[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 27, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E911]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             HONORING MARGUERITE AND H.F. ``GERRY'' LENFEST

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 27, 2017

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor 
Marguerite and H.F. ``Gerry'' Lenfest on being named the winners of 
this year's Carnegie Medal. The Lenfests are true philanthropists who 
have given an incredible amount to the city of Philadelphia.
  The Lenfests first founded the Lenfest Foundation in 2000. However, 
unlike most foundations, the Lenfest Foundation was not meant to remain 
in perpetuity. Rather, its purpose is to give all of its funds to 
deserving causes and then dissolve. Their approach embodies the 
philosophy of Andrew Carnegie himself, who said that ``the man who dies 
rich, dies disgraced.''
  The Lenfests' contributions to the City of Philadelphia and the 
surrounding areas have been innumerable. Their contributions helped 
build the five-story Lenfest Pavilion at Abington Memorial Hospital, 
they have left a lasting endowment to the Curtis Institute of Music, 
and they also sponsor the Lenfest College Prep Scholarship, which 
offers support to Pennsylvania students who would normally be unable to 
afford elite college preparatory private schools. Perhaps most 
importantly, The Lenfests have done more than anyone else to ensure 
that Philadelphia's important cultural events live on. Through their 
unparalleled support of the Greater Philadelphia Traditions Fund, they 
kept events and organizations such as the St. Patrick's Day Parade, 
Steuben Parade, Puerto Rican Day Parade, Columbus Day Parade, Pulaski 
Day Parade, Greek Independence Day, Odunde, Pride Day, Mummers Parade, 
Chester Fine Arts Center, Philly Pops, and the Martin Luther King Day 
Celebration alive.
  Their extraordinary philanthropic spirit has led them to give more 
than $1.2 billion to deserving causes. Whether the beneficiaries are 
children at overnight camps, the Michener Art Museum, or the rowing 
team at Temple University, the Lenfests' generosity has touched 
countless Philadelphians. I cannot imagine more deserving recipients of 
this honor.
  The City of Philadelphia would not be the same without the generosity 
of the Lenfest family. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my other 
distinguished colleagues join me in honoring Mr. and Mrs. Lenfest on 
receiving this tremendous honor.

                          ____________________