LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Susan Gruen Helsinger upon the occasion
of her designation as a 2013 Long Island Center for Business and Profes-
sional Women Achiever

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
outstanding individuals who distinguish themselves through their excep-
tional performance, attaining unprecedented success and the highest
level of personal achievement; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to honor
Susan Gruen Helsinger upon the occasion of her designation as a 2013
Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women Achiever; this
auspicious occasion will be celebrated at the Center's 34th Annual
Achievers' Awards Gala, to be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013; and
WHEREAS, For more than thirty-five years, the Long Island Center for
Business and Professional Women has been dedicated to advancing women in
business, industry and the professions; and
WHEREAS, The Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women
celebrates and honors women who are leaders, mentors and who have opened
doors for other women to help foster their rise in business, the
professions and in their community; and
WHEREAS, Susan Gruen Helsinger is a broker at Douglas Elliman Real
Estate and founder of the Jason Gruen Research Foundation; at age 25,
she was a founding partner of Gruen Optika Corporation in New York City,
one of the premier optical companies in the metropolitan New York area;
at age 35, she was instrumental in opening Hi-D and Su-Z Toys of Great
Neck, New York; and
WHEREAS, After receiving a paralegal degree from Adelphi University,
Susan Gruen Helsinger became a real estate broker and co-founded the
Custom Real Estate Group and JSC Building Corporation, which was
acquired by Douglas Elliman Real Estate; and
WHEREAS, Susan Gruen Helsinger is the Founder and Chief Executive
Officer of the Jason Gruen Foundation named after her late son; the
Foundation is instrumental in building the Children's Heart Centers at
Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and Cohen Children's Hospital at
NSUH/LIJ Health Systems; it contributes equipment on an ongoing basis to
many hospitals and facilities in need and made history six years ago
when it started offering cardiac screenings to eighth grade students in
school systems on Long Island; and
WHEREAS, On January 1, 2013, Susan Gruen Helsinger was installed as
Vice President of the Long Island Board of Realtors, the third largest
board in the United States; she also serves on the Board of Directors of
the New York State Association of Realtors and the National Association
of Realtors; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Susan Gruen Helsinger serves on the Board of
Directors of the L.I.B.O.R. Federal Credit Union and is the Parliamenta-
rian for the Women's Council of Realtors; she has served as a guest
lecturer at Molloy College and has been a member of the NYSAR Realtors
Honor Society for the past six years; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, Susan Gruen Helsinger was named Merrick, New York's
"Woman of the Year"; in 2004, she was chosen as Merrick's "Small Busi-
ness Person of the Year" by the Nassau Chambers of Commerce; in 2006,
she garnered the "Woman of the Year" award from United Cerebral Palsy of

Nassau County and the "Humanitarian of the Year" award from the Long
Island Board of Realtors, as well as the 2008 "Spirit Award"; and
WHEREAS, Susan Gruen Helsinger served as President of the State of New
York J.W.V.A.; she is also a Past President of the Kiwanis Club of
Merrick and is on the Board of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce, the
Foundation Board of UCPN and the Advisory Board of the Department of New
York J.W.V.A., and
WHEREAS, In addition, Susan Gruen Helsinger is a member of the Long
Island Center for Business and Professional Women, the Women's Presi-
dents Organization, and serves as a Trustee of Temple Emanuel of Great
Neck, New York; and
WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion presents a unique opportunity for
this Legislative Body to recognize and pay tribute to Susan Gruen
Helsinger; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their profession and community,
and have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence, certainly
have earned the recognition and applause of all citizens of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Susan Gruen Helsinger upon the occasion of her designation as a
2013 Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women Achiever;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Susan Gruen Helsinger.