[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 2 (Wednesday, January 28, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Pages S181-S182]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF ART VanELSLANDER

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to commend one of 
Michigan's foremost business leaders, Mr. Art VanElslander, for his 
service as chairman of the successful Society of St. Vincent DePaul 
Capital Campaign.
  Mr. VanElslander is well-known throughout Michigan as the Chairman 
and CEO of Art Van Furniture, Michigan's largest furniture retailer and 
the sixth largest furniture retailer in the United States. Business 
success has enabled Mr. VanElslander to pursue his commitment to 
community service and philanthropy and benefit thousands of people. His 
involvement with the St. Vincent DePaul Capital Campaign is a prime 
example of his dedication and commitment.
  In 1995, just before Christmas, a fire destroyed the St. Vincent 
DePaul warehouse which served needy residents of the metropolitan 
Detroit area. The fire led to an outpouring of donations of clothing, 
bedding and toys from thousands of people in Metro Detroit. With those 
immediate needs met, thanks to the generosity of the community, the 
Society of St. Vincent DePaul began a fundraising campaign to meet 
their long-term needs--replacing the warehouse and building the St. 
Vincent DePaul Service Center, which would provide job training and 
employment placement, transitional child care for those enrolled in 
programs at the Center, a non-acute health care clinic, a resale thrift 
shop and an emergency food depot. To raise the $3.75 million needed to 
fund these projects, the Society of St. Vincent DePaul asked Mr. 
VanElslander to chair the campaign.
  Mr. VanElslander not only provided the leadership and spirit needed 
to successfully raise the money, but he pledged to match up to $500,000 
in donations. His commitment to this campaign is a natural expression 
of his desire to help the less fortunate members of his community.
  Mr. President, we all benefit from the attention and energy of 
leaders like Mr. VanElslander. By helping those in need, they improve 
the strengthen the entire community. I hope my colleagues will join me 
in commending Mr. Art VanElslander for his generosity and for his 
leadership of the Society of St. Vincent DePaul Capital 
Campaign.

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