HARRIET'S FOUNDATIONS

March 23, 2000

Today, I am celebrating with you what would have been Harriet’s 51st birthday, March 23, 2000. As all of you know, Harriet touched and enhanced countless lives in her all too brief 50 years. Since her death, it has been very important to me to find ways to keep her memory and legacy alive. I am pleased to let you know that with the help of the dedicated and visionary staff at both the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Children’s Hospital, two endowment funds are being established.

With great respect and appreciation for the sensitivity, care and concern we were shown by the physicians, nurses and staff at Dana-Farber, we have established The Harriet L. Needleman Caregiver’s Education Fund. This endowed fund will be used to present teaching seminars and conferences to new and seasoned physicians, nurses and staff to ensure that the compassionate care we were given continues. Our experience taught us that there are many extraordinary individuals that comprise the care team at Dana-Farber. These conferences and seminars, lead by Dr. Susan Block, will allow that kind of sensitivity to be nurtured and encouraged. Dr. Block is the Chief of Adult Psycho-Social Oncology Services at Dana- Farber. During Harriet’s illness, Dr. Block provided us with the kind of support that allowed us to emotionally cope with her illness and live the remaining days of our lives together to the fullest. This endowed fund is a fitting tribute to Harriet.

The Harriet L. Needleman Speech and Language Education Fund will provide education to caregivers in Harriet’s chosen profession. A speech and language pathologist for 30 years, Harriet was always developing, expanding and enhancing her diagnostic and therapeutic skills. Each year she attended conferences, seminars and formal higher education courses in her own discipline, as well as in related fields. Hence, it seems fitting to establish a fund to foster these goals for future generations of speech pathologists. I am especially excited about the first annual Harriet L. Needleman Speech and Language Education Conference, scheduled for Friday October 27, 2000. This seminar is being developed by the Division of Speech and Language at Children’s Hospital under the guidance of Dr. Howard Shane, a good friend and colleague of Harriet’s. The Speech Pathology program at Children’s is one of the most comprehensive programs of its kind in the world. It serves children with a myriad of problems that effect human communication. Each year this full day conference will offer all of us an opportunity to celebrate Harriet’s love for her profession. Unlike the Dana -Farber fund, which is fully endowed, this fund has not yet reached that level. It is my hope that in the coming year we can reach that goal.

Creating these endowments has been a labor of love for me. Each endowment in its own way will carry on Harriet’s legacy. I know that Harriet would be delighted to know that we have all found a way to support services that were so important to her, helping individuals with cancer-related illnesses and children with speech and/or language impairments through continuing education of their caregivers.

I thank you for all the kindness, caring and support you have shown me and my family during and since Harriet’s tragic illness.

 

Sincerely,

 

Howard L. Needleman, D.M.D.