[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 77 (Thursday, May 20, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E898]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE MANY CONTRIBUTIONS OF ALAN GINSBURG

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                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 20, 2010

  Mr. GRAYSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Jewish American 
Heritage Month and to recognize an extraordinary businessman and 
philanthropist from Central Florida who is making a distinguished 
contribution to the Jewish community in the 8th district of Florida, 
Alan Ginsburg.
  For over 45 years, Mr. Alan Ginsburg has been involved in developing 
real estate projects such as, single family and multi-family housing 
projects with HUD, LIHTC, and FHA in several States including the great 
State of Florida. His career began years ago at a local sporting goods 
store in Grand Rapids, MI where he did not make enough money to pay for 
parking and lunch. Determined to be a self starter, Mr. Ginsburg, quit 
his job to become a self-employed entrepreneur. In 1981, he founded CED 
Construction Companies specializing in building multi-family 
communities.
  Mr. Ginsburg is a role model for generosity and selflessness not only 
with his money, but with his time and dedication. He serves as the 
Director of Greater Orlando Jewish Welfare Federation and was an active 
member of National Young Leadership Cabinet for the United Jewish 
Appeal. Mr. Alan Ginsburg's community activism is not just within the 
Jewish Community, but throughout Central Florida. He has served as a 
trustee for Rollins College, where he gave $5 million for a scholarship 
endowment at Rollins College, and serves as a trustee for the Orlando 
Arts Foundation.
  During the past few years, Mr. Ginsburg has donated millions of 
dollars to Central Florida organizations. In 2007, The Alan Ginsburg 
Family Foundation gave Florida Hospital $20 million, the largest 
donation in its history, for its new $255 million patient tower. The 15 
story, 440 bed Ginsburg Tower opened in December 2008 and features one 
of the largest emergency departments and cardiac catheterization labs 
in the country. At his request, the tower's lobby was designed to be 
welcoming to people of all faiths and features a memorial to Ginsburg's 
late wife, Harriet, and son, Jeffrey.
  Mr. Ginsburg's philanthropic values are a reflection of his 
philosophy in life, ``to never forget the importance of the community 
in which you are creating new development and to give back as much and 
as often as possible.'' This philosophy corresponds with the Jewish 
concept of tikkun olam, repairing the world. Jews are not only 
responsible for helping to create a better world for themselves, but 
for the entire society as a whole. Mr. Ginsburg's community service has 
accomplished just that.
  Madam Speaker, during Jewish American Heritage Month, it is my 
privilege to recognize this dedicated community member whose devotion 
to our community can be shown through his great contributions not only 
to the Jewish community, but the larger Florida community as well. Alan 
Ginsburg has given so much to the people of Florida and I applaud his 
accomplishments and service in our Central Florida community and our 
State of Florida.

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