Healthy Giving, Fall/Winter 2020

GivingHealthy

INSPIRING PHILANTHROPY IN THE COMMUNITY

Mc BRIEN FAMILY’S GIFT CREATES

PEDIATRIC NEUROSCIENCE CENTER

AT ROYAL OAK

Richard and Florence McBrien

Dear Friends of Beaumont Health Foundation,

hat continually inspires me about our philanthropic partners is the wide range of passions and interests they hold close to their hearts. From pediatrics and oncology to physician education and cardiac care, these generous individuals are touching and changing lives for so many different patients and families throughout our community.

Additionally, the past year has shown that no matter what challenges arise — such as those that we are still navigating with the COVID-19 pandemic — our donors are committed to ensuring our community receives the support it needs, and for that, we remain so grateful.

In this issue, you’ll read about the McBrien family, whose exceptional gift is creating the Florence and Richard McBrien Pediatric Neuroscience Center at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. This will establish a centralized, multidisciplinary pediatric neurology clinic, giving our young patients and their physicians the room and resources needed for optimal, efficient and timely care.

We are also proud to share that recent philanthropic support has led to the completion of the Beaumont, Troy Neonatal Intensive Care Unit campaign — which will triple the size of the current unit. Additionally, a gift from the Marvin and Betty Danto Family Foundation is supporting the next generation of physicians by funding the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine scholarship efforts. And other recent gifts are furthering our comprehensive breast care initiatives and leading-edge cancer genetics program.

On pages 10 and 11, you’ll also read about four giving opportunities from across the health system — including our teen health centers, which are providing vital medical services as well as helping remove the stigma of seeking mental health care by offering those important services as well.

Your compassionate and generous support allows us to enhance and enrich patient care, facilities, research initiatives and educational opportunities across so many disciplines. We look forward to seeing what else we can accomplish as we work together in the new year and for many years to come.

As we close out 2020, I wish you and your loved ones a safe and healthy holiday season during these continued extraordinary times.

Margaret Cooney Casey Chief Development Officer, Beaumont Health President, Beaumont Health Foundation

Additionally, the past year has shown that no matter what challenges arise — such as those that we are still navigating with the COVID-19 pandemic — our donors are committed to ensuring our community receives the support it needs, and for that, we remain so grateful.

Dear Friends of Beaumont Health,

It is difficult to believe that five and a half years have passed since I first joined the Beaumont Health community. I am grateful for the half decade plus I have spent working among extraordinary caregivers and alongside generous donors committed to helping others.

As the stories in this magazine demonstrate, truly remarkable things can happen when the ideas and passions of a clinical leader are brought to life by individuals and families with a philanthropic vision. The result is exceptional, compassionate care for our patients, which has been and always will be our top priority at Beaumont.

Certainly, among the most challenging chapters of the Beaumont story over these past five years has been the current COVID-19 pandemic. With winter at hand, we know that we still have many months to go before the world can begin to enter a new normal with vaccines.

As difficult as this crisis has been — especially for our thousands of doctors, nurses, technicians, environmental staff and others on the front lines — it has also demonstrated to me the incredible capacity for caring that imbues this community.

What it all comes down to is caring. That is what Beaumont stands for. It’s why our medical teams come to work each day. It’s why our researchers put in the long hours. It’s why everyone chips in to help, to save lives and make lives better. It’s why you give back and help others.

During a year of great uncertainty, our staff gave to help others during our annual employee giving campaign, helping raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for their teammates and for the patients and families for whom they care each day.

At the same time, Beaumont donors also gave back to help ensure these same clinicians would have the resources they needed to continue providing exceptional care to children, adults and seniors, even through the worst days of the spring pandemic spike.

What it all comes down to is caring. That is what Beaumont stands for. It’s why our medical teams come to work each day. It’s why our researchers put in the long hours. It’s why everyone chips in to help, to save lives and make lives better. It’s why you give back and help others.

As we approach the end of 2020 and see a new year on the horizon, I know we will continue to put compassionate, exceptional care at the heart of all we do at Beaumont. And I hope you will continue to stand beside us as we pursue our mission and work for healthier, happier lives for ourselves, our loved ones and our community.

Thank you for all you do. I wish you and yours the very best in 2021.

With much gratitude,

John Fox Beaumont Health President and CEO

In Brief

The Wayne and Joan Webber Foundation recently renewed its support of the First Words Society, a program they have been passionate advocates for since its inception, with a gift of $120,000.

Since 2003, the First Words Society has bridged financial gaps in pediatric speech and language services at Beaumont, ensuring that hundreds of children have

been able to receive the vital rehabilitative care they need.

Demand for these services continues to increase, and support from the Webbers has played a critical role in helping families who would otherwise face financial hardship receive the speech and language care they need for their children to communicate and reach important speech milestones.

