[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 20845]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  IN RECOGNITION OF MANUEL D. MAYERSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, October 4, 2000

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Manuel D. 
Mayerson, who will be honored at the Second Annual Circle of Life 
Awards Dinner in Cincinnati on October 5, 2000.
  The Circle of Life Awards Dinner raises awareness about the severity 
of brain injury and honors leaders like Manuel for their work in 
helping young people with disabilities. Brain injury is the most 
frequent cause of disability and death among children and adolescents 
in the United States. Each year, over 1 million children sustain 
injuries with more than 30,000 suffering a serious permanent 
disability.
  Manuel's interest in helping children and others with disabilities 
began about 10 years ago when he was approached by several 
organizations about the problems of infant brain injuries caused by 
shaking. Manuel then decided to form the Family Violence Coalition, 
which focuses on programs to prevent child abuse.
  Most recently and through Manuel's support, the Mayerson Center for 
Safe and Healthy Children at Children's Hospital Medical Center of 
Cincinnati was founded to help prevent, identify and treat child abuse 
and neglect. Manuel also serves as a trustee at Children's Hospital. 
Outside the Hospital, he has been instrumental in establishing programs 
like the Inclusion Network, which works to increase acceptance of the 
disabled, and other important human service programs that help people 
to overcome limiting conditions.
  Manuel continues to serve on a number of boards including: the 
Cincinnati Children's Hospital; Hebrew Union College; Contemporary Arts 
Center; Cincinnati Art Museum; and the Freestore/Foodbank. In addition, 
the Mayerson Foundation, supported by Manuel and his wife, Rhoda, has 
been most generous to causes that improve the lives of children, people 
with disabilities, and to community institutions aimed at preserving 
cultural heritage.
  Manuel and Rhoda have three children: Neil, Fred, and Arlene. In 
addition to the many influences in Manuel's life, Arlene, a civil 
liberties attorney and one of the architects of the Americans with 
Disabilities Act, has had a significant impact in shaping his 
commitment to helping those with disabilities.
  All of us in the Cincinnati area congratulate Manuel for his 
outstanding leadership, service and commitment to improving the lives 
of others.

                          ____________________