Gail Freund, Bears Superfan
Saturday night "Brians' Song" Reunion was held at the Harris Theater in Millenium Park. The event was held as a fundraiser for the Gale Sayers Center, which will be located in Mount Prospect, Illinois. The center will provide after-school learning for children ages 8-12. The goals are "Motivation...Education...Inspiration". There will be computer classrooms, the Jr. Toastmasters program to teach children the art of public speaking, and regularly scheduled mentoring and motivational programs. The center will also house the Ed & Steve Sabol Theatre/Library. This is a non-profit organization. Children will be able to attend free of charge. You can learn more about the Gale Sayers Center at www.galesayerscenter.org.

A pre-screening reception was held before going into the state-of-the-art theater which seats 1500. Prior to the screening was the presentation of the Gale Sayers Award for Courage and Inspiration and a cast jacket to Judy Pace-Flood, who played the wife of Gale, and Shelley Fabares, who played the wife of Brian Piccolo. An award was also being sent to the family of the late Jack Warden, who played Papa Bear Halas.

After the screening there was a discussion led my WMAQ's Warner Saunders. Gale, Judy Pace-Flood, Shelley Fabares, Fred Mitchell, Dan Jiggetts, and Doug Buffone were all on stage and discussed the movie, Brian, the impact the made-for-tv movie has had over the past 30 years, where they were in 1971. There was also time for some questions from the audience. It was an enjoyable evening for a very worthwhile cause.

GO BEARS!!