Todd Patkin

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Todd Patkin

TRIBUTE TO TODD PATKIN, YOUNG LEADER AND PHILANTHROPIST

______

HON. TOM LANTOS

of california

in the house of representatives

Tuesday, January 3, 2006

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute a young man who is part of the new generation of philanthropic leaders--Todd Patkin of Massachusetts. Todd is an impressive young man, and although he has just turned 40, he has been remarkably successful in the business world and is now devoting his life to helping others.

Todd grew up in the Boston area, where he graduated from Tufts University. He married, had a family, and worked in the family auto parts business for the next 18 years. Using his amazing organizational and business talents, the company became remarkably successful, expanding from 18 to 62 stores in the New England and New York area. His business acumen was recognized in 2004 by Auto International Associate when he was named ``Young Executive of the Year.''

Mr. Speaker, Todd recently sold his regional business operations to the second largest retailer in the country, giving him the financial freedom to pursue his passion to help others.

One of his major philanthropic initiatives has been to assist his friend, Gary Marino, to help Americans children and adults with problems of obesity and poor nutrition. Todd is funding the making of a major motion picture which focuses on Gary's life story and on his ``Million Calorie March'' from Florida to Boston in which took place in 2005.

Working with opera star Andrea Delgudice, Todd also founded the Todd G. Patkin Opportunity Performing Art Center. It brings the highest quality vocal, dance and acting instruction to its students, many of whom are from the less-advantages areas of Brockton, Massachusetts, and are receiving full scholarships because of their economic need.

Todd recently made a substantial contribution to the Boston Medical Center for its Todd and Yadira Patkin Sickle Cell Anemia Clinic. He has also provided significant financial support to the Boston chapter of the Anti-Defamation League, where he and Andrew Tarsy will be managing a new initiative to combat bigotry and intolerance in greater Boston.

Todd has had a positive impact internationally as well, Mr. Speaker. He supports two charities in the State of Israel--the Jewish National Fund, which is chaired by Ronald Lauder, and the Yemin Orde Youth Village headed by Chaim Peri. The village is perhaps the most advanced orphanage in Israel and the world. It focuses on helping children, who frequently have been orphaned under devastating circumstances, to become happy and productive members of society. Today over two-thirds of the 300 children in the village are Jews of Ethiopian descent.

Todd was the first philanthropist in September of this year to provide one million dollars to the Jewish National Fund to help it deal with some 2,500 displaced people who left the Gaza when the Israeli government left that area. The Israeli government was unable to assist them since these families failed to provide information to the government about their assistance needs.

Mr. Speaker, Todd Patkin is a remarkable man, whose philanthropic efforts give me great hope for the next generation of leaders in our country who are now emerging. I invite my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to him. Todd has set a remarkable example that I hope many other young leaders will follow.