  • naeyc

  • nais

  • prizmah

Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit
32200 Middlebelt Road | Farmington Hills, MI 48334

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