[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 138 (Thursday, September 24, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1340]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENT OF JOE KANFER

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TIM RYAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 2015

  Mr. RYAN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Mr. Joe 
Kanfer, the recipient of the 48th Bert A. Polsky Humanitarian Award. 
Joe is the chairman and CEO of GOJO Industries. In addition to his 
position at GOJO Industries, Joe is a chairman for Startvest Partners, 
a firm that develops biotech startups in Israel. He is honored today 
for his continuous support in strengthening the Jewish community and 
his dedication to improving education and health care, and reducing 
poverty and hunger. Joe has accomplished this work along with his wife, 
Pam, his four children and their spouses through the Lippman Kanfer 
Family Philanthropies and GOJO.
   His numerous accomplishments also include a three-year term as the 
chair of the Jewish Federations of North America, chairman of the 
Jewish Education Service of North America and a member of the Jewish 
Agency for Israel in Jerusalem. He currently serves as chair of the 
Honeymoon Israel Foundation. Joe Kanfer is not only known for his work 
on a national level, but also on a local level. He serves as chairman 
for countless organizations in the greater Akron Area including Akron 
Tomorrow, the Greater Akron Chamber Executive Committee, Bits and Atoms 
Innovation Center, and just recently, the Akron Children's Hospital's 
Building on a Promise Campaign. In addition, he is a trustee for the 
Jewish Community Board of Akron and the Lippman School. He is also the 
former vice president of University of Akron Board of Trustees and 
trustee of the Shaw Jewish Community center and Akron Roundtable.
   It is my pleasure to recognize a man who has worked so hard to 
strengthen his community on a local and national level. I applaud Joe 
Kanfer and could not imagine a better recipient for this year's Bert A. 
Polsky Humanitarian Award.

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