To Life!
HEALTH & FITNESS
Legends Of The Heart
Leukemia Foundation endowment named for Sylvia and Harry Brown.
S
ylvia Brown, 89, met her future
husband, Harry, while visiting
her cousins in Pennsylvania. She
makes it clear that from that day forward,
Harry became her partner, lifelong soul
mate and dearest friend. Sylvia was 14
years old.
Thus began a lifetime of commitment
that included the tragic loss of a daugh-
ter, the founding of a highly respected
Michigan nonprofit, the Children's
Leukemia Foundation of Michigan (CLF),
and a beautiful love story.
The Browns married five years after
they met, settling in Detroit. Their first
daughter, Abby, was born in 1941 and
daughter Sandy was born two years later.
When Sandy was 7 months old, Harry was
drafted. At 21/2, Sandy fell ill and was diag-
nosed with leukemia. Five weeks later, she
was gone.
Sylvia and Harry's grief was profound.
But they were also incredibly strong.
Eventually, Sylvia sought solace in school
activities. By the time son Barry was
born, she was active in PTA, testing her
public speaking skills that would one day
become her hallmark. One day, she was
approached about forming a group for
parents of ill or deceased children, and
she jumped at the chance. It was that deci-
sion that ultimately begat the Children's
Leukemia Foundation of Michigan.
Daughter Abby, 66, recalls those early
days.
"My family was like no other I knew,"
she says. "My friends had no idea what
went on in my house. We were always
spending holidays taking toys to sick chil-
dren or tagging along when my parents
went to counsel parents of children who
were ill. It was a very unusual childhood."
Abby recalls an incident in her early 20s
when her parents were out of town and
she received a call that a friend's child had
died. Abby stepped up and went to the
home to console the parents.
"I don't know anyone
who has had such excep-
tional role models as
parents': says Abby. "My
parents are the reason I
am who I am today."
Meanwhile, Sylvia's
organization received a
$10,000 grant from an
anonymous donor and
she was asked to serve as
executive director.
The first CLF office
Sylvia Brown
was on Grand River and
Schaefer in Detroit. The
building owned by a group member who
offered it free for six months, then for
rental at $50 a month. The floors were
dirt, there was no electricity and it needed
paint. But volunteers pitched in, and it
would serve as the CLF home for 11 years.
In 1961, the United Foundation (now
United Way) approached CLF about
affiliating, promising $20,000 for research
and permission to continue agency
fundraising. It freed up Sylvia and Harry
to increase their statewide promotional
efforts on behalf of CLF.
The '60s were growth years for CLF.
When she was not traveling the state
with Harry attending chapter fundraisers
and events, Sylvia was relentlessly lob-
bying civic and community leaders and
CEOs for support. In 1966, Sylvia was
awarded the Central Business District
Association "Susie Award" as Outstanding
Businesswoman of the Year.
As the agency continued to grow, indi-
vidual CLF branches flourished, becoming
the lifeblood of the agency. By 1978, the
agency had grown to a staff of four, with
a part-time bookkeeper and public rela-
tions coordinator, and Sylvia hired Glenn
Trevisan to be associate director.
Then in 1981, Harry developed cancer,
and while he would survive four such
bouts during the next eight years, Sylvia
Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan
• For 55 years, CLF has helped
Michigan families cope with the
realities of leukemia, lymphoma
and related disorders with informa-
tion, financial assistance, emotional
support, and by funding medical
research to find a cure and improve
patient care.
• CLF serves adults and children with
programs designed to benefit the
entire family. All services are free.
• Since CLF is an independent,
Michigan-based foundation, all the
money raised for CLF is dedicated
to support Michigan families battling
these diseases.
• Examples of CLF support programs
and services include: a holiday toys
Black-Ties Gala for Brown
Endowment Fund Campaign
Sylvia Brown with Harry in
1977 at CLF's 25th anniver-
sary celebration at Detroit's
Plaza Hotel.
decided it was time to retire, but making it
clear CLF could call on her anytime.
Harry passed away in 1999 at the age
of 85. They had been married 62 years.
Sylivia still lives independently in her
Southfield apartment and fills her life with
crafts, social activities and causes.
On Saturday, Sept. 15, Sylvia will be
feted at "Legends of the Heart': a black-
tie fundraiser gala to publicly announce
phase two of a $10 million Endowment
Fund Campaign. Named in honor of Sylvia
and Harry Brown, the fund celebrates
CLF's 55th year of service.
"Sylvia is continuously offering up her
time and her spirit': says Ellen Siegel, an
honorary co-chair of the Sylvia and Harry
Brown Endowment Fund, whose friendship
with Sylvia spans several decades. "She's
such a gregarious participant in the world
and such a generous contributor to human-
ity. She uplifts everyone she touches."
Sylvia admits to being "flabbergasted
and delighted" at the $10 million endow-
ment announcement. Her only regret is
that her beloved Harry did not live to see it.
"He's still part of everything I do:' she
says. "I talk to him every night, and I've
told him all about it."
But Harry Brown will be there in spirit.
Sylvia wouldn't have it any other way. Fl
program, patient recreational events
scheduled throughout Michigan, peer
support programs, individualized
casework, mileage and prescription
reimbursement and a special needs
program.
• For more information about CLF, its
services or to make a donation, go
to www.leukemiamichigan.org or call
the office at (800) 825-2536.
On Saturday, Sept. 15, CLF will host
"Legends of the Heart," an auction
and dinner gala to publicly announce
the $10 million "Sylvia and Harry
Brown Endowment Fund Campaign"
and celebrate CLF's 55th year of
service.
The black-tie gala will be held at
the Townsend Hotel in Birmingham,
with a Patron preview reception at
5:30 p.m. and general guest admis-
sion at 6.
Honorary event chairs are: Cindy
Obron Kahn and Dr. Marc Kahn, Ellen
Lesser Siegel and Dr. Les Siegel and
CLF founder Sylvia Brown. Event
chairs are Anne Lehker and Sam
Slaughter and Kathryn and David
Pothier.
Tickets are $150 for general guest
admission and $200 for patrons.
Reserve tickets now online at leuke-
miamichigan.org or call (248) 353-
8222.
For more information about the Sylvia and
Harry Brown Endowment Fund, contact
William Seklar at (248) 353-8222.
Leukemia, Lymphoma and
Related Disorders ...
• Leukemia is the leading cancer
killer of children.
• Leukemia and related disorders
are... the leading cancer killers of
adults 35 and younger and the
second leading cancer killer of
adults 55 and younger (lung can-
cer is first).
New cases in
U.S.
340/day
Every 4 minutes
125,310/year
New cases in
Michigan
12/day
Every 2 hours
4,290/year
Cost of care
• Average length of chemotherapy
treatment for a patient: 3 years
• Approximate cost per family per
year to battle leukemia or related
disorder: $83,000. Add $200,000
if the patient requires a bone mar-
row transplant.
September 6 - 2007
41