[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 21 (Monday, February 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Pages S854-S855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO HELENE GALEN

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I wish to take this opportunity to 
recognize my great friend and an extraordinary philanthropist in my 
State, Helene Galen, who was honored over the weekend with the Desert 
AIDS Project's ``100 Women Award.'' Helene's immense contributions 
throughout California--especially in her beloved Coachella Valley--have 
left a legacy that will benefit the people of our State for decades to 
come.
  She has worked tirelessly to fight child abuse through the Barbara 
Sinatra Children's Center for almost 30 years. Her strong support for 
Jewish Family Service of the Desert has provided critical social 
services to seniors, children and families throughout the area. A 
devoted advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS, she has been a 
leader of the Desert AIDS Project's ``100 Women'' program, which 
supports women and children affected by HIV and AIDS with food, housing 
and life-saving health care.
  Whenever Helene sees an unmet need, she doesn't wait for someone else 
to step up. She jumps in with all her heart and all her passion. She 
led the effort to build a new performing arts center and theater at 
Rancho Mirage High School, which will ensure that generations of young 
people can pursue

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their dreams. A longtime member of the University of Southern 
California School of Fine Arts' Board of Councilors, Helene and her 
late husband, Louis, were the driving force behind the construction of 
USC's Galen Center, an arena that opened in 2006 and has provided the 
community an incredible venue for sporting events, concerts, and school 
activities.
  A former executive in the retail industry, Helene has used her 
financial savvy and management experience to benefit a host of 
charities and institutions. She has served on the boards of the 
Eisenhower Medical Center, the Palm Springs Art Museum, the McCallum 
Theatre, and the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
  A devoted mother and grandmother, Helene truly embodies the saying in 
the Jewish tradition, ``Whoever saves a life, it is as if that person 
has saved the whole world.'' Without a doubt, Helene's work has saved 
countless lives, and her impact will be felt in California for many 
years to come.

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