Board of Directors
Our Mission, Goals, & Values
As a collective, we care deeply about our community and feel the need to share our, time, energy, network and efforts to growing Higher Hopes!
William Birndorf
Chairman of the Board & President of Apple Marketing Company
William Birndorf is the President of Apple Marketing Company, as well as the Founder of Higher Hopes!
Bill is instrumental in fundraising initiatives, obtaining key individual, corporate, and family foundation donations. He coordinates the head start leads and Gleaners Food Bank of S.E. Michigan meetings and is the liaison between all groups/parties.
In addition, Mr. Birndorf is on the board for The Friendship Circle in West Bloomfield, MI, and is an active supporter of JARC, Tamarack Camps, and many other organizations that benefit children, the elderly, and people with special needs.
Board Member & Vice President of Sales of Apple Marketing Company
Miranda Crammer is Vice President of Sales at Apple Marketing Company.
Miranda plays a key role in initiating corporate and foundation contributions for Higher Hopes! and manages the organization’s social media pages. She creates marketing tools to promote and initiate fundraising campaigns and is also a Team Lead at one of the four distribution sites for the annual Thanksgiving event. Her connectivity in Detroit and surrounding communities provide access to many young people that are an integral part of the city’s growth.
Aside from volunteering her time regularly with Higher Hopes, Miranda is an active advocate for a local charity called Move for Emme, highlighting awareness for Adams-Oliver syndrome. She also is involved in Great Lakes Burn Camp (GLBC), which provides a unique experience that promotes healing, self-esteem, confidence, and general well-being for burn-injured children.
Miranda Crammer
David Lubin
Board Member & Fomer President/CEO of MJS Packaging Company
David Lubin is the former President and CEO and current Board memeber of MJS Packaging Company.
David serves on the Boards of The Freindship Circle, New Horizons Rehabilitation and B’nai B’rith International (Great Lakes Region); and is on the Board of Visitors for Wayne State University’s College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts.
Board Member & Trustee of Applebaum Family Philanthropy
Lisa Applebaum’s life’s work has been devoted to the arts and the arts community of her hometown metropolitan Detroit and current residence, New York City. After completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan in art history, Ms. Applebaum moved to New York and soon began working at Sotheby’s auction house. After completing Sotheby’s one-year American Arts Course, Ms. Applebaum launched an art advisory business and began her own collecting activities, in which she focuses on contemporary art in all media, with a particular emphasis on emerging artists.
Ms. Applebaum’s current volunteer and philanthropic emphasis is to bridge her extensive experience in the New York cultural and arts institutions with enhancing and revitalizing the arts in metropolitan Detroit. Currently, Lisa is spearheading the Applebaum Family Fellowships in the arts in Detroit. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of Higher Hopes!, Ms. Applebaum is involved with the University of Michigan Museum of Art Director’s Acquisition Committee and the American Friends of the Israel Museum Acquisitions Committee; ProjectArt; Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit; and the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Board of Visitors.
Lisa Applebaum
Mark Lichterman
Board Member & Principal of The Lichterman Group
Mark Lichterman is the Principal of The Lichterman Group, serving nonprofits, foundations & philanthropists. He has worked in organizational development and fundraising for more than 18 years. He delivers sophisticated and innovative strategic planning, fundraising, and governance advice resulting in better-run organizations and efficiencies in fundraising.
Mark received a B.A. and Master’s Degree from the University of Michigan in Public Health and his J.D. degree from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
Board Member & Director of Leadership Giving at Michigan State University Hillel
Dana Loewenstein is the Director of Leadership Giving at Michigan State University Hillel. As Director of Leadership Giving, Dana develops fundraising strategies to support innovative programming, with a key objective of identifying & soliciting major gifts. The key focus is to engage community leaders and explore collaborative opportunities with mission driven organizations, cultural institutions, public and private companies, and foundations.
Dana received a B.A., Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and her J.D., Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School.
Dana Loewenstein
Karen Rubenfire
Board Member & Chief Operating Officer of Project Healthy Community
Karen Rubenfire is the Chief Operating Officer and founding member of Project Healthy Community. PHC is a nonprofit organization in Northwest Detroit focused on health and wellness, food insecurity, and nutrition education.
Karen has devoted her career to helping others less fortunate. She oversees all the administrative and operational functions of PHC and has developed key strategic and collaborative partnerships to enhance the size and scope of their mission. She sits on several steering committees in the City of Detroit centered on maximizing good food programming for Detroit youth and was recently elected to the Board of Jewish Senior Life.
Karen received her BA in Psychology and her Master in Social Work from the University of Michigan.