[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14653]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO ALVIN ROHRS

 Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I am on the Senate floor today to 
honor Alvin Rohrs for his 30 years of leadership and dedication to 
SIFE, Students in Free Enterprise. SIFE brings together today's 
business leaders and thinkers with enterprising college students on 
every continent who develop small businesses to solve local problems 
and create wealth and hope where there was little of either. SIFE is a 
hands-on business leadership opportunity, and Rohrs directs this unique 
business gospel toward those who want to live a financially, 
personally, and environmentally sustainable life.
  While Rohrs has carried the title of president and CEO of SIFE, he 
has also been known as the enabler, chief cheerleader, and director of 
SIFE over these many years. Alvin Rohrs is an educator, motivator, 
guidance counselor, spiritual leader and the wizard behind the curtain 
at SIFE, working with other captains of business and industry to bring 
new opportunities to campuses around the globe. The list of American 
and international corporate titans that have brought their energy, 
insight and resources to SIFE is extraordinary. Even the United States 
State Department recognizes the value of SIFE in developing ``more 
effective, socially responsible business leaders.''
  SIFE has been a key sponsor of sustainable business practices on 
every continent for three decades. SIFE educates students about the 
virtues of the risk-reward system known as free enterprise. SIFE 
applies free enterprise principles to lift people out of poverty and 
give them new opportunities for personal enrichment and service to 
their neighborhoods and communities. Among many examples, SIFE teams 
have shown poor single mothers how to start their own small businesses 
that boost their incomes and provide for their families. Farmers and 
small business people are given instruction about turning their ideas 
into companies that solve problems and provide jobs in disadvantaged 
neighborhoods. It is the free market system at its best. It is SIFE. It 
is Alvin Rohrs.
  Rohrs heads a staff of more than 60 professionals at the headquarters 
in my hometown of Springfield, MO. Dozens of staffers help with SIFE's 
efforts to spread the positive word about business development and how 
it can influence initiatives through which scores of students develop 
projects to lift others out of despair. More than 1,600 teams on 
college campuses--more than 57,000 students--are active in 39 counties, 
including China and Russia, demonstrating the power of local business 
to solve local problems and create wealth. SIFE is a powerful force for 
enlightenment and good works.
  Rohrs has led SIFE's development into a megaphone for the positive 
power of business in the world community. This year he reaches a 
milestone--30 years at the helm. He has earned many awards and 
accolades for his works in the charity community and in the business 
world. He has an unwavering belief in the work of SIFE and the message 
it carries into energizing entrepreneurs and creating new wealth.
  I congratulate Alvin Rohrs and SIFE on their growth, accomplishments 
and good work providing the world community with personal understanding 
of free enterprise and the rewards it offers to people in all walks of 
life and all economic ranks. My hope is that SIFE and Alvin Rohrs 
continue this critical work for many years to come.

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