[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 71 (Wednesday, May 12, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E821-E822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           COMMENDING MR. GERRY LENFEST ON HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY

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                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 12, 2010

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I would like to recognize a 
great Philadelphian and a great American, Mr. H.F. (Gerry) Lenfest, and 
to call out specifically his outstanding service to the nation through 
his unwavering support of the Library of Congress. As he marks his 80th 
birthday I rise in tribute to a visionary leader who has established a 
high bar for philanthropists and whose dedication to the nation's 
library, his city, state and nation are legend.
  Gerry Lenfest has been Chairman of the James Madison Council, the 
Library's first-ever national private sector group, since 2007. He was 
one of the founding members of this remarkable group of 
philanthropists, and the Council is growing and flourishing under his 
leadership. The Council helps the Library add to the national 
collection and share its treasures with the nation and the world. Mr. 
Lenfest, who has a deep interest in educating today's youth, is the 
driving force behind the Library's top fundraising priority--to create 
a much-needed residential scholars center in the nation's capital. He 
is the lead donor, and is co-chairing the fundraising campaign to 
provide the emerging generation of researchers and teachers both here 
and abroad with inexpensive accommodations close to the unequaled 
reservoir of educational material in the Congress's library.
  Championing the Residential Scholars Center is the latest of Gerry 
Lenfest's many benefactions to the nation's library. Since accepting 
the invitation of Librarian of Congress James H. Billington to join the 
Madison Council in 1990, Mr. Lenfest and his wife Marguerite have 
played key roles in the establishment and expansion of the National 
Digital Library, an authoritative, free Web site that presents 16 
million unique and important primary documents of our nation's history 
and culture to students, teachers, researchers and casual browsers 
around the world. Gerry and Marguerite have also supported the Library 
in acquiring a number of unique, historically significant items for the 
national collection such as the Lafayette map collection and the 1507 
Waldseemuller map, the first map of the Western Hemisphere and the 
first document of any kind to use the name ``America.''. Gerry and 
Marguerite turn visions into reality not only through their generosity, 
but also through their engaging personalities.
  In addition to their enthusiastic support for many varied initiatives 
at the Library of Congress, the Lenfests have extended their 
involvement and generosity to more than 168 educational, musical, 
conservation, health, arts and historic causes in Philadelphia and 
across Pennsylvania, and across the nation. Gerry's philanthropic 
leadership and presiding skills over cultural institutions in 
Philadelphia, like his Chairman's role with the Library of Congress, 
have been major contributions to America--and reminds us of the special 
role that Philadelphia has played in our nation's history and culture.

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