[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4378]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          IN RECOGNITION OF ZINGERMAN'S COMMUNITY OF BUSINESS

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                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2016

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and congratulate 
the Zingerman's Community of Businesses on receiving the Ann Arbor 
Jewish Family Services Bernstein Award. Zingerman's is an Ann Arbor 
institution which has become known around the world. It is an honor and 
privilege to recognize this renowned, successful and socially conscious 
business and to share with my colleagues not only the great work they 
have done for the Washtenaw County community and their thousands of 
visitors from across the country every year, but to highlight their 
leadership as well.
  The Jewish Family Services Bernstein Award is given out each year to 
individuals or businesses who display exceptional local leadership in 
the Washtenaw County community. Zingerman's Community of Businesses are 
part of the fabric of the Ann Arbor area and have grown into a 
recognizable international name. Since its creation in 1982 by Paul 
Saginaw and Ari Weinzweig, Zingerman's has delivered quality food 
products to the people of Ann Arbor and to their thousands of patrons 
every year from around the world. Not only have they delivered 
delicious, quality products through their deli, creamery, coffee 
company, bakehouse, and candy factory, but they have stayed true to 
sourcing fresh and local ingredients. Zingerman's operates Cornman 
farms to produce pesticide free vegetables and free range livestock for 
all of their restaurants.
  Not enough to provide great baked goods to their customers, they 
built a teaching kitchen to help instruct home bakers of all skill 
levels from those who have never broken an egg to the most accomplished 
who want to learn more. Most unique about Zingerman's is its approach 
to employees and the business. Since their beginning, they have always 
paid wages above the federal minimum wage and offered company-
subsidized health care and paid time off. They care about their 
employees and communities. They have taken their unique culture and are 
teaching the ``Zingerman's experience'' to forward thinking 
organizations around the world, helping clients make meaningful bottom 
line enhancing changes in their own organizations.
  Some have observed that Zingerman's is better known outside of Ann 
Arbor than in its community. For those that live in Washtenaw County, 
Zingerman's is an iconic location to buy fresh food and produce or get 
a great meal, but they are also known for being heavily involved in the 
community. To this day, there are people in Washtenaw County that 
struggle to afford food and many go hungry. The Zingerman's family has 
been dedicated to fighting hunger since 1988.
  They have helped to create the Food Gatherers nonprofit food rescue 
program and food bank and annually the Zingerman's Community of 
Businesses contributes as a major corporate contributor. They also 
teach seminars on how to manage and develop a business so that young 
entrepreneurs across the country can learn from their success. This 
type of engagement has set a powerful example to other businesses in 
our area, showing that you can be successful and do the right thing, 
every day. Zingerman's goal in 2020 is to leave the world better than 
it was when they came here.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to recognize 
Zingerman's Community of Businesses and owners Paul Saginaw and Ari 
Weinzweig on receiving the Jewish Family Services Bernstein Award, for 
their enormous contributions to our region, and for continued success 
in all of their ventures.

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