Harris Rosen

Orlando, FL – May 1, 2006 – Hotelier Harris Rosen has pledged $3.5 million to build a Southwest Orlando Jewish Community Campus in Dr. Phillips. The Campus will bear the name, "The Jack and Lee Rosen Southwest Orlando Jewish Community Campus," in honor of Mr. Rosen’s parents.

"To our knowledge, this is the largest gift in the Orlando Jewish Federation’s history," said Susan Bodner, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando. "We are all incredibly moved by Harris’ deep caring for our community and by his beautiful gesture in honoring his parents."

Jack Rosen worked as chief of maintenance at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. He developed a talent for drawing cartoons of famous celebrities who stayed at the hotel. Part of his portfolio is on display at Jack’s, a restaurant in the Rosen Plaza Hotel on International Drive named in his honor.

Lee Rosen, who will turn 90 on May 15, lives in Brooklyn, New York.

"I’m very pleased that the Jewish Federation and the JCC have committed to moving forward to groundbreaking this year," said Harris Rosen. "It is so vital that we have this community center for hundreds of children and families in the Southwest." "The number of gifts committed by these families to build this Campus is phenomenal," he added.

Nancy Ludin, the Federation’s Director of Emerging Communities, states that over 220 families have made gifts to build the South Campus, the vast majority at $1,000 or more, with numerous gifts exceeding $10,000. "The Southwest community has proven itself very generous," says Ludin. "And the existing gifts are only the beginning. Years of delay caused many to sit on the sidelines, waiting for the commitment to build. Now we have that commitment by Federation’s top leaders. We’re going forward."

In early April, the JCC Board of Directors voted unanimously to move to groundbreaking "as soon as possible." On April 26, the Federation Board of Directors voted unanimously to front $400,000 to pay for impact fees, architectural and engineering fees, and permitting.

At a meeting on Friday, April 29, South Campus Plan of Action Committee Chair David Bornstein said, "I looked at the numbers and we now have enough to build." Bodner, Federation chair Dick Appelbaum, JCC executive director Marvin Friedman, and JCC assistant executive director David Wayne concurred in the decision to proceed to construction.

Rosen’s gift brings the total raised to build the Southwest Campus to $5.5 million.

Richard Geller, an attorney with Rumberger Kirk & Caldwell, said that Orange County delayed Federation’s ability to build for the last two years. "The County does not issue building permits when they determine the road can’t handle more traffic. We had no traffic capacity left on Apopka-Vineland Road until the County made some recent intersection improvements south of the Rosen Campus."

Kerina, Inc., an Israeli-owned land holding company, agreed to donate more than an acre of adjoining land to the Federation so that a future traffic light will serve the Rosen Campus.

Val Denner, who led a team of 70 volunteers to bring in more than a million dollars to the Build South Campaign in 2004 and 2005, says, "Building the Rosen Campus in Southwest Orlando is not just about bricks and mortar. This campus will unify the community, enrich lives and bring together Jews and non-Jews, affiliated and non-affiliated." A United Way agency, the JCC is open to the entire community.

“The new facility will be designed to meet the needs of all stages of life. It will offer a venue for convening singles, young adults, families and seniors for a full calendar of social, cultural, fitness and educational programs,” adds Bill Goldberg, JFGO’s Vice President of Emerging Communities.

"Bringing the community together is what the Rosen Campus in Southwest Orlando is all about, and what Federation is all about," says Appelbaum. "I applaud our community for rallying together and getting us to a point where we can begin construction. After years of waiting, our dreams are coming true at last.”

Harris Rosen owns seven hotels in the International Drive and Lake Buena Vista tourist areas. The luxurious Rosen Shingle Creek resort is slated to open in September 2006.

Rosen is also known for his charitable gifts to help pay for schooling for children in Tangelo Park, a predominantly low income, African-American community in South Orlando. The University of Central Florida’s School of Hospitality Management also bears Rosen’s name.

For more information or to make a gift to the Build South Campaign, contact Hank Lander at (407) 756-2016 or HLander@jfgo.org.

Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rosen