WAYNE AND JOAN WEBBER FOUNDATION HELPS CHILDREN FIND THEIR VOICES

Over 200 Beaumont Health nurses participated in an internationally-renowned dementia care training program, Positive Approach to Care (PAC), in February at Beaumont Hospital, Troy’s Moceri Learning Center. This opportunity was made possible after a generous gift made to honor Chuck Nagy, by his wife Rose Marie Nagy and family, Mandy and Ken Neihsl. Since 2007, PAC has centered on building a positive culture for dementia care. While many brain disease education programs

focus on the biological aspect of changing brains, PAC demonstrates how to work with patients to maximize their quality of life. PAC founder Teepa Snow was brought in for an all-day seminar, which helped raised awareness for the skills needed to better support and care for someone living with these brain changes. Opportunities like these will continue to strengthen Beaumont’s mission of providing compassionate, extraordinary care every day.

BEAUMONT NURSES RECEIVE RENOWNED DEMENTIA CARE TRAINING AFTER NAGY GIFT

PLANNED GIFT CONTINUES DIEBEL LEGACY OF COMPASSION, KINDNESS

For years, patients, families and staff who came through the lobby of Beaumont, Grosse Pointe were welcomed by the music of John Diebel, who would volunteer his time playing piano to bring cheer and joy to all those who passed by. He was known as a fixture at the hospital, and when Mr. Diebel passed away earlier this year, his generous and loving spirit continued living on.

Mr. Diebel had dedicated a planned gift of over $100,000 to support Beaumont, Grosse Pointe, going toward health care continuing education, the spiritual care fund and greatest needs.

Mr. Diebel was born and raised in Grosse Pointe and spent the majority of his adult life living in the community. His father had been on the medical staff at Beaumont, Grosse Pointe, and he had a close relationship with staff members currently working at the hospital. It was incredibly meaningful to him to spend his time volunteering at this location and to be able to support the hospital staff with a philanthropic gift.

GREENBERGS HELP KEEP APPLEBAUM SIMULATION LEARNING INSTITUTE AT FOREFRONT OF TRAINING

Two gifts from Stanley and Janet Greenberg totaling $90,000 helped educators at the Marcia & Eugene Applebaum Simulation Learning Institute acquire a new 3D Systems LAP Mentor laparoscopic surgical trainer. The trainer is a state-of-the-art minimally invasive simulation system used for training future physicians in general surgery, gynecology, urology and thoracic surgery. It offers virtual procedures and a system for instructors to provide real-time feedback, improving the skills of its learners while offering a safe yet rigorous method of learning.

The gifts are an important part of a larger effort to ensure that the Applebaum Simulation Learning Institute, which helps train thousands of clinicians from medical students to nurses to surgeons each year, can remain at the forefront of simulation learning technology and ensure the most expansive experience possible for all its students.

Richard and Florence McBrien loved children and gave generously to advance the cause of medical care, say their four daughters. That is why the McBrien sisters — Marcia, Melissa, Victoria, and Dianne — have made a gift to create the Florence and Richard McBrien Pediatric Neuroscience Center at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.

McBrien Family Gift to Establish Pediatric Neuroscience Center to Honor Late Parents

“When we heard that Beaumont wanted to create a pediatric neurology center, we knew it was not just a good fit — it was the fit to honor our parents,” said Marcia McBrien. “Mom and Dad had a great heart for children — and a lot of empathy for parents, having raised five kids of their own! So this center, which will help children and their families, is exactly the kind of work they would support, consistent with their deep Catholic faith.”

The multidisciplinary pediatric neurology clinic will allow Beaumont’s neurology team to deliver state-of-the-art care to its youngest patients in one centralized location that is exclusively designed for children, explained Dr. Daniel Arndt, chief of pediatric neurology at Beaumont.

“The McBrien family’s extraordinary generosity will allow us to expand the scope of this life-changing program even further,” said Dr. Arndt. “Because of this gift, we will be able to diagnose more children more quickly and will give both patients and staff the room necessary for optimal and efficient care.”

Victoria McBrien said the design’s sensitivity to children’s needs was a factor in the family’s decision. “With five children, our parents spent more time with us in doctors’ waiting rooms, in ERs, and at hospitals than you could imagine,” she said. “Too often, these places were bleak and intimidating, even for adults. So it’s very impressive to see how the waiting area was designed to be calming and reassuring.”

The pediatric program has traditionally shared space with adult neurology patients on the first floor of the Neuroscience Center at Beaumont, Royal Oak. Due to a growing number of adult patients seeking care for a broad range of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, muscular dystrophy, stroke or concussion, there were often long wait times for appointments and the children never truly felt like they were being treated within “their” space.

But that will now change. The Florence and Richard McBrien Pediatric Neuroscience Center will ensure privacy and comfort for pediatric patients in an environment designed especially for their needs. For children undergoing seizures or other neurological issues, the ability to receive care in a warm, welcoming environment can help reduce stress and anxiety and optimize their patient experience.

Supporting patients’ families is also important, said Dianne McBrien M.D., a pediatrician specializing in children with developmental disabilities. “I see many families struggling to address their children’s issues. Care for the patient also means caring about the family, including reducing their stress when possible; we think this center will help accomplish that goal.”

