[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 21764]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 CONGRATULATIONS TO MARILYN PRICE BIRNHAK AND J. ROBERT BIRNHAK ON 35 
 YEARS OF SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP TO THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 15, 1999

  Mr. HOEFFEL. Mr. Speaker, my heartfelt congratulations to Mr. and 
Mrs. J. Robert Birnhak for being honored at the 35th anniversary 
celebration of Weight Watchers of Philadelphia on Saturday, September 
18, 1999. Marilyn Price Birnhak along with the support of her husband 
J. Robert Birnhak founded Weight Watchers of Philadelphia thirty-five 
years ago. As founder and first president, she watched her group of 
eight members grow to roughly 20,000 members over the years, meeting in 
towns throughout the southeastern Pennsylvania and southwestern New 
Jersey areas.
  Mr. and Mrs. Birnhak have also instilled in their children a sense of 
leadership, as their son John currently serves as the company's vice 
president of finance and their daughter Tracey is vice president of 
marketing and business development. All of their children are active in 
their communities.
  The Birnhak family has contributed to Weight Watchers' tremendous 
growth in the Philadelphia area, as well as in the broader reaches of 
the franchise. Mr. Birnhak served as a past president of the Weight 
Watchers Franchise Association, and Mrs. Birnhak served first as vice 
president and then as president of the association.
  In addition to their commitment to Weight Watchers, the Birnhaks have 
been leaders in the larger community as well. Mr. Birnhak has been 
active on the board of the Philadelphia Geriatric Center and 
Congregation Beth Sholom in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. Both he and Mrs. 
Birnhak have been honored by the State of Israel Bonds, Jewish 
Theological Seminary and Ben Gurion University in Israel. Mrs. Birnhak 
is also on the board of directors of the Philadelphia Theatre Company.
  Mrs. Birnhak has contributed significantly to numerous health panels, 
seminars and health fairs. She has lectured at medical colleges and 
universities and appeared on radio and television talk shows.
  Through Weight Watchers the Birnhaks have participated in a myriad of 
charitable endeavors for the United Way, the American Heart 
Association, the March of Dimes, the Alzheimer's Association, the Hero 
Scholarship Fund, Weight Watchers of Philadelphia, Inc. Feeds the 
Hungry, the Kidney Foundation, among others. In particular, Weight 
Watchers of Philadelphia, Inc. is to be commended for being the single 
largest contributor to the Philadelphia Hero Scholarship Fund.
  Once again, my congratulations to a wonderful couple and their 
family.

                          ____________________