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Eva's Legacy

Mames chapter regrouping to continue
support for Israel's emergency service.

E

va Mames, a proud native of
Hungary and a teenage survivor
of the Holocaust, was the undis-
puted soul of the local support chapter of
Israel's medical, disaster relief, ambulance
and blood services agency until she died
last December at age 81. But the heart-
beat of the American Friends of Magen
David Adorn (AFMDA) Dr. John J. Mames
Chapter-Michigan Region is still strong
thanks to the vigor of a new executive
leader and the determination of its lay
support team.
"Few people have
worked harder and had
a greater impact on the
people of Israel than Eva
Mames. Her efforts on
behalf of the Mames
chapter literally helped
save lives:' wrote Cari
Cari
Immerman, AFMDA
Immerman
regional director, in her
June 7 letter introducing
herself to Mames chapter supporters.
"Under Eva, every dollar that the chap-
ter collected was earmarked for a specific
project:' said West Bloomfield resident
Libby Newman, who met Eva in 1955 at
the University of Michigan, where both
of their husbands were dental students.
"Working out of her home with no paid
help, Eva kept chapter expenses to a bare
minimum. Because of her, many lifesaving
ambulances were sent to Israel."
Mames stood just 4 feet 91/2 inches. She
walked humbly and dedicated much of
her time to family (which now includes
three grandchildren), but her reservoir of
energy was extensive enough to selflessly
nurture, coax and inspire on behalf of the
Jewish people and Israel's national "911"
service.
Fundraising is the lifeblood of Magen
David Adom, which ensures a rapid and
skilled emergency medical response to
500,000 Israelis each year. Worldwide
efforts help keep Israel's medical commu-
nity properly trained and outfitted. Over
the years, the Mames chapter has raised
$22 million for MDA for such basics as
bulletproof vests, paramedic scholarships
and defibrillators. Its signature achieve-
ment is donating 240 ambulances. A
basic life support ambulance today costs
$100,000 and a Mobile Intensive Care Unit
is $125,000.
The Mames chapter also has funded
the Lillian L. and Allan I. Waller First
Aid Station and the Natalie and Manny

26

July 19 • 2012

Charach Medical Center, both in Ashdod.
Its support further goes toward stem-cell
research and scientific research equip-
ment at the MDA National Blood Services
Center in Ramat Gan. MDA, a member
of the International Red Cross, supplies
97 percent of the blood to all hospitals
in Israel and 100 percent of the blood
required by the Israel Defense Forces.
"My being asked to continue her efforts
in the Detroit area is one way in which
we wish to honor Eve said Immerman,
whose AFMDA region is based in Ohio.
"Also, we will be installing a plaque honor-
ing her in Ashdod, which has been a focal
point for many Detroiters for many years:'
The local chapter is named for Eva's
husband, John, a survivor of Russian labor
camps who died in 1989 at age 87. He was
a Krakow, Poland, native. He
and Eva provided the impetus
for the chapter. She remained
its president and energy cell
until she died. The couple
were devoted Zionists who
founded the chapter in the
wake of the Six-Day War in
1967 to support and save lives
in Israel. They were frequent
Israel visitors.

Embracing Michigan
Immerman, whose background includes
marketing and development for business-
es and nonprofits, served on the board of
the AFMDA David Mark Berger Chapter in
Cleveland for eight years. Berger, a Shaker
Heights native, was one of 11 Israeli
athletes and coaches murdered by the
Palestinian group Black September during
the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.
Two years ago, Immerman joined
AFMDA in a professional capacity. Her
region includes Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan
and western Pennsylvania. She lives in
Shaker Heights, but Detroit now will be a
regular stop. Incentives to come beyond
Mames chapter work include having a son
at the University of Michigan, where she
earned a bachelor of business administra-
tion degree, and having many friends and
relatives here.
Immerman intends to build on the
Mames chapter's fundraising savvy by
becoming acquainted with longtime sup-
porters and broadening the annual din-
ner's reach.
"A key focus of mine will be to edu-
cate," she said. "It is not well known that
MDA is a government-mandated agency

Ori Shaham, a MDA deputy director, and

Eva Mames at a Mames chapter dinner.

but is not government funded. MDA
relies on fees for services and donors to
fund its operations:'
Donors from around the world fund
30 percent of MDA's $100 million annual
operating budget as well as capital
expansions, renovations, equipment pur-
chases and, of course, new ambulances.
Magen David Adorn, founded in 1940,
reminds us that Jews cherish
life above all else while too
many Palestinians, influenced
by terrorist leaders, yearn for
death as jihad (struggle) fight-
ers and shields to please Allah.
MDA further reminds us about
the courage and resilience of
Israel — peppered by bombs,
rockets and bullets from neigh-
bors who despise Zionism.

Ambulance Need
Current goals for the Mames chapter
include continuing its impressive record
of attracting funders for new ambu-
lances, which are U.S.-built and freighted
to Israel. There, they are fitted with the
most technologically advanced medical
equipment.
"The need for the ambulances is great:'
Immerman said. "Many ambulances in
the MDA fleet were purchased within the
last decade during the Palestinian inti-
fada [uprising] and the Second Lebanon
War. As most ambulances are on the road
five to seven years, many will be retired
this year.
"It is critical to the safety and security
of Israel's people that the MDA ambu-
lance fleet be maintained and ready, 24/7,
to respond to everyday medical emergen-
cies or during times of major duress."
Announcing gifts of new ambulances
is a highlight of the Mames chapter's
annual dinner. Immerman is seeking
sponsors for an ambulance not only in
memory of Eva and John Mames, but
also for ambulances in honor or memory
of others with significant Detroit ties.
She's seeking ambulance cosponsors, too.

Eva Mames stood just
4 feet 91/2 inches .. .
but her reservoir of
energy was extensive
enough to selflessly
nurture, coax and
inspire on behalf of
the Jewish people and
her beloved Israel.

Notably, Eva readily gave honor, but
clearly shied away from it, refusing to sit
on the annual dinner dais to ensure the
limelight was on the honorees, who are
the financial bedrock of the chapter.
"Ambulance sponsorships are truly a
double mitzvah:' Immerman said.
"Donors may honor or remember fam-
ily members or mark a special occasion
such as a milestone anniversary or birth-
day — and know that their ambulance
will save lives in Israel:'

Passionate Pursuit
Immerman's Jewish communal leader-
ship in Cleveland includes co-chairing
the Federation's $10 million business
campaign, graduating from the Wexner
Foundation leadership program and
serving on several Jewish agency boards.
Immerman parlayed that experience
into her professional work for AFMDA.
"I chose AFMDA for my second career
as I can use my lay leadership knowledge
and my corporate marketing and stra-
tegic planning skills to help Israel and
those in need:' she said. "I've sold enough
consumer and business products in my
day. Now I get to do something for which
I have a passion — Israel!"
She hopes to fulfill that passion by
ensuring that Eva Mames' legacy of
humanitarianism for the ancestral home-
land of all Jews endures. El

Chapter's Annual Dinner

The Dr. John J. Mames Chapter
annual dinner, remembering Eva and
John Mames, will be held at 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Sept.11, at Congregation
Beth Ahm, West Bloomfield. To join
the Tribute Committee, call 1-877- •
405-3913 by July 24. To make
µ
a donation, buy tribute cards or
contribute a paramedic scholarship,
call the toll-free number or write:
AFMDA, Dr. John J. Mames Chapter-
Michigan Region, 23215 Commerce
Park Road, Suite 306, Beachwood,
Ohio 44122.

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