Melissa McBrien M.D., chief of otolaryngology at Royal Oak Beaumont, noted that epilepsy is the world’s most common neurological disorder among children and the primary reason children in the U.S. are referred to pediatric neurologists. “This center has enormous potential to change lives for the good,” she said. “I know that Dr. Arndt and his team are going to make a tremendous difference for many children and their families.”

Left: the McBriens’ gift will complete the third floor of the Neuroscience Center

Beaumont, Royal Oak’s Neuroscience Program is among the most highly respected neurology programs in the nation, known for its dedication to compassionate, innovative and timely care for patients of all ages.

It is also home to a Level 4 Pediatric Epilepsy Center, which provides the highest level of care to children with epilepsy and other seizure disorders. It is one of only 44 pediatric-specific epilepsy centers in the country approved by the National Association of Epilepsy Centers to provide young patients with care by some of the most skilled epileptologists in the nation, using highly advanced technologies for evaluation and treatment.

Upon completion, the Florence and Richard McBrien Pediatric Neuroscience Center will include:

• 31 exam rooms;

• three infusion rooms;

• an expansive and comfortable family lounge;

• physician offices so caregivers can be onsite and close to their patients;

• and space for nursing care, genetic counseling and neuropsychology.

Construction is expected to begin in early 2021.

“To see a family band together in such an extraordinary way to support this life-changing program is so inspiring,” said Margaret Cooney Casey, president of the Beaumont Health Foundation.

“This gift honors Florence and Richard beautifully and will have an impact on children and families in our community for decades to come. We are deeply grateful for the compassion and generosity the McBrien family has shown to some of our most vulnerable patients.”

Richard and Florence McBrien, both natives of Detroit, met while teaching at the Guyton School in Detroit. They were married for 53 years until Richard’s death in 2011. They had a son, Richard Jr., who died in 2003.

Rendering of the third floor of the Neuroscience Center

Physician Group Leads the Way on Expanded Breast Care Center at Beaumont, Wayne

Drs. Harris, Birkhill, Wang, Songe and Associates, PC has led the way in ensuring women in Wayne County have access to the life-saving, leading-edge breast care technology and services they need and deserve.

The multi-specialty private practice radiology group generously gave a $1 million lead gift for the Beaumont Breast Care Center at Wayne, which will undergo expansion to become a comprehensive breast care center, accommodating screening, diagnostic services and surgical consultations all under one roof, improving the patient care experience.

Patient volume has increased nearly 30 percent at this location in the past five years, and more than 11,000 women received breast care services at this location from June 2018 to June 2019.

The new center will be nearly double the center’s current size of 2,900 square feet, and will be located directly on the hospital campus, rather than across the street. Four exam rooms will be available for onsite consultation with a breast surgeon, eliminating the need for patients to be shuttled across the street for surgical procedures.

The increased space will also allow for the center to expand from two to three mammography rooms, adding two new digital breast tomosynthesis (3D mammography) units, and to expand from two to three ultrasound rooms.

These screening tools can diagnose breast cancer at its earliest stages, when it is most treatable: more than 90 percent of women diagnosed with cancer at the earliest stage survive for at least five years, compared to around 15 percent of women diagnosed with the most advanced stage of the disease.

These additional spaces in the expanded center will reduce wait times for these critical screening appointments and will allow the center to offer more free screening and community services — and with many patients falling into the high-risk category, this truly could have a life-saving impact. The center will also feature a bone density suite and a large, comfortable and welcoming reception area.

“The compassion and generosity of Drs. Harris, Birkhill, Wang, Songe and Associates, PC is truly going to make a large difference in the lives of so many women and their families in our community,” said Margaret Cooney Casey, president of the Beaumont Health Foundation.

“We are so thankful for their partnership and leadership.”

Above: Proposed lobby of new center; Below: The new space will allow for even more personalized care for patients.

Four Giving Opportunities for Year-End

With year-end approaching, many people are considering making a gift to support patients and programs at Beaumont, seeking to make a difference as we look ahead to 2021. Below are just four that would benefit from this kind of generosity. To give, simply use the reply envelope or visit www.beaumont.org/giving.

Help Frontline Caregivers in the Fight Against COVID-19

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, Beaumont has treated more patients than any other Michigan health system.

Philanthropic support continues to play a central role in our response to this crisis — helping us acquire necessary supplies and equipment (face masks, respirators, ventilators), keep patients, staff and clinicians safe, and fund leading-edge research efforts to inspire new treatments.

Your support will not only guarantee that our healthcare heroes have the resources they need to treat our friends and family members battling COVID-19, it will help us fight the spread of this virus, limiting the impact on our community.

Encourage Healthy Lifestyles in Michigan Youth: Support Child & Adolescent Health Centers

Beaumont’s Child & Adolescent Health Centers provide a wide variety of vital health and wellness services to un- and underinsured youth in medically underserved communities.

The centers, many of which are located inside schools, offer young people convenient and affordable access to primary care, psychosocial screening, mental health services, health-promotion education, nutrition counseling, disease-prevention education, lab testing, vaccinations and patient referrals.

