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Lois Shaevsky

Bloomfield HIlls

Hero Story

Quite simply, Lois Shaevsky is a force of philanthropy. Make no mistake, she is a mighty display of dedication, cooperation, and commitment to the missions of more than 25 organizations and nonprofits across Southeast Michigan for four decades.

Lois has the innate and unique ability to connect people with diverse resources and talents throughout Metro Detroit in an effort to address many of our most pressing needs. She does this daily and with great success because first and foremost, she listens to understand. Lois takes time every single day to meet with leaders of nonprofits and service agencies who are on the front lines of serving our communities. She asks myriads of questions, and she listens closely for the challenges, the opportunities, and the connections needed to solve problems. Recently deemed “The Rolodex Diva”, Lois knows who to bring to the table in a concerted effort to improve the lives of children and families.

She is unafraid to make an ask, often shrugging as she smiles and says, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” And when Lois asks, she usually gets.

As a former president of Variety the Children’s Charity, Lois is responsible for bringing new energy and advocacy to the organization. In fact, in reviewing the point-of-entry for so many directors and volunteers, it is Lois who is credited with so many introductions to the charity. Her advocacy is astounding and as such, Lois received the Variety Heart Award at the charity’s signature gala for 2020-2021.

As Executive Director of Variety, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Lois to service children with unique and special needs. She held the office of the president for two years and did so in such an intense and dedicated fashion. We met frequently and spoke daily about fundraising challenges, program successes, relationship building, development, grant opportunities, and more, and she was highly involved in every aspect of the organization. Lois is a true partner; shouldering the challenges and sharing in the successes of the mission. She is also a friend who takes time to ask about family, friendship, and well-being.

She is one-of-a-kind, and it is her fearless and endearing spirit that defines her uniqueness and her success as a philanthropist.

It would be nearly impossible to calculate the millions upon millions that her efforts have helped to raise across decades and organizations, and that number would only be dwarfed by the incredible respect and admiration that Lois has garnered from all who know her.

Lois Shaevsky has made life-changing differences to nearly every segment of the community, simply by being her amazing, passionate self.

She has impacted more than 25 organizations in as many ways–as a board member, advisory committee member, event co-chair, and more. Those organizations include Variety the Children's Charity of Detroit, The Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Pubic Television, Detroit Zoological Society, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center, Oakland University, William Beaumont Hospital, and more.

On behalf of the children of Variety and so many other wonderful charitable organizations in Metropolitan Detroit, we thank Lois Shaevsky for sharing her passion with our community. She is changing lives each and every day, and we are grateful.

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Lois Shaevsky

Bloomfield HIlls

Hero Story

Quite simply, Lois Shaevsky is a force of philanthropy. Make no mistake, she is a mighty display of dedication, cooperation, and commitment to the missions of more than 25 organizations and nonprofits across Southeast Michigan for four decades.

Lois has the innate and unique ability to connect people with diverse resources and talents throughout Metro Detroit in an effort to address many of our most pressing needs. She does this daily and with great success because first and foremost, she listens to understand. Lois takes time every single day to meet with leaders of nonprofits and service agencies who are on the front lines of serving our communities. She asks myriads of questions, and she listens closely for the challenges, the opportunities, and the connections needed to solve problems. Recently deemed “The Rolodex Diva”, Lois knows who to bring to the table in a concerted effort to improve the lives of children and families.

She is unafraid to make an ask, often shrugging as she smiles and says, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” And when Lois asks, she usually gets.

As a former president of Variety the Children’s Charity, Lois is responsible for bringing new energy and advocacy to the organization. In fact, in reviewing the point-of-entry for so many directors and volunteers, it is Lois who is credited with so many introductions to the charity. Her advocacy is astounding and as such, Lois received the Variety Heart Award at the charity’s signature gala for 2020-2021.

As Executive Director of Variety, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Lois to service children with unique and special needs. She held the office of the president for two years and did so in such an intense and dedicated fashion. We met frequently and spoke daily about fundraising challenges, program successes, relationship building, development, grant opportunities, and more, and she was highly involved in every aspect of the organization. Lois is a true partner; shouldering the challenges and sharing in the successes of the mission. She is also a friend who takes time to ask about family, friendship, and well-being.

She is one-of-a-kind, and it is her fearless and endearing spirit that defines her uniqueness and her success as a philanthropist.

It would be nearly impossible to calculate the millions upon millions that her efforts have helped to raise across decades and organizations, and that number would only be dwarfed by the incredible respect and admiration that Lois has garnered from all who know her.

Lois Shaevsky has made life-changing differences to nearly every segment of the community, simply by being her amazing, passionate self.

She has impacted more than 25 organizations in as many ways--as a board member, advisory committee member, event co-chair, and more. Those organizations include Variety the Children's Charity of Detroit, The Detroit Historical Museum, Detroit Pubic Television, Detroit Zoological Society, Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, Mary H. Weiser Food Allergy Center, Oakland University, William Beaumont Hospital, and more.

On behalf of the children of Variety and so many other wonderful charitable organizations in Metropolitan Detroit, we thank Lois Shaevsky for sharing her passion with our community. She is changing lives each and every day, and we are grateful.

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