1. Marshall Gelfand, Syracuse ’50, with grandsons Brian
Gelfand, Penn ’09, and Greg Stearns, Michigan ’14.
Dear Brothers,
Few things have meant more to me than Sigma Alpha Mu. My years as a Sammy at Syracuse are a major thread
woven throughout my personal, professional, and philanthropic life. In this past decade alone, ΣAM has continued to
remind me of the importance of brotherhood: my two oldest grandsons have followed in this tradition and are active
Sammies in their chapters (Penn and Michigan), and in 2005 Sigma Alpha Mu adopted the Alzheimer’s
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Association’s Judy Fund as its national charity of choice.
My family and I established The Judy Fund in 2003 to honor my wife, Judy, who lost her nine-year battle with
Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 70. Contributions benefit the Alzheimer’s Association’s groundbreaking work to
advance research around the globe and advocate at the federal level for the needs and rights of those living with
Alzheimer’s. To date, more than 1,600 generous donors have given nearly $5 million, making ours the fastest
growing family fund in the Association’s history.
Since Sigma Alpha Mu made the Alzheimer’s Association’s Judy Fund its national charity of choice, Sammies have
been working with great commitment to raise awareness and support. In the 2012/13 academic year our young
Sammies raised $52,847.95, a nearly 80 percent increase over 2011/12. Chapters in schools nationwide stage poker
tournaments, host fundraising dinners, grow their moustaches and beards for “No Shave” November, and partner
with sororities — all in the name of philanthropy and supporting The Judy Fund.
Chapters nationwide will be striving this year to raise even more, and I hope that you — that our entire
brotherhood — will join in the effort by making a donation today.
More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s, and as many as 10 million members of the baby boom
generation could develop the disease. Today, there are no survivors, and current funding falls far short of the severity
of this escalating global crisis.
We need your help. When we pledged we made a life-long commitment to “the highest precepts of true manhood,
democracy, and humanity.” This is an opportunity to extend our legacy of service to all those affected by this cruel
and fatal disease.
If your family has been affected by Alzheimer’s and you need support, call the Alzheimer’s Association’s 24/7
Helpline at 1.800.272.3900 or visit alz.org/care. They’re standing by to assist you.
Please join the ΣAM effort and make a generous gift to The Judy Fund today. Together we can do our part to find
more effective treatments, methods of prevention, and ultimately a cure for Alzheimer’s.
Fraternally yours,
Marshall M. Gelfand, CPA, Syracuse ‘50
Past Member, National Board of Directors, Alzheimer’s Association