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The Charlotte Jewish News - January 2014 - Page 18 Greenspon Family Makes Challenge Gift to Support Healing Garden Project Honoring Sandy and Lois Benjamin It all begins with a story of friends. When Stan Greenspon learned that an effort was under way to name a healing garden in honor of his good friend, Dr. San ford Benjamin, there was no doubt in his mind that he would support the projeet. “Sandy is not only one of the nieest, sineerest persons you will ever meet, he’s also one of my dearest friends,” said Mr. Green spon. “There’s no way I would not be involved.” Seheduled to open late spring 2014, the healing garden will be built on the eampus of Carolinas Medieal Center-Merey (CMC- Merey), loeated in Charlotte’s Elizabeth eommunity. Studies have found that healing gardens in hospital settings ean reduee the need for pain medieation, reduee the length of hospital stays, and improve the attitudes and pereep- tions among patients, guests, and employees. Through healing gar dens, patients faeing a eritieal ill ness, reeovering from surgery, or waiting for test results will have aeeess to a ealm, restful environ ment for peaee and refleetion. The garden will also be useful for fam ilies visiting hospitalized loved ones and provide a quiet plaee for hospital staff to take breaks and beeome refreshed before returning to patient eare. When Dr. Benjamin learned of the projeet, he had a response sim ilar to that of his long-time friend. From left to right: Marty Birnbaum, Roz Greenspon, Lois and Sandy Benjamin, Maureen O 'Keefe, Stan Greenspon. Stan Greenspon: “There’s no way a garden will be named for me and not inelude my wife, Lois.” Like wise, when Stan’s former wife Roz heard about the projeet, she did not hesitate to get involved. “Sandy and Lois Benjamin are my dear friends. How fitting for a healing garden to be named in honor of sueh earing people who have a rieh history of supporting the health and well-being of our eommunity,” said Roz. Dr. Ben jamin has provided more than 33 years of serviee to CMC-Merey, ineluding serving as past-presi dent of medieal staff, as a member of Carolinas Pathology Group, and 29 years as Medieal Direetor of Laboratories. His wife Lois eurrently serves as eo-ehairperson of membership for the Meeklen- burg Medieal Allianee and En dowment and formerly served as its eo-president, viee-president of finaneial development, projeets treasurer, reeording seeretary, and as a member of various eommit- tees, ineluding Community Health Luneheon and Holiday House. She also has served as a volunteer at CMC-Merey for over twelve years and is a former president of Sisterhood, board member, and membership ehair at Temple Is rael. The healing garden at CMC- Merey will be a lasting legaey in the Benjamins’ honor. “Our goal is to raise $40,000 to add to funds already seeured for the Benjamin naming opportunity. With less than $7,000 to go, we’re almost there,” said Stan Greenspon. Through a generous matehing offer from Stan Greenspon and Maureen O’Keefe, Roz Green spon and Martin Birnbaum, and the Greenspon sons (Keith, Lawrenee, and Miehael) and their families, all gifts up to a eumula- tive total of $20,000 will be matehed dollar-for-dollar. “The positive response to our ehallenge is a true testament to the Ben jamins’ standing in our eommu nity,” said Roz Greenspon. And the timing eould not have been beher. With Dr. Benjamin’s reeent retirement, this projeet provides a way for all of the people who love and respeet the Benjamins to show their support. “We hope that our gifts and matehing ehallenge will inspire others to support this worthy proj eet, whieh not only honors the Benjamins, but also benefits a hospital that provides the Char- lohe eommunity with world-elass healtheare. Gifts of all sizes are important and will be doubled through our mateh,” adds Stan, “and we are deeply grateful to all of our family members and friends who have already made gifts and pledges.” As the story began, so shall it end: a testament of friends, eom- ing together to honor two of their own. If you or your eompany would like to join the Greenspon Family in supporting the Benjamin Heal ing Garden Projeet through a tax- deduetible gift, please eontaet Kathie Minnon at 704-376-1561. Donors will be invited to the gar den’s ground breaking and ribbon eutting eeremonies, seheduled for spring/summer 2014, and also to other garden-related speeial events. ^ Donating an Old Cell Phone Can Save a Life Shalom Bayit-NC, in conjunc tion with Safe Alliance’s Victim Assistance, is collecting cell phones for victims - or poten tial victims - of domestic violence. Old, used and un wanted cell phones will be re programmed to call 911 and used in the event of an emer gency. Donating is as simple as dropping the cell phone and battery charger (in a plas tic bag or box, if possible) at the reception desks of the fol lowing locations: Levine Jew ish Community Center, Ohr Hatorah Congregation, Tem ple Beth El, Temple Israel, and Jewish Family Services. For more information check www.shalombayit-nc.org. ^ F?ATC LDOU- PROFESSICMUL EHCHUIDNAL AN ANATOMICALLY INCORRECT ROCK ODYSSEY “Ladies and Gentlemen, whether you like \t or not, here's HEDWIG!" This cult-hit glam rock musical follows Hedwig, the internationally ignored rock goddess who fell victim to a botched sex change operation. Lost Jove, angry genitalia, and stolen songs drive this bastard of classic cabaret into a glam rock odyssey. With music that echoes David Bowie, Velvet Underground, Fleetwood Mac, and - of course - Cher Rodgers and Hammerstein this ain’t. Vou know you want some HED-wig, JANUARY 8-25 650 E. STONEWALL ST. 704.342.2251 ATCHARLOTTE.OHG
The Charlotte Jewish News (Charlotte, N.C.)
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