[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1537-S1538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING THE LIFE OF ANDREA BRONFMAN

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
Andrea Bronfman, a respected philanthropist and a dear friend. Andrea 
passed away on January 23, 2006, at the age of 60.
  Born in Great Britain in 1945, Andrea quickly demonstrated remarkable 
compassion for those in need and an ardent desire to improve the world 
around her. She was married to Charles Bronfman in 1982, and together 
they raised five children and six grandchildren. While their wonderful 
family was certainly one of Andrea's proudest achievements, she will 
also be fondly remembered for her generous nature, her passion for 
life, and her multitude of charitable endeavors.
  Andrea's philanthropy benefited citizens of all countries and faiths, 
but she is best known for her activism within the Jewish community and 
her devotion to Israel, Jewish life, and the Jewish people. In addition 
to serving on the boards of several well-respected Jewish 
organizations, she and Charles cofounded Birthright Israel, a program 
that offers young adults a chance to travel to Israel and experience 
the roots of their ancestry firsthand. As a result of these good works 
and her undying devotion to Jewish life, Andrea

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was named an honorary citizen of Jerusalem in 2002 and was given the 
key to the city by then-Mayor Ehud Olmert.
  Throughout her life, Andrea proved herself to be a true pillar of 
decency and generosity both within the Jewish community and outside of 
it. Not content just to fund projects, Andrea was actively involved in 
the community and was constantly devising new undertakings that would 
benefit society and help more people. Most recently she served as 
founder and deputy chairman of The Gift of New York, a nonprofit 
initiative that provided free admission to concerts, theatrical 
productions, and sporting events to the families of those who died at 
the World Trade Center in 2001. Andrea recognized that grief is not an 
emotion that subsides after a few months. Long after the rubble of 9/11 
had been cleared, she ensured that the bereaved families knew that 
their loss and heartache had not been forgotten.
  Our hearts go out to Andrea's family and friends as they deal with 
the inevitable pain and sadness that come from an unexpected death. To 
mitigate that pain somewhat, we can remember and be grateful that 
Andrea lived a life filled with love, kindness, and compassion. Her 
dedication to humanitarian causes and deep devotion to her faith served 
as an inspiration to everyone who knew her and benefited from her 
achievements and generosity. While her determination and spirit will be 
missed, her legacy will live on through the millions of people her work 
has touched.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to Mrs. Andrea 
Bronfman and the legacy she left to philanthropy and caring about 
people whether she knew them or not.

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