Currently, Beaumont operates seven school-based or -linked centers in downriver communities such as Taylor, Wayne and Westland. In recent months, our centers have explored and adopted a variety of creative solutions — including Zoom lessons — that allow our caregivers to continue serving teens despite the pandemic. Your support will allow us to keep innovating and helping young people stay healthy and make good choices now and in the future.

Invest in Healthy Communities with Outreach Programs

One of the best ways to treat disease is to stop it before it can start. That is part of the philosophy behind Beaumont’s Community Benefit programs, which take medicine and education out into neighborhoods to meet individuals and families where they live and work.

Among the services offered are heart health screenings, diabetes education and obesity prevention — addressing issues that are prevalent and growing in communities across southeastern Michigan. Other programs go into local schools and work with children to develop healthy exercise habits as well as a better understanding of nutrition, helping children grow their own fruit and vegetable gardens and even showing them how to choose healthy produce at the market.

This program also provides support for patients who are financially at risk, living in communities where access to health care may be difficult to obtain and where a lack of insurance can delay important screenings and doctor visits. Your support will allow Beaumont to continue reaching out to patients when and where they need us most.

Care for Our Youngest, Most Vulnerable Patients

Preterm birth rates have risen for four straight years. Today, they affect more than one in 10 babies born in the United States. Of these infants, more than 70 percent will be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). At Beaumont, our dedicated physicians, nurses and clinical staff care for thousands of preterm babies each year.

Beaumont Children’s is home to three neonatal intensive care units at our Royal Oak, Troy and Dearborn hospitals. Staffed by highly skilled, board-certified neonatologists, they deliver the most technologically advanced treatment without sacrificing the healing power of the human touch.

Philanthropic support of the NICUs at Beaumont Children’s will help us acquire the very latest technologies to help these newborns grow and gain strength. And because many babies remain in the NICU for days, weeks or even months, other funds go to providing a welcoming, comforting environment for parents as they bond with their infant. By supporting Beaumont’s NICUs, you will help guarantee our smallest patients receive the care they need and their families receive the peace of mind they deserve.

Lead Gift From Battaglias Brings Beaumont, Troy NICU Campaign to Successful Close

One of the most highly anticipated projects at Beaumont Hospital, Troy — a new neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) — has met its fundraising goal and is poised to begin construction in 2021, thanks to a leadership gift by Anthony and Marcia Battaglia.

The Battaglias’ $1.3 million investment tops off a multi-year effort to raise $3.1 million to relocate the existing neonatal intensive care unit to a new, much larger space in the Troy hospital’s critical care tower.

“We were very pleased to be able to make this contribution and help move this project to its next phase,” said Anthony Battaglia. “As parents and grandparents, we know how important it is for children to get the best possible start in life. This NICU has such a talented and dedicated staff — and now they will have a center that will help them do even more.”

Even before their generous gift, the Battaglias were supporting the NICU fundraising efforts, hosting the annual Beaumont Bocce Classic at their Palazzo di Bocce facility in Lake Orion. Anthony has used his talents as a former nationally ranked bocce player and the retired founder and chairman of Cunningham-Limp, a commercial construction firm, to make Palazzo di Bocce a highly popular entertainment destination.

Thanks to the efforts of the Battaglias and the event’s co-chairs Mario and Maria Moceri and David and Carol Roncelli, the Beaumont Bocce Classic has raised more than $300,000 for the NICU project over the years.

“When you meet the children whose lives have been saved in the NICU and you meet the parents who endured those days and weeks worrying about their newborns, you realize what an incredible resource the Troy NICU really is,” said Marcia Battaglia.

Upon completion, the new 15,000-square-foot NICU will provide leading-edge care for babies born prematurely or with serious illnesses or conditions, such as breathing problems, respiratory distress syndrome, cardiac conditions, feeding difficulties and more.

Because these infants can spend days, weeks or even months on the unit, the goal is to make the space as welcoming, warm and comfortable as possible for parents and grandparents who may visit or stay with the babies.

The center will offer:

• A n abundance of natural light with west- and north-facing windows

• A mixture of private and semi-private rooms

• A spacious nursery and treatment/procedure rooms

• Dedicated space for twins and multiple births

• E xpanded private areas for breastfeeding

• Space for family members to relax and rest while visiting

• L arger nurse stations for better access and visibility

In addition, the unit will house the most up-to-date neonatal technology, including high-tech incubators, warmers and monitoring systems.

“We are grateful beyond measure to the Battaglia family and all that they have done to make the new NICU a reality,” said James Lynch, M.D., president of Beaumont Hospital, Troy. “We have been so fortunate to earn the support of many families including the Battaglias as well as dozens of other donors from throughout the community who have worked so hard to ensure that every baby has the best care available to them, close to home.”

Anthony and Marcia Battaglia

Hagenlockers Invest in Future of Cancer Genetics at Beaumont

While the exact cause of cancer is unknown, approximately five to 10 percent of cancers are thought to be strongly related to an inherited gene mutation. This makes Beaumont Health’s cancer genetics program, and its ability to help predict and potentially guide treatments, a critical part of oncology care.

