Students eligible for the Allan and Harriet Gelfond Endowed Scholarships include part-time undergraduates or graduates in the School of Social Work who demonstrate a strong interest in developmental disabilities. The scholarships, awarded annually in the fall, are among the school's more than 35 named annual and endowed scholarships.
Both Gelfonds, of Farmington Hills, Mich., attended Wayne State. Mr. Gelfond, a School of Social Work alumnus, is an active member of the school's Board of Visitors. He has worked as a fund-raiser for the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit since 1980. Mrs. Gelfond teaches art to senior citizens and adults with developmental and emotional disabilities.
Mr. Gelfond said he always appreciated his education from the School of Social Work, from which he earned his master of social work degree.
"I felt we should give back," he said. "I'm in a position to be helpful, and providing this fund makes us feel good." Mr. Gelfond added that he hopes to help social work students so that they too can give back someday.
Phyllis Vroom, dean of the School of Social Work, welcomed the Gelfonds' financial support. "I am very grateful to the Gelfonds for endowing this scholarship," Vroom said. "We are always proud when our alumni lend support to our students."
For more information, contact WSU School of Social Work Development Director Marguerite Carlton at (313) 577-8807 or margueritec@wayne.edu.
As a key component of an urban research university, the Wayne State University School of Social Work is among the nation's leaders in preparing people for professional practice. Graduates of the Wayne State University School of Social Work are highly sought after by local, regional and national agencies.