Transforming grief into an opportunity to pay it forward

Pritha and Jeff Browning lived every parent’s nightmare last summer when their oldest daughter, Mira, passed away from injuries sustained in an apartment fire. Mira (CWR ’25) had been just days away from starting her dream job teaching middle school English.

Mira’s time on campus—from student teaching to the equestrian club to helping with the production of plays—“helped her find her path in life,” Jeff Browning said.

“When Mira arrived at Case [Western Reserve], she was thinking about social work—but after weighing a few different options, she gravitated toward teaching because she wanted to work more directly with kids,” said Pritha Browning. “And she was really, really good at it. She had a very unique way of connecting with them, and it seemed like that was what she was really meant to do.”

At first, the Brownings felt hopeless in the face of a tidal wave of grief. But then a plan began to emerge to honor Mira’s legacy by creating a fund in her name at her alma mater.

“An endowed fund is something that will live forever, and this was one thing we had control of,” said Jeff Browning. “We could keep her name alive.”

Then, other family members said they wanted to donate to the fund, and friends from across all phases of the Brownings’ life joined in as well. Before they knew it, more than 100 people had contributed to the fund.

“When we lose a member of our tight-knit community, especially someone with so much hope and promise ahead of them, it touches all of us,” said Travis Apgar, Case Western Reserve vice president for student affairs. “For the Brownings to take this unthinkable tragedy and turn it into a light for current and future Spartans is an amazing testament to Mira, and we’re so grateful to be able to carry on her legacy through this fund.”

A majority of The Mira Browning Endowed Fund will support an annual scholarship for undergraduate students who have a demonstrated interest in pursuing careers as educators and/or working with children. The remaining 10% will go to the Case Western Reserve equestrian club for expenses such as riding lessons, membership and facility fees, travel and show entry fees.

“It took Mira a while to figure out what she wanted to do, what to put her energies into,” said Pritha Browning. “And when she did, she really went for it—and [CWRU] provided the springboard. We felt like this fund was a way to provide an opportunity for other students to find their way as well.”

You can make a donation to The Mira Browning Endowed Fund here.