Philanthropic support from Ed and Sylvia Hagenlocker has played a large role in making the life-changing program what it is today. Most recently, the couple gave a gift of $1 million, bringing their total giving to nearly $2 million for the Sylvia and Edward Hagenlocker Cancer Genetics Research and Program Support Fund at Beaumont.

“We are so pleased to be able to continue our support for this outstanding program,” said Sylvia Hagenlocker. “Under the leadership of Dr. Dana Zakalik, this program has grown and evolved in ways that we know have made a difference for patients. It is incredible to see the way genetic science has transformed care. We feel fortunate to be part of it.”

Over the past decade, the Hagenlockers’ philanthropy has supported general operations, physician salaries, research and technology, all of which allow clinicians to provide guidance and care to an average of 2,200 patients each year from throughout metro Detroit as well as from Monroe, Washtenaw, Livingston, Genesee, Lapeer, St. Clair and Macomb counties, with some patients also coming from out of state.

Their giving has empowered individuals whose genetic make-up has made them vulnerable to disease and is supporting research that has the potential to transform oncology treatment, both at Beaumont and across the country.

The cancer genetics team works with patients to determine if there is a genetic predisposition in their family, if their risk of cancer can be lowered, what any implications of risk-reducing interventions might be to their health and if there are any specific targeted treatments. Since 2005, more than 15,000 individuals with a suspected hereditary predisposition to cancer have been evaluated, and more than 2,000 gene carriers at high risk for breast, colon, ovarian and other cancers have been found.

Beyond diagnosis and potential early interventions, the cancer genetics program has begun to tailor medical treatment to individual tumor characteristics. Known as precision medicine, this innovative approach to treating cancer allows doctors to select treatments that are most likely to help patients based on a genetic understanding of their disease. This area of cancer genetics is continually growing and is playing an invaluable role in improving outcomes for patients.

The Hagenlockers’ support will allow the program to continue offering these life-changing services and to maintain its reputation for excellence. Looking forward, Dr. Zakalik hopes to expand her research programs, including surveillance of pancreatic cancer, improving breast imaging, enhancing decision-making analysis and expanding services to minority and underserved populations.

“The cancer genetics program at Beaumont would not exist as it does today without the generosity of the Hagenlockers,” said Margaret Cooney Casey, president of the Beaumont Health Foundation. “They are truly changing the future for so many families, and we are so grateful for their compassion and support.”

Sylvia and Ed Hagenlocker

Fitzgeralds Launch Challenge Fund to Support the Center for Exceptional Families

For years, Janice and Gerald Fitzgerald have been avid supporters of Beaumont’s Center for Exceptional Families (CEF), supporting countless special needs children as they learn how to negotiate the realities of living with differing abilities and strive to pursue their own dreams and aspirations.

The Fitzgeralds have expanded on their longstanding commitment to this life-changing center even further by establishing the Jan and Jerry Fitzgerald Challenge to inspire others to join them in supporting the operational needs of the CEF. The challenge got off to a strong start with a generous gift from the Donald and Mary Kosch Foundation. The Beaumont Fund is going to match those gifts and any new gift or pledge that is made to the CEF up to $100,000 until the end of 2022 as a response to the challenge.

“So many of the children we treat at this center are experiencing complex and inter-related conditions,” said Dr. Susan Youngs, CEF medical director. “This kind of philanthropic support is what allows us to provide the depth of service that makes our program so powerfully effective.”

Since its beginning in 1998, CEF has been offering one-of-a-kind, comprehensive pediatric medicine, rehabilitation, recreational and social support for children with special needs such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disabilities, genetic syndromes or conditions related to illness, accidents or traumatic birth.

In 2017, in response to a growing national trend of increased autism spectrum disorder diagnoses, Beaumont Health added a new Autism Center on the CEF campus that consolidated and expanded CEF’s care and treatment of patients with this condition.

The CEF addresses all medical needs for these children, including:

• treatment for condition-related emotional issues

• nutrition assessments and management

• me dication management

• physical, occupational and speech-language therapy

• social skills

• inclusive play groups

Parent and sibling education and extensive support for the whole family are also part of this individualized wrap-around care.

One of CEF’s central tenets is that care is never rushed. At physician appointments, families can ask questions and receive detailed, in-depth answers. Family schedules are accommodated when appointments are arranged, and evaluations and therapies are conducted as medical needs — not costs — dictate.

Because this is a more expensive model of care, philanthropic support has been an important component since the center’s inception.

“The Jan and Jerry Fitzgerald Challenge is helping ensure that the attributes that make CEF so special not only will continue, but will thrive and grow,” said Margaret Cooney Casey, president, Beaumont Health Foundation. “The support of the Fitzgeralds, Kosches and everyone who participates in this challenge will change many lives, and we are so grateful.”

Gerald and Janice Fitzgerald

Danto

Family Gives Generously to Support Next Generation of Physicians

The Marvin and Betty Danto Family Foundation has a long legacy of giving to Beaumont Health and providing support to a wide range of programs throughout the health system, including hematology and oncology, cardiac care and geriatric medicine.

