[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Page 22852]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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             IN RECOGNITION OF AMBASSADOR DAVID B. HERMELIN

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the 
achievements of an accomplished businessman, distinguished public 
servant and committed philanthropist from my home state of Michigan, 
Ambassador David B. Hermelin. On October 22 of this year, the ORT 
Hermelin College of Engineering will be dedicated in Netanya, Israel. 
This dedication is a fitting tribute for a man, who along with his wife 
Doreen, has committed himself to his family, nation and charitable 
endeavors throughout the world.
  Through hard work and an unwavering commitment to the public good, 
David's work has made an indelible mark upon countless individuals. His 
keen intellect, business acumen and heart for others has led him to 
pursue a wide array of business and charitable efforts in the United 
States and abroad.
  David has been deeply involved with the World ORT, having served as 
the President of American ORT. Founded in response to a famine in 
Russia in the late 1860s, ORT is a private, non-profit organization 
that addresses the educational and technical training needs of workers, 
providing them with the training and self-sufficiency needed to build a 
meaningful existence. To achieve this goal, ORT builds schools and 
develops a curriculum that provides students with vital technical 
skills. ORT has facilities in nearly 60 nations. This year, over 
200,000 students are enrolled in ORT programs.
  The mission of American ORT is to raise funding necessary to support 
the efforts of World ORT and administer domestic ORT programs. During 
David's tenure as President of this organization, American ORT 
increased its involvement in the mission of World ORT, and strengthened 
its ties with the larger Jewish community. These strengthened ties were 
evidenced by the fact that the 1999 General Assembly of the United 
Jewish Communities of North America was the second consecutive General 
Assembly sponsored by ORT.
  American ORT administers two post-secondary training institutes and 
one college in the United States. These three institutions serve 5,000 
individuals annually, many from the former Soviet Union and Newly 
Independent States (NIS), by providing them with technical training, 
English language assistance and career development skills.
  David has been involved in many other charitable endeavors as an 
administrator, contributor and fundraiser. He has served on the Board 
of Directors for many community and national organizations including 
the Meyer L. Prentis Comprehensive Cancer Center.
  As a businessman, David has worked as a real estate developer, 
venture capitalist and manager of many interests. Currently, he is the 
co-owner of two of the largest entertainment facilities in the state of 
Michigan--the Palace of Auburn Hills, home of the NBA's Detroit 
Pistons, and the Pine Knob Entertainment Centers. In addition, he sits 
on the board of several companies including Arbor Drugs Inc., Arena 
Associates, Village Green Management Company and First America Bank 
Corporation--Detroit.
  In December 1997, President Clinton recognized David's commitment to 
public service, and appointed him to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to 
Norway. So extraordinary was his service in this capacity that the 
Norweigian people awarded him the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit, which 
is equivalent to being knighted.
  David Hermelin has been a community leader for over forty years. As a 
fellow native of Detroit, Michigan, I have known David for over half of 
a century. I am pleased to call him an inspiration, a peer and a 
friend. I am sure that my Senate colleagues will join me in offering my 
congratulations to David Hermelin for the dedication of the ORT 
Hermelin College of Engineering, and in wishing him well in the years 
ahead.

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