A Legacy of Creativity and Care: The Charach Family’s Enduring Gift to CCS
December 8, 2025
When Janice passed away in 1989, her family found comfort in the world that had always connected them – art. Through the Manat Foundation, established by her parents, Natalie and Manny Charach, they began creating spaces where art could uplift others, including the Janice Charach Gallery in West Bloomfield. What began as an act of remembrance became a lifelong family commitment to celebrating creativity as a force for healing, connection and joy.
This year, that legacy has come full circle as the Manat Foundation has made a special gift to CCS to honor Janice’s life and her connection to the College, establishing two lasting initiatives: the Charach Family Galleries (formerly Center Galleries) and the Janice Charach Endowed Scholarship for students in the Studio Art & Craft department.
Honoring a Life Through Art
“CCS was where Janice’s artistic journey began,” said one of Charach’s cousins. “Supporting today’s students and the galleries that showcase their work feels like the most meaningful way to honor her.”
The newly named Charach Family Galleries, located in the Manoogian Visual Resource Center, will continue to serve as a vital exhibition space for CCS students, faculty, alumni and visiting artists. The Manat Foundation’s gift provides immediate and ongoing support to enhance lighting, accessibility and the overall visitor experience. An endowed fund will also ensure the galleries’ long-term sustainability.
The Charach family’s decision to support CCS is rooted in legacy and love. The galleries stand as a tribute to Janice and a living space for creative exchange – a place where art continues to inspire connection, conversation and community.
A newspaper clipping from Thursday, April 30, 1981, featuring artist Janice Charach next to her painting, “Indonesian Puppets.” The article, titled “Colors are her energy,” promoted her XOCHOPILI art show in Birmingham, MI.
A Family Legacy of Generosity
The story of the Manat Foundation begins with Natalie and Manny Charach, whom their nieces describe as “extraordinary ordinary people.” First-generation Americans of Eastern European Jewish families who put down roots in Detroit, they built their lives through hard work, perseverance and an unwavering belief in helping others.
Manny, a World War II veteran decorated for his service in France, and Natalie, who began working at 13 to help support her family, carried their early experiences of resilience into a lifetime of philanthropy. They founded the Manat Foundation in 1970, naming it for their shared initials, and spent the next five decades supporting causes close to their hearts: children’s health, education, veterans’ services and the arts.
“Natalie and Manny believed their true legacy was their philanthropy,” said their nieces. “They taught all of us that giving back is both a privilege and a responsibility. We are proud to continue their work in ways that reflect who they were and what they valued.”
Natalie and Manny Charach
Investing in the Next Generation
Alongside the gallery endowment, the Janice Charach Endowed Scholarship will provide ongoing support for students in the Studio Art & Craft department – the same department that nurtured Janice’s creative beginnings.
“This scholarship will empower future artists to take creative risks and explore their craft with confidence,” said Valerie Jenkins, Chair of the Studio Art & Craft department. “The Charach family’s generosity sustains the heart of CCS: our students and the spaces where they learn, create and share their voices.”
Speaking on behalf of the College, CCS President Don Tuski shared his gratitude: “We are deeply grateful to the Charach family and the Manat Foundation for this extraordinary gift. Their generosity honors Janice’s creative spirit while shaping the future of CCS in profoundly meaningful ways. By investing in both scholarships and the reimagination of our galleries, the Charach family is ensuring that creativity continues to thrive—opening doors for emerging artists and enriching the spaces where our community gathers to experience art. This gift embodies the very heart of our mission and will inspire generations to come.”
A Legacy That Lives On
Today, the Manat Foundation completes the philanthropic mission of its founders. These gifts reflect the family’s shared belief that creativity and compassion are deeply intertwined.
Through this partnership with CCS, that belief finds new life. The Charach Family Galleries and the Janice Charach Endowed Scholarship will ensure that future generations of artists – much like Janice herself – can learn, create and grow in an environment that values imagination, generosity and purpose.
Within the walls of the galleries that now bear her family’s name, Janice’s spirit endures. Her art, and the legacy it inspired, continue to remind us that creativity has the power to connect, to comfort and to carry us forward.