Beyond those extraordinary investments, the family foundation is also helping build the future of medical care by supporting scholarships for students at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB). Having given generously over the years to OUWB scholarships, they are continuing their efforts with the establishment of the Danto Family Partial Scholarship.

Gifts such as these are vitally important for allowing medical students to focus more fully on becoming highly skilled physicians, rather than worrying about a potential financial burden as they pursue their dreams.

“We are committed to providing OUWB students with access to the very best medical education possible at an affordable and stable cost, and the Danto family’s generosity is helping us reach that goal,” said Duane Mezwa, Stephan Sharf Dean at the OUWB. “This scholarship opportunity will help remove unnecessary barriers and ensure that debt need no longer be a deterrent for potential students.”

Launched in 2007, the OUWB today is a collaborative, diverse, inclusive and technologically advanced learning community, dedicated to enabling students to become

skillful, ethical and compassionate physicians, inquisitive scientists who are invested in the scholarship of discovery, and dynamic and effective medical educators.

However, approximately 40 percent of OUWB students come from the lowest 60 percent of economic indicators. With new physicians graduating medical school with an average debt of nearly $200,000, many talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds do not think they can afford to attend medical school. And those who do decide to become doctors may end up with significant financial challenges that influence their personal and professional choices, including in what area of medicine they will specialize and which populations of patients they will eventually serve.

The Danto Family Partial Scholarship will help ensure that OUWB students will be able to receive a top-tier medical education without having to make this difficult choice.

“We are so thankful for the Danto family’s compassion, which will not only change the lives of the medical students who receive these scholarships, but of the patients and communities they will eventually serve,” said Margaret Cooney Casey, president of the Beaumont Health Foundation. “This gift will have a far-reaching impact for decades to come.”

Advanced Breast Imaging Campaign Committee Raises Funds for New Screening Technologies

More than a dozen women, hailing from communities across metro Detroit, are giving time, energy and resources to helping Beaumont expand its advanced breast imaging services with the addition of high-end technology at each hospital and outpatient imaging site in the Beaumont system.

Led by co-chairs Karen Colina Wilson Smithbauer and Patricia Ghesquiere, the Beaumont Health Foundation’s Advanced Breast Imaging Campaign Committee is working to raise $7 million of a $10 million goal to add 3D mammography, ultrasound and abbreviated MRI systems to the tens of thousands of women who get their annual screenings at a Beaumont site.

The addition of the new technology will enhance early detection efforts, helping catch breast cancer in its earliest and most treatable stages, and reduce wait times for patients seeking annual or follow-up screenings.

In addition, many of these imaging systems have been proven to reduce

the incidents of false positives, which can create enormous stress and anxiety for women.

Members of the Advanced Breast Imaging Campaign Committee are keeping these key points in mind as they seek to inform and inspire individuals to give to the campaign. Members of the group have jumped into the effort enthusiastically, working to help as many women as possible benefit from these technologies and the advantages they can provide.

The committee’s work supports two regions — north and south — to help members focus on the communities they know best. Smithbauer leads the south region, which is providing support for the Dearborn, Taylor, Trenton and Wayne hospitals. Ghesquiere chairs the

north region, which includes the Royal Oak, Troy, Grosse Pointe and Farmington Hills hospitals.

Digital breast tomosynthesis, whole breast ultrasound and breast MRI are all integral components for ensuring the most advanced screening process.

“The ‘gold standard’ for diagnosing breast cancer is mammography,” says Dr. Donald Conn, chief of the Department of Radiology at Beaumont Hospital, Dearborn. “However, mammograms are not perfect. Not all breast cancers are seen on a mammogram, especially when a woman has dense breasts.”

An innovative line-up of technologies can dramatically improve screening results. “Digital breast tomosynthesis or DBT is a new technology that can

• $10 million campaign goal

• $ 3 million committed from Beaumont

• $3.24 million committed from donors to date

$2.18 million •

Region: $1.58 million

WHO BENEFITS?

Research shows all women can benefit from 3D mammograms, but they are particularly helpful for:

• Dense breast tissue

• Family history of breast cancer

help improve the radiologist’s ability to diagnose breast cancer. DBT is also known as 3D mammography because it uses a series of two-dimensional images to build a three-dimensional image of the breast. It is especially useful in examining dense breasts and can improve the radiologist’s ability to find breast cancer.”

In addition, DBT offers these advantages:

• Reduces the rate of false positive readings (a reading that identifies normal tissue as an abnormality);

• Ensures that fewer women need to come back for another mammogram;

• Reduces the need for a biopsy;

• Enables the doctor to more accurately locate where the abnormality is in the breast;

• May help reduce long-term anxiety while awaiting test results.

• First screening mammogram

• Reducing frequent callbacks

“The more tools we have at our disposal to catch breast cancer in its earliest stages, the better,” says Dr. Scott Malick, section chief of Breast Imaging at Beaumont Hospitals Troy, Royal Oak and Grosse Pointe. “These technologies also increase comfort for our patients, something we hope will encourage more women to get screened and to keep coming back each year.”

