[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 135 (Tuesday, September 13, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1615]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               IN RECOGNITION OF VICKI AND DAVID PORTMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 13, 2011

  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vicki and David 
Portman, the 2011 Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater 
Monmouth County's Tribute Dinner honorees. Mr. and Mrs. Portman have 
dedicated their lives to serving the community and are truly worthy of 
this body's recognition.
  Mrs. Vicki Portman was compelled by childhood memories to give back 
to the community. Instilled with the basic tenets of Judaism, Mrs. 
Portman has been involved in the Jewish Federation of Monmouth County, 
where she chaired the Business and Professional Women Foundation and 
served as Vice President of Campaign as well as Allocations. Most 
recently, Mrs. Portman has been involved with the New York United 
Jewish Appeal (UJA) Federation and continues to hold several positions 
with the Manhattan Women's Campaign. Mrs. Portman is presently a member 
of Women's Executive Circle (WEC) and on the Board of Directors of UJA 
New York Federation, as well as many other prestigious organizations. 
She also sits on the Ethiopian Taskforce. Mrs. Portman earned her 
Bachelor of Arts from New York University and a Master's degree in 
Speech Pathology from Seton Hall University. She also completed a 
graduate certificate program in Training, Development & Organizational 
Diagnosis through the New School's Graduate School of Management. Mrs. 
Portman's professional endeavors led her to teach high school Public 
Speaking and English and she also served as school speech therapist. In 
1988 she began Executive Communication, a communications consulting 
organization which she continues to manage today.
  Mr. David Portman is the second of three children who were born and 
raised near Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mr. Portman's values of 
community, motivation to succeed and the desire to share his success 
with those less fortunate are evident through his various activities. 
He touts an impressive history of involvement and volunteerism in the 
Jewish Community, most notably filling the role of Building Fund 
Chairman and Vice President of Temple Beth Torah. Mr. Portman served 
two terms as President of the Monmouth County Jewish Federation and 
also held many other notable positions with this organization. 
Similarly, he is recognized for his role as Monmouth County 
Representative to New Jersey Board of Federations and was subsequently 
appointed Commissioner for Economic Development between Israel and New 
Jersey for his impressive actions. He has also served on the National 
Campaign Cabinet for Israel Bonds and as Vice President and on the 
Board of Directors for Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). Mr. Portman 
is the current Chairman of Development for the Home for the Aged of the 
Workman's Circle organization.
  The Portmans share a passion for travel and often relate their travel 
destinations to their desire to further enhance their knowledge of 
Jewish history and culture around the world. Dedicated to protecting 
human rights and civil rights issues worldwide, Mr. and Mrs. Portman 
are lifetime members of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights 
Education Center. They have also arranged separate scholarship funds to 
financially support a student's trip to Israel. The Portmans are the 
proud parents of three sons, Howard, Lee and Billy and have welcomed 
into their family their daughter-in-law Emily and three grandchildren, 
Ava, Max and Easy. Their continuous commitment to the Jewish community 
is only surpassed by their devotion to family.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Vicki and David Portman for 
their outstanding service to the community and congratulate them on the 
honor bestowed by the Jewish Family and Children's Service of Greater 
Monmouth County. Their philanthropic efforts are a shining example of 
what hard work and dedication can accomplish.

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