[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21322]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                     AMERICAN ZIONIST FUND BANQUET

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 13, 1999

  Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, October 10, the Pittsburgh 
District of the Zionist Organization of America will hold its 54th 
Annual American Zionist Fund Banquet. The banquet, which is dedicated 
to the memory of Doctor Norman Cohen, a longstanding supporter of 
Israel and the Pittsburgh Jewish community, will honor community 
businessman Jeffrey Markel and Pittsburgh City Council President Bob 
O'Connor.
  Mr. Markel will be honored with the Israel Service Award for his many 
efforts in support of Zionism. Mr. Markel is currently the chairman of 
the United Jewish Federation's Partnership 2000 Initiative, which links 
Jewish communities in the United States with communities in Israel. The 
Partnership 2000 Initiative works to foster person-to-person contacts 
and economic development between American and Israeli Jews. Mr. Markel 
has served the UJF in many other capacities as well. In addition, Mr. 
Markel serves or has served on the Board of Directors of the Jewish 
Family and Children's Service, the Board of Directors of the Jewish 
Telegraphic Agency, the Board of Directors of the American Jewish 
Information Network, and as a member of the Technical Advisory Board of 
the Jerusalem One Network, the first computer network to link the major 
universities in Israel with the Knesset.
  Pittsburgh City Council President Bob O'Connor will receive the 
Natalie E. Novick Community Leadership Award for his many contributions 
to the Pittsburgh Jewish community and to community life in Pittsburgh. 
Council President O'Connor is in his second term on Pittsburgh City 
Council. His service on City Council has been marked by action on 
transportation issues, public safety, and programs that benefit 
children. Mr. O'Connor also serves on the Board of Directors of a 
number of civic and charitable organizations, including St. Francis 
Central Hospital, the Carnegie Institute, the Pittsburgh Cultural 
Trust, the Southwest Regional Planning Commission, and the Sudden 
Infant Death Syndrome Alliance. Mr. O'Connor was a founding member of 
the Pittsburg Center for Grieving Children. In addition, he was 
actively involved in the United Jewish Federation's Renaissance 
Project, which built or renovated a number of Jewish community 
facilities. And Mr. O'Connor provided substantial assistance to 
Pittsburgh's Beth Shalom Congregation after a 1997 synagogue fire.
  On behalf of my constituents and myself, I want to thank Mr. Markel 
and City Council President O'Connor for their many contributions to the 
City of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh's Jewish community, and I want to 
congratulate them on their selection as honorees at the 54th Annual 
American Zionist Fund Banquet.

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