The Advanced Breast Imaging Campaign Committee will continue working together to raise the funds needed to secure all of the necessary equipment. It is an effort that will pay off through positive outcomes and better health for women throughout the region.

“We are grateful for all that this team has done to put the word out in the community and inspire others to give,” says Margaret Cooney Casey, Beaumont Health Foundation president.

DIAGNOSTIC BENEFITS

Able to differentiate between true lesion and overlapping tissue

• Increased specificity for masses and distortion

41% increase in the detection of invasive breast cancers

29% increase in the detection of all breast cancers

49% increase in Positive Predictive Value (PPV) for a recall

21% increase in PPV for biopsy

15% decrease in women recalled for additional imaging

Couple Makes Gift to Support Adolescent Program for Pediatric Oncology

For Barbara and Robert Brzustewicz, Sr., the decision to support Beaumont’s pediatric hematology/oncology program was a personal one. After being diagnosed with leukemia in 2016, their grandson Jake received his care at the Skandalaris Family Center for Children with Cancer and Blood Disorders at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak.

“We were very grateful for the wonderful care Jake received from Dr. Kate Gowans and her outstanding team,” said Robert Brzustewicz, Sr. “We wanted to give back in a way that would help other young people during their treatments and help them regain their health and live their lives.”

The Brzustewiczes directed their support to the Gilbert Family Adolescent and Young Adult Program, which offers services

to older pediatric cancer patients and survivors including educational assistance, fertility preservation, social work support for families and referrals for emotional support.

“We truly appreciate the generosity of the Brzustewicz family and are honored to have earned their support,” said Dr. Gowans. “Their kindness will go a long way toward helping other young people like Jake as they travel on their road to recovery.”

Training the Next Generation of Hematology/ Oncology Physicians at Beaumont

Michele and Brian Elias established the Alene Farber Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Fund to honor the memory of Michele’s beloved mother while at the same time, honoring the work of Dr. Ishmael Jaiyesimi, chairman of the department of medical hematology and oncology and director of its fellowship program.

The three-year hematology/oncology fellowship program offers physicians a highly specialized and advanced course of learning, working alongside top Beaumont practitioners and engaging in extensive clinical research opportunities. Six fellows are enrolled at one time in the program, which ensures each enrollee graduates fully versed in outpatient and inpatient management of cancer and blood disorders.

The Alene Farber Hematology/ Oncology Fellowship Fund will support operational aspects of the program,

including expanding research opportunities for participants. This includes the chance to participate in national conferences and work toward the publication of their own studies.

“I am deeply grateful to Michele and Brian Elias for their decision to support this program and create a legacy of learning in Mrs. Farber’s name here at Beaumont,” said Dr. Jaiyesimi. “I had the honor of knowing and caring for Mrs. Farber and it will be a privilege to help teach and guide future physicians under her name.”

Alene Farber

A Good Time to Make Plans

The COVID crisis, the economy and possible tax law changes have people thinking about the future and their financial wellbeing, making it a good time to make plans for managing those changes and an equally good time to consider their financial goals.

The planning generally involves family participation and making sure that you and your family are provided for first before determining how to meet your philanthropic goals.

TAX SAVINGS

When considering a gift, it is important to consider the income and/or estate/gift tax benefits that may substantially reduce the “cost” of a gift. Recent changes and potential changes in the tax law can or may affect charitable giving.

• Tax law changes in 2017 raised the amount of the standard deduction and impacted some taxpayers’ ability to itemize their deductions. This circumstance has created a concept called “bunching” that is often used in connection with a donoradvised fund.

• The CARES Act increased the income tax deduction limit for itemizers to 100 percent of adjusted gross income for 2020 only.

• The SECURE Act limited some of the planning for “stretching” distributions from IRAs to younger beneficiaries.

• There likely will be tax law changes in 2021 that may impact both income and estate/ gift tax planning and related charitable gift planning.

TYPES OF ASSETS…KEEP IT SIMPLE OR ADD COMPLEXITY

The act of making a charitable gift can be very simple to accomplish or it can be somewhat complex.

Obviously, gifts of cash, or better yet, gifts of appreciated securities (to save capital gains tax) are easy to complete.

For donors who wish to preserve assets during their lifetimes, a bequest from an estate or a beneficiary designation of life insurance proceeds or retirement assets are simple ways to make a deferred gift. Making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) from an individual retirement account is also a simple process that can produce a tax benefit without itemizing deductions. In 2021, the QCDs will also offset required minimum distributions.

A charitable gift annuity is a simple contract that provides a lifetime annuity to the donor and a remainder to a charity, each representing approximately 50 percent of the asset’s value. The current low interest rates will create a more beneficial annuity.

More complex gifts usually involve trust arrangements. The charity either benefits from the remainder of the trust (charitable remainder trust) or from distributions for a term of years from the trust (charitable lead trust). Vice versa, donors either enjoy income for their lifetime from the trust or their heirs benefit from the remainder of the trust. The current low interest rates also enhance the benefits of these trust arrangements.

An example of a non-trust arrangement is a retained life estate of a home. The donor lives in the home for their lifetime while the charity benefits after death.

