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Harry Kirsbaum
Staff Writer
F
lorine Mark of
Franklin has provided
a $2 million gift to
the Jewish community linked
to health and education. The
lifelong Detroiter is president
and CEO of the Farmington
Hills-based W.W. Group Inc.,
the largest franchise of Weight
Watchers International.
The gift will support sports -
and fitness programs at the
Jewish Community Center
in West Bloomfield and help
fund the new Jean and Samuel
Frankel Jewish Academy of
Metropolitan Detroit, now
under construction mostly on
Florine Mark: Helping realize a vision.
the second floor of the JCC's D.
Dan and Betty Kahn Building.
even more meaningful because of that.
Announcement came at the Oct.
"We are so pleased to have her
19 combined board meetings of the
honor our community and the Center
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan
in this way. Florine truly stands for
Detroit and its banking/real estate
what the JCC is all about: a caring and
arm, the United Jewish Foundation.
vibrant center for Jewish life!"
Mark's gift to the West Bloomfield
Robert Aronson, Federation CEO,
JCC's 100,000-square-foot Florine
Mark Sports and Fitness Complex was said Mark's name has always been
linked to health and fitness.
$1.75 million. To honor her $250,000
"Given Florine's lifelong passion
gift to the Academy, the chapel foyer in
the new school area will be named the and innovation in promoting the
well-being of the body, mind and soul,
Mark Family Chapel Foyer.
what could be more appropriate than
Mark's gift completes Federation's
$60 million Millennium Campaign for her gifts to the Jewish Community
Detroit's Jewish Future, begun in 1998. Center and to the Frankel Jewish
Academy?" Aronson said. "Florine
"At the heart of Jewish Detroit, our
Mark believes in building the strength
Jewish Community Center has a long
of our community!'
history of providing a place for people
An emotional Mark felt honored to
of all ages to gather, to socialize, to
give back from humble beginnings.
learn, to enjoy a variety of sports and
"It's important for my bubbie and
cultural activities," Mark said.
my zaydie, and my mother and father
She said she's proud and elated "to
and my six aunts and uncles that are
help our community attain its vision
aone" she said.
of setting the standard for Jewish
"We were brought up on Elmhurst
education and cultural experiences for
and
Linwood. We were so poor; we all
generations to come."
lived in the same house. My bubbie
"When we announced the dona-
used to stand outside and collect for
tion to our executive committee and
the
Jewish National Fund with a blue
board, Florine's eyes welled up with
box.
My sister had polio; we had no
tears," said Mark Lit, JCC executive
insurance.
director. "She said she's so emotionally
"To be able to do this at this point
involved and that she's really dedicat-
in
my life for my whole family is the
ed her whole life to health, it's such a
big part of who she is, that the gift was greatest honor in the whole world." 7--
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October 26 2006
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