[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6966]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                  IN TRIBUTE TO ROBBI AND RICKEY GELB

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 4, 2000

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Robbi and Rickey 
Gelb, who were recently honored by Haven Hills Inc. for their service 
on behalf of domestic violence victims.
  A National Crime Victimization Survey indicated that in 1996 there 
were about 1 million rapes, sexual assaults, robberies, aggravated 
assaults and simple assaults committed by someone in an intimate 
relationship with the victim. Eight of 10 of the victims were women.
  Despite that frightening statistic, a 1998 report by the U.S. 
Department of Justice indicates that the rate of domestic violence in 
many categories has been declining over the past decade. I believe the 
downward trend is directly attributable to the outreach efforts by such 
organizations as Haven Hills and supporters such as Robbi and Rickey 
Gelb, in conjunction with stronger laws to deal with the problem and 
greater community awareness.
  Haven Hills has helped more than 80,000 women and their children 
confront domestic violence during the past 22 years. When its 
phenomenal success required new facilities, the Gelbs stepped forward. 
The new building the Gelbs helped acquire will house administrative 
offices and support and services to many more victims of domestic 
violence.
  Robbi and Rickey Gelb are successful business people in the 
California's San Fernando Valley and have a long record of community 
involvement. They have donated community facilities; generously support 
the Mid-Valley Jeopardy Foundation, which provides services and 
facilities for at-risk youth; and have provided wheelchairs to needy 
students in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
  Rickey Gelb serves on numerous committees and organizations dedicated 
to making the community better, including a committee to build a 
memorial and monument to honor police officers and firefighters. In 
addition, Rickey Gelb is a Commissioner for the City of Los Angeles, 
and a member of the Encino Chamber of Commerce, the L.A. Department of 
Transportation Mobile Action Committee and the Mayor's Job Recovery 
Corporation.
  The Gelbs have been married for 34 years and have two grown children, 
Geoffrey and Lisa.
  Mr. Speaker, I know my colleagues will join me in congratulating 
Robbi and Rickey Gelb for a lifetime of dedication to their community 
and for their deserved recognition from Haven Hills Inc.

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