TYPES OF CHARITABLE GIFTS

• A current gift is an outright gift of cash or property sometimes paid in installments as part of a pledge.

• A planned gift is often referred to as a current commitment to make a deferred gift. However, a planned gift can, in some circumstances, benefit a charity in the near term.

• Many donors make a blended gift, also generally in the form of a pledge, which is a combination of a current gift and a planned gift. A blended gift can leverage a donor’s legacy and recognition.

If you are contemplating a gift, you should consult with your financial, legal, and tax advisors. We can help with any questions and participate in discussions with your advisors as well. Please contact Terry Lang, Vice President, Planned Giving, at 947-522-0085 or terry.lang@beaumont.org.

Thank You to Our Generous Partners!

With your help, Children’s Miracle Network granted more than $2.4 million in 2020 to support 60 pediatric departments across Beaumont Health.

During this challenging year, we are beyond grateful for the support of our corporate partners, virtual event attendees and generous donors who raised funds to benefit more than 200,000 pediatric patients across Southeast Michigan when they needed it most.

Your generous donations funded isolettes and incubators for premature infants in our neonatal intensive care units, gait training and sensory devices for our pediatric rehabilitation patients, bedside cardiac monitors for our emergency centers and Cinemavision goggles to distract children during MRI procedures.

Aside from typical fundraising, our partners quickly jumped in to offer their support during the COVID-19 crisis and provided personal protective equipment, hot meals and snacks and technology to help patients communicate with their families outside the hospital.

Meet Lexi: Our 2020 Children’s Miracle Network Ambassador for Beaumont Children’s

Two weeks before her 12th birthday, Lexi was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She stayed at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, for three days to learn about her diagnosis and how to manage her condition. Here, Lexi shares how Children’s Miracle Network made a difference during her hospital stay:

“I am so thankful for the team who taught us everything we needed to know. They helped us to be so comfortable with this change that affects the rest of my life. Knowing that it was scary, they had Mya the therapy dog visit and cuddle with me in my bed. Child Life Specialists came in and did crafts with me. We made a squishy gel stress relief bag, I squished around searching

for the beads to take my mind off of everything going on. They blew bubbles when taking blood and changing IVs. They brought video games for me and my brother and sister to play, and movies to watch. It was nice to even walk to the garden when my friends came to visit. All of this was funded by Children’s Miracle Network.

“There are so many services for children because of the funding from partners of Children’s Miracle Network. I am so thankful for them! They made one of the scariest times of my life seem not so bad.”

Clockwise: Rite Aid St. Clair Shores was one of the top fundraising stores in the country during this year’s CMN campaign; Diane from International Dairy Queen spends time with a pediatric patient at the Valentine’s Day party hosted by the Child Life team at Beaumont Royal Oak (pre-COVID-19); Cashier Joe from Costco Auburn Hills exceeded his fundraising goal and raised more than $5,000 for CMN in just four weeks

104.3 WOMC Turn Up the Miracles Radiothon

November 19, 2020 | Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak BENEFITING BEAUMONT CHILDREN’S

104.3 WOMC hosted its annual Turn Up the Miracles Radiothon on November 19 to raise funds for Beaumont Children’s. A Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals event, the Radiothon was broadcast live from the South Tower Concourse of Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. The day included the Red Tie Hour, a reimagined virtual version of the annual Red Tie Ball fundraiser, supporting the Center for Exceptional Families.

The radiothon raised more than $330,000 for pediatric care programs at Beaumont Children’s, with 25 volunteers lending a hand to make it a successful day.

CMN Partners Lend Big Support to Radiothon

Children’s Miracle Network celebrated their most successful radio event to date after raising more than $330,000 during the 104.3 WOMC Turn Up the Miracles Radiothon on Thursday, November 19.

CMN partners Rite Aid, Credit Unions for Kids, Wahlburgers, Extra Life Detroit and RE/MAX also joined in to show their support. RE/MAX of Southeastern Michigan agents held a special competition to see who could raise the most funds for the RE/MAX Communication Preschool and added over $25,000 to the event total.

Candice Thompson of RE/MAX First (pictured on the far right) personally raised more than $7,000 by reaching out to friends and clients.

Veronica Buege and Donna Schalk, members of the GM Cares Team, helped place signs around town promoting the Radiothon

Beaumont Health Foundation

Beaumont Service Center, 5D

26901 Beaumont Blvd.

Southfield, MI 48033

Beaumont Health Foundation 2021 Fundraising Events

It’s never too soon to think about the summer ahead!

Beaumont Health Foundation is planning a slate of events to raise funds for important programs and projects benefiting the patients and communities we serve.

Women’s Health Care Classic

June 14

Dearborn Country Club, TPC

Drive for Life

August 16

Oakland Hills Country Club

Children’s Miracle Celebrity Classic Date TBD

Detroit Golf Club

Zoo Walk Date TBD

Detroit Zoo

Heart & Style

Date TBD

Townsend Hotel

All dates and details are subject to change.

For more information on Foundation events or other third-party events benefiting Beaumont, please visit beaumont.org/giving/events.