[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 5]
[House]
[Pages 6301-6302]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    TRIBUTE TO JENARD AND GAIL GROSS AND JEWISH WOMEN INTERNATIONAL

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson-Lee of Texas) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to 
Jenard and Gail Gross and the Jewish Women International. This is an 
important evening and an important week as I honor the Jewish Women 
International organization and my good friends, great Houstonians, 
great Texans and great Americans, Jenard and Gail Gross.
  The Jewish Women International strengthens the lives of women, 
children, and families through education, advocacy, and action. Jewish 
Women International focuses on family violence and the emotional health 
of children on the local, national, and global level.
  Jewish Women International spearheads activities to educate the 
Jewish community about domestic violence. Currently, more than 3,000 
rabbis from all branches of Judaism have been alerted to the growing 
tide of family abuse and have learned how to recognize the signs of 
abuse in their congregation by reading the Resource Guide for Rabbis on 
Domestic Violence.
  In particular, I would like to honor Gail and Jenard Gross for their 
unwavering support for Jewish Women International and their efforts 
involving the Prejudice Awareness Summit.
  As we move into the 21st century, clearly the challenge for 
Americans, with all of our diversity, is to learn to live together in 
peace, to accept our diversity, to appreciate it, to applaud it. And if 
there ever are two individuals who applaud and appreciate diversity and 
live it every day, it is Gail and Jenard Gross.
  The Prejudice Awareness Summit is an unprecedented opportunity for 
teams of students to have a positive interactive learning experience 
with peers from a variety of ethnic, cultural, racial, and economic 
backgrounds through one-day workshops on prejudice.
  The Prejudice Awareness Summit educates our youth about prejudice by 
providing a comfortable forum to discuss issues of prejudice. With a 
thorough knowledge of stereotypes, exposure to powerful speakers, and 
interactive learning exercises, these students can become leaders in 
the battle against prejudice.
  Mr. Speaker, I had the opportunity today to participate in the 
President and Mrs. Clinton's teenage summit. One of the points that was 
made is that we always encourage young people that they are the leaders 
of tomorrow. And one very eloquent speaker said, our young people are 
the leaders of today because. Because they are the leaders of today, we 
need to teach them and educate them to the value of diversity in living 
the opposition of prejudice.
  America's cultural diversity enables our country to achieve great 
accomplishments. However, our diversity also

[[Page 6302]]

causes much friction borne of ignorance. The Prejudice Awareness Summit 
will prepare our Nation's youth to become leaders in a country where 
diversity can be considered a blessing and not a source of division. 
The work of Gail and Jenard Gross on behalf of the Prejudice Awareness 
Summit does not go unnoticed.
  On May 4, Jewish Women International will bestow the Good Heart 
Humanitarian Award on Gail and Jenard Gross. The Good Heart 
Humanitarian Award honors a member or members of the Houston community 
contributing to the goals of this organization. This award is presented 
annually to recognize and pay tribute to outstanding members of the 
Houston community who have contributed to the humanitarian needs of 
Houston.
  Previously, honorees have included outstanding contributors in the 
fields of education, health care, politics, the legal profession, the 
media, and exemplary members of Jewish Women International.
  Gail Gross is a very spiritual person, a very humble person. She 
attributes much of her success to her commitment to meditation, 
spirituality and her wonderful marriage to her husband Jenard Gross. 
She is a local, national, an international humanitarian, a savvy 
businesswoman, and a scholar in numerous areas. She also has just 
received her doctorate in education. She is now Dr. Gail Gross.
  Gail once stated that to her life has three parts: the first part 
devoted to education, which she has evidenced in her own career and 
profession; the second part dedicated to raising her children; and the 
third part, the time she currently devotes to service.
  As vice president of Gross Investment/Builders, a real estate company 
started by her husband, she satisfies her yearning for professional 
excellence. However, her joy is to serve the Houston community. She 
does it now every week with her own radio program encouraging, 
listening, and teaching the community about the value of education of 
our young people. Whether serving on 24 boards, fundraising, or 
advocating on behalf of the voiceless, Gail is a shining example of 
genuine concern and generosity.
  Jenard Gross has been in the building and real estate investment 
field since 1954. During this period he has built and owned more than 
14,000 apartment units throughout Texas. He has built several small 
strip centers, developed a residential subdivision, and invested in 
land and mini-warehouses. Moreover, he is past president of the Houston 
Apartment Association and the National Apartment Association.
  But he is also a builder for humanity. He has worked as a member of 
the Board of Regents of Texas Southern University Historically Black 
College, and he believes in housing those who need to be housed.
  Mr. Speaker, as I conclude, Jeanard's business accomplishments are 
many, but his involvement in a number of civic and philanthropic 
organizations in the city of Houston are legendary.
  Jenard and his wife Gail have always advocated for the voiceless. 
Many Houstonians have improved their lives due to the generosity and 
service of Gail and Jenard Gross. They are mighty and great, and I 
salute them and congratulate them for their great leadership.
  I am reminded of a quote by Theodore Roosevelt, who stated:

       Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious 
     triumphs, even though checked with failure, than to take rank 
     with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer 
     much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows not 
     victory nor defeat.

  Gail and Jenard are persons of action and have dared mighty things 
for Houston. For their love of Houston and its people we will be 
eternally grateful. I can think of no other best suited to receive the 
Good Heart Humanitarian Award and the respect of the American people.

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