Giving back: Local humanitarian Russ Ebeid honored for contributions to community
By Angie Laginess
The Press & Guide
The sounds of laughter, camaraderie, and clinking glasses permeated the hall of the Arab American National Museum on July 12 when members of ACCESS — the nation’s largest Arab American nonprofit organization — hosted a celebration to honor the life and legacy of local philanthropist and glass industry tycoon Russell Ebeid.
Space quickly became limited during the walking dinner and reception as people of every age and nationality came to celebrate Ebeid’s illustrious achievements.
“He is a generous man who has done a lot for the community,” said Bill Freij, a longtime friend of the honoree. citing the many scholarships Ebeid grants to students, as well as his involvement in the museum as just a few of the examples of Ebeid’s charitableness. “He’s a generous, humble, and honorable man,” Freij said.
That sentiment was repeated many times throughout the night.
The walking dinner was immediately followed by a special screening of “Russ,” a documentary of Ebeid’s life, as well as a personal question-and-answer session with the guest of honor.
“People are people everywhere in the world,” Ebeid said. “It’s just how you understand them. Everyone wants a better life, so you have to ask yourself: ‘How are you going to get it to them?’“
Growing up in southwest Detroit, Ebeid said his parents were “knapsack immigrants” who left everything behind for the chance at a better life. With only an elementary school education themselves, Ebeid’s parents were not deterred from watching over their son’s shoulder as he successfully worked his way through the American education system.
Ebeid began his career as a senior mechanical engineer at General Motors in 1963 and transitioned to Guardian Industries in the early 1970s — eventually becoming president and chairman of the board of Guardian Glass.
He spent more than 40 years in the glass industry before retiring in 2011, but retirement didn’t mean Ebeid stopped giving back; in fact, philanthropic work played such a substantial role in his life that it quickly became a part of his legacy.
Ebeid’s generosity has led him to be knighted three times with the Order of Merit; to be awarded Ellis Island’s Medal of Honor, and to be granted audiences with kings and queens around the world. But despite his fame and legendary accomplishments, Ebeid has never let his success go to his head.
Fawwaz Ulaby, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science professor at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, as well as former ACCESS Board of Directors member and former founding provost and vice president of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, spoke highly of the guest of honor, saying, “He is a very generous and humble person. His story is very inspiring because nothing was given to him. He worked very hard for everything he has.”
Ulaby also pointed out that Ebeid, “is always very active in ACCESS events and scholarships,” and that he has a magnetic personality that people naturally want to be around.
Attendance at the event included not only Ebeid’s friends and family, but also past and present
scholarship recipients, community members, fellow philanthropists, members of the board of directors of ACCESS, local businessmen and women, and a multitude of people who have been impacted by his generosity.
ACCESS Program Officer Katy Hanway couldn’t help but become emotional when talking about Ebeid and his work, “He just does so much for others and the community,” she said as she held back tears. “He’s just a great man and is so hands-on in the programs and in working with the scholarship recipients. He makes them a part of his life and stays in contact with them throughout the years. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Hanway pointed out several scholarship recipients around the room, and introduced two standing nearby. The first was Eric Salem, who was one of Ebeid’s first scholarship recipients. Salem was poised and happy to applaud his mentor and friend, Ebeid, whom he just refers to as “Russ.”
“I went to Kettering for Electrical Engineering,” he said, “but it was meeting Russ and Maha, and seeing how much they believed in me that gave me the strength to accomplish all that I did.”
And it’s that strength, he said, that has helped him become confident and successful. “Russ’s generosity helped me to move forward rather than be held back by debt and worry,” he said. “Russ believed in me and was a constant help.”
Salem also said that being accepted into the Arab American community was transformative, but that it was resoundingly Ebeid’s interest in him as a person and professional that really shaped who he became. “He gave me personal tours of Guardian Glass and introduced me to people to help me get a job there if that is what I wanted,” he said. “I really can’t say enough about him.”
Standing next to Salem was Montserrat “Monty” Daiz, another scholarship recipient. Daiz, a chemical engineering student of Wayne State University, said, “I am grateful to Ebeid and the work he does for students. The money I received allowed me to live on campus and become more active in organizations that would help me be successful in my future.”
Both Salem and Daiz, along with the other scholarship recipients, acknowledged the life-changing assistance given to them by Ebeid, who has helped countless people and organizations through his philanthropic work.
Always looking for ways to give back, his generosity serves as an inspiration for all, according to ACCESS Deputy Director and CFO Maha Freij, who praised Ebeid and the work he has done. “We came together tonight because this is a man to learn from.” she said. “He is an example to be followed and his life lessons can be a learning experience for others as well.
“Coming from immigrant parents, nothing was handed to him. He worked very hard for everything he has and everything he has accomplished. Unlike many people, he has not taken any shortcuts to get to his level of success. He gives back in many ways and has been impactful everywhere in the world.”
In addition, she said “he knows what he stands for and has great morals.”
When asked if they thought Ebeid would ever stop working or giving back, the crowd’s answer was a resounding “no.”
“This is a man who is true to himself and a proud Arab American,” Freij said. “He has never lost track of what success means and how to empower others. This is a man of integrity and everyone should know him.”
Ebeid is currently a Trustee of the Arab American National Museum, ProMedica Health Systems and Lourdes University, as well as owner of the Fairlane Club. Through his scholarship programs, Ebeid supports underserved students attending Kettering University, Lourdes University and Wayne State University.
“After 9/11, there was a lot of discussion about the Arab American community,” Ebeid said. “The issue from my viewpoint is that the Arab American community is quiet, and we should be loud and proud during these stressful times.”
And Ebeid is doing just that. Through his dedication to philanthropic pursuits, he continues to be a loud and proud force of benevolence both here and abroad.
Source: www.pressandguide.com