[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 108 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRIBUTE TO THOMAS V. KARABAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 1998

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, last week, our community lost one of its 
brightest lights with the passing of Thomas V. Karaban of Atlantic 
Highlands, NJ. Mr. Karaban, who died on Saturday, August 1, 1998, at 
the age of 53, gave up a lucrative career on Wall Street to found a 
children's charity, the Rainbow Foundation. Since its founding in 1984, 
the Rainbow Foundation has provided 3,000 children in New Jersey with 
wheelchairs, Christmas presents, air fare to hospitals and other needs. 
While we mourn his loss, Mr. Karaban's life is a cause for great 
celebration. His legacy of trying to ease the sorrow of gravely ill 
children will endure for years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, the story of Tom Karaban is one of those inspirational, 
``only in America'' success stories--but, in the case of Mr. Karaban, 
success is measured in terms of what he gave back and how he enriched 
others. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Mr. Karaban worked for Chase 
Manhattan Bank and Eastman Dillion Union Securities before becoming 
Deputy Fiscal Agent for Fannie Mae, the federal national mortgage 
association. In 1983, while serving as a senior partner at Chapdelaine 
Government Securities, he became seriously ill and took a one-year 
medical leave. It was during that year that he got involved in 
fundraising for a child from Colts Neck, NJ, who was seriously ill. As 
his son, Edward, recalled in The Asbury Park Press, ``He found his 
calling then.'' The following year, he started up the Rainbow 
Foundation, working out of an empty bedroom in his family's Middletown, 
NJ, home. The first donation to the Foundation was $200,000 from the 
Karaban family's savings account. Eventually, Mr. Karaban devoted 
himself full-time to the administration of the Rainbow Foundation, 
leaving behind his Wall Street career.
  Mr. Karaban was widely honored for his years of dedication and 
devoted service to children in need. In 1995, Governor Whitman honored 
him with the Madeline Worthy Williams Youth Advocacy Award, one of the 
annual Governor's Awards, which are the highest honor the state can 
bestow on an individual. He has also been honored by the Veterans of 
Foreign Wars, the Middletown Chamber of Commerce, the New Jersey 
National Association of Social Workers, and New Jersey Monthly 
Magazine, among others. He served on a variety of organizations, 
including the Governor's Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, to 
which he was appointed in 1990 by former Governor Thomas Kean, the 
Knights of Columbus, Vince Lombardi Council, Middletown, the Bishop 
McFaul Assembly, the Middletown Police Department Advisory Board and he 
was an honorary chairperson of Catholic Schools Week at St. Mary's 
Grammar School, New Monmouth. He was a member of St. Agnes Roman 
Catholic Church, where he was a lector and Eucharistic minister.
  Mr. Speaker, it was about two years ago that Mr. Karaban began 
treatment for cancer. Throughout this personal ordeal, Mr. Karaban 
retained his optimism and his deep religious faith never wavered. 
Indeed, as his family and his many, many friends were aware, it was his 
abiding faith that sustained Mr. Karaban's tireless and selfless 
dedication to helping children. When he passed away, Mr. Karaban was 
surrounded by his family and at peace.
  Perhaps Mr. Karaban himself best summed up the motivation behind his 
inspiring commitment to serving others: ``They say the greatest legacy 
anyone can leave is to leave the world a better place than you found 
it. I try very, very hard to practice faith. When you try to practice 
your faith, you want to love God. The easiest way I can love God is to 
love children. I can't put my arms around God, but I can put my arms 
around a kid.''
  Mr. Karaban leaves behind a loving family, including his wife, 
Margaret, two sons and a daughter, and many other relatives, as well as 
countless loyal friends who have been touched by his kindness, 
generosity and warmth. In what Tom would no doubt consider a fitting 
tribute, the Karaban family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, 
contributions be made to the Rainbow Foundation. To keep the Rainbow 
Foundation going strong would be the best tribute we could make to the 
life and work of Mr. Thomas V. Karaban.

                          ____________________