People Come; People Go

I've been fortunate to be able to contribute money to charitable causes over the years -- my synagogue, the Ds' and Wifey's causes, and mostly to the U. I guess I originally learned this from my parents, mostly my mother, who would always make modest donations to Israel related causes, her beloved Cleveland Clinic (where they treated her like royalty when they replaced a hip), and animal causes (each year $10 would go to a Long Island shelter where she visited in the 70s). My father was less into charity -- he knew it began at home, and bestowed his generosity on his family. Plus, though he was a staunch Democrat, he had a Conservative's sense of humor regarding socialism. I remember one beautiful Spring day in the 70s -- my mother suggested maybe he take the day off, and go on a picnic. He replied "Hey -- I don't just support you and our family. I pay taxes to support at least 10 blacks and Puerto Ricans in the City who don't want to work --I can't stay home -- those people DEPEND on me!" Hmmm...I wonder where my politically incorrect sense of humor comes from? Anyway, in becoming involved in charity, you encounter "development people" whose job it is to make you feel good about giving, and of course, to give more. They take you to lunch, and invite you to nice events (at UM, great seats to see music performances, the Dali Llama, Bill Clinton, etc...). And they all tell you how deeply committed to the institution they are. Ha. As if! They're just employees, like everyone else. UM Pediatrics, where we each year sponsor a group of young doctors to attend a conference on Inflammatory Bowel Disease, has gone through 5 different people in the years we've been involved. The most impressive is a young man I'll call Dan, since that's his name. I met him last Fall, introduced by Dr. Barry. He took me to lunch and invited me to a Peds night at a Marlins game. He was charming and impressive -- recruited away from the American Heart Association in Palm Beach County. He told me he was still commuting from Boca, where his wife loved their church and the school it provided for his kids. Dan shared with me his vision for the U, and asked me to put him in contact with friends who might bring this vision to reality -- a Peds Department and Children's Hospital second to none. We already had the docs and nurses, he said, but needed a better physical plant. Dan spoke like a preacher, but classier and more quietly. He told me with a proselyte's vigor that he had his dream job, he was in his late 30s, and his life work would be UM Pediatrics. I didn't buy too much of his spiel, but wondered -- was he truly different than the previous development people? Would the Department have found their Development Bobby Bowden -- a true lifer who would be transformative? Dr. Barry told me last night he left -- some church based hospital in North Carolina. I guess Jesus called him away from Holtz. The point strengthened is to never take these people seriously. I first learned this in the early 90s -- when I met similar types raising money for the College of Arts and Sciences. They showed up at my office all festooned in Orange and Green -- looking more like true Canes than my friends and I, who attended the U for 7 or 8 years -- and some of whom were second or even third generation Canes. And then they'd go -- to better paying jobs, typically, where they'd have to buy different colored ties or scarves... So the philanthropy is great. My Ds have inherited the bug -- and it makes me so proud. I just need to make sure they know to never take the bureaucrats too seriously...