The Wayne State University School of Social Work boasts a tight-knit community of over 15,000 alumni and donors who work to support our nearly 900 students as they pursue their passion in the heart of Detroit. On April 7^th, donors, faculty, students, and community members came together at a mixer event to celebrate the establishment of the Sara Gleicher and David Fabbri Endowed Scholarship and garner additional donations to assist students in need.

Spearheaded by a $25,000 donation by Eli Simons establishing the Sara Gleicher and David Fabbri Endowed Scholarship, the School event resulted in significant donations of $32,200. Simons, a strategic account executive for high-end tech products whose mother, Roseanne, and Gleicher met while graduate students at the School of Social Work in the early 1980’s, has a long family history with Gleicher and her husband Fabbri, often referring to Gleicher as his “aunt”.

Sara and David's love and kindness is something I've been lucky enough to benefit from since the day I was born.  This endowment exists as a lasting way to ensure that this love and kindness is shared with people who will go on to do good things in this world.  I love you, Sara and David, and thank you to the Wayne State School of Social Work for being the perfect vehicle through which I can express my love. – Eli Simons

The scholarship is open to full- and part-time graduate or undergraduate Social Work students in good academic standing that demonstrate financial need. Preference may be given to students who express interest in pursuing social work at the macro, policy and/or community level. Awards may be used in support of tuition, fees, and other educational expenses.

Dave and I are grateful to Eli Simons for his thoughtful, loving generosity in establishing the scholarship funds in our names. We hope students will be able to use scholarship funds to advance their social work education and use their skills to help heal, transform and create anti-racist, social just communities for everyone. – Social Work Alum and Board of Visitors Member Sara Gleicher

Additional funds raised throughout the evening will be distributed to the Gleicher and Fabbri Scholarship, along with the School of Social Work General Scholarship Fund. “Our students possess a great passion for helping others and as an institution rooted in equity and access, we have an obligation to minimize the financial hurdles for those looking to obtain their social work degree,” noted Social Work Dean and Professor Sheryl Kubiak. “Generous donations like that of Mr. Simons and all those in attendance, assist us in making a college degree accessible for our students. I look forward to seeing future warriors cross the graduation stage because of their support.”

For information on how you can support the WSU School of Social Work, contact the Social Work Individual Giving Officer Theresa Port at hm8006@wayne.edu or 313-577-4429.

Hero image caption: From left - Donor Eli Simons, Alum and Board of Visitors Member Sara Gleicher, and Social Work Supporter David Fabbri.