PHOTOS | STACY STEPONATE GREENBERG
4 | August 30, 2013 The Jewish Voice COMMUNITY
Mike Greenberg, left, and his daughter Nikki, and Heidi Armitage (now deceased), with her son, Walker Green, in Aspen, Colo., in 2005.
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OBLIGATION
Greenberg and his wife created a foundation called “Heidi’s Angels.” Who were Heidi’s Angels? Greenberg said that Heidi Armitage’s dear friends, Wendy Gardiner, Jane Green and Stacy, tirelessly supported Heidi through her valiant, yet ultimately unsuccessful, battle to beat the breast cancer that had spread to her bones. Through the foundation, all the author’s proceeds from the sale of “All You Could Ask For” will be donated to The V Foundation for Cancer Research specifically to combat breast cancer. “When Heidi died, I just felt like I had to do something … felt an obligation to do something,” said Greenberg. “I felt that way more when I was sitting at a memorial service [and] staring at the backs of her children, 9 and 6 …going to live the rest of their lives without their mom.” Asked what “take-away message” the book and his foundation offer, Greenberg said, “Don’t expect other people to do [something] for you … you have to do something … yourself. Whether it’s getting involved in a hands-on way by volunteering or by donating – whatever the case may be – if you don’t, you may find yourself in a community where the federation isn’t all that vibrant.” Heidi’s death inspired Greenberg to act. After considering, and then rejecting, the idea of running a marathon to raise money, he decided to write a book. He’d already written two nonfiction books, “Why My Wife Thinks I’m an Idiot: The Life and Times of a Sportscaster Dad” (published by Villard, May 2007) and, with co-author Mike Golic and contributor Andrew Chaikivksy, “Mike and Mike’s Rules for Sports and Life” (published by ESPN in April 2010). “I admired Heidi … someone
needed to do something, and I was in a position to do something. Why wouldn’t I?” Greenberg said. Although Greenberg describes himself as “fairly irreligious,” he credits mentors with instilling in him positive values. “If you can do good things in the world, why wouldn’t you?” he asked rhetorically. Of mentor Dick Vitale, the legendary basketball coach and commentator, Greenberg said, “He’s so passionate about cancer research. I’ve seen his enormous passion and dedication. I was encouraged by him, but this [book initiative] really was more about Heidi.” As for the focus of his comments at the Alliance’s event,
Heidi and “Heidi’s Angels”: Wendy Gardiner, left, Heidi Armitage, Jane Green and Stacy Steponate Greenberg Greenberg said that most of his presentation will be humorous. “I won’t be spending 40 minutes talking about cancer … [I’ll cover] sports, etc. and will talk a bit about Heidi, the feeling of gratitude.” Just as he recognized he could – and should – “do something” about Heidi’s death from cancer, Greenberg encourages people to “do whatever they feel is important. Be that someone; wherever your passion lies, do it rather than wonder why someone else can’t do it.”
“An Evening with Mike Greenberg” Tuesday, Sept. 17, 7 p.m. Providence Biltmore Hotel, 11 Dorrance St., Providence Dessert reception follows program Cost: $36 per person, $18 per person under 30 RSVP by Sept. 4: Michelle Gallagher, 421-4111 ext. 165 or mgallagher@ jewishallianceri.org.