Lawrence
Jackier
of West
Bloomfield,
Ford Executive
Vice President
Mark Fields
and Mark
Davidoff
of West
Bloomfield

She recently donated $2 million to
support health and fitness programs
at the JCC, and toward the completion
of the Jean and Samuel Frankel Jewish
Academy of Metropolitan Detroit (JN
story coming on May 3).
"Who would have thought my
family and I would be able to make
such a wonderful contribution? I
would dream as a little girl of one day
becoming a movie star, or a singer or
dancer, and making people happy,"
Mark said. "But, this gift that my fam-
ily and I were able to give tops all
of my dreams. This is my ultimate
dream."
"Florine is a treasure not only to the
general community and the Jewish
community, she's a special treasure to
the JCC," Alterman said. "She's what
I call a triple threat; she's personally
very active as is her family, she has
given a lot of money to the center, and
third, she's one of our biggest boost-
ers.
In addition to being the largest
Weight Watchers franchise owner in
the world from her Farmington Hills
headquarters, Mark serves as an advi-
sor, advocate and board member on
35 committees and civic organiza-
tions. She's a member of the JCC's
executive committee, and serves on
Federation's board of governors, the
board of directors of the Jewish Fund
and the Jewish Women's Foundation,
and the advisory board of the Jewish
Healing Center.
"Things weren't always easy for
me or my family," Mark recalled dur-
ing her speech. "I remember what it
was like growing up in Detroit, on
Elmhurst and Linwood. We were poor
and in one house with my mother,
father, sisters, six aunts and uncles. My

grandmother taught me first-hand the
rewards of philanthropy. Even though
we were poor, my grandmother still
believed it was very important for us
to give back; to give what we could no
matter what it was."

Building a Better Tomorrow
Just by accepting their awards, Ford
and Mark helped raise more than
$200,000 for youth programming at
the JCC including after school activi-
ties, school break camps, and inclu-
sion programming for children with
special needs. Guests paid $180 per
person to attend the dinner. Additional
money was raised during live and
silent actions where some big ticket
items, like a 2007 red Ford Mustang
convertible, donated by the Ford
Motor Company Fund, were up for
bids. Other auction items included a
golf outing with football great Barry
Sanders, a $2,000 shopping spree
at the Somerset Collection in Troy,
and lunch with Broadway composer
Charles Strouse in New York. The eve-
ning ended with a decadent strolling
dessert reception and uplifting words
from both honorees.
"We can make a difference, we can
build a better world," said Ford. "The
work you're doing here in this build-
ing and in this community is proof of
the
"Giving back to the community and
loving yourself and your family and
friends is a gift of joy that you receive
in return," added Mark. "Helping oth-
ers doesn't always mean just writing
that check, it's also giving of time,
your knowledge, sharing your passion
and resources — that is what matters
also."

Brian and
Jennifer
Siegel of West
Bloomfield
and Scott
Kaufman of
Huntington
Woods

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May 3 • 2007

33