LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Dr. Lee Katz upon the occasion of
receiving the Spirit of Humanity Award from the Holocaust and Human
Rights Education Center on October 19, 2009

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities across New York State
are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individ-
uals who devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citi-
zenry; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Dr. Lee Katz upon the occasion of receiving the Spirit of Humanity Award
from the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center at its 2009 "Be the
Difference" Annual Benefit to be held on Monday, October 19, 2009, at
the Mamaroneck Beach & Yacht Club; and
WHEREAS, The Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center (HHREC) is an
interfaith, not-for-profit organization serving Westchester, Putnam and
Fairfield Counties; its mission is to enhance the teaching and learning
of the lessons of the Holocaust and the right of all people to be treat-
ed with dignity and respect; and
WHEREAS, Lee Katz, Ph.D., of Rye, New York, a dedicated member of the
HHREC board since 1997, has spent her life pursuing her educational
goals and helping others achieve theirs; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lee Katz graduated cum laude from the University of Illi-
nois with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and continued on to
receive her Masters in Education from Syracuse University; in 1972, she
earned her Ph.D. in adult and continuing education from the University
of Michigan; and
WHEREAS, Throughout her career, Dr. Lee Katz has worked closely with
grass roots populations and organizations to develop programs designed
to meet their educational and related needs; while working for the
mayor's commission for youth in 1963, she helped develop a K-12 curric-
ulum for underachieving children in Syracuse, New York; and
WHEREAS, Months later, due to her husband's job, Dr. Lee Katz was
relocated to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she was invited to serve as
staff to the Carnegie Foundation's exploratory committee on assessing
the progress of education in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Subsequently, Dr. Lee Katz was recruited to become head of
research for eastern Michigan University and ultimately was invited to
become Dean of Academic Development at the University of Michigan-Dear-
born; there she helped secure federal funding for faculty research and
community programs such as bilingual educational programs for the
Hispanic population in Dearborn, Michigan; and
WHEREAS, In 1984, Dr. Lee Katz once again became a resident of New
York, taking up the post as Vice President for External Affairs and
Development and later President of the Purchase College Foundation; the
past 20 years in Westchester have seen her deep and devoted involvement
with the community to attain private and public support to enrich the
lives of students and adults with their creative academic endeavors; and
WHEREAS, In 1995, Dr. Lee Katz accepted a position as the National
Executive Vice President of the American associates of Ben-Gurion
University of the Negev in Israel; during her tenure there she worked
with Board of Directors throughout the United States to secure private
support for the University; she also served the Abraham Fund as their
National Executive and helped support grass roots organizations through-
out Israel devoted to Arab Jewish co-existence; and

WHEREAS, Dr. Katz is currently the Vice Chairman of the Holocaust and
Human Rights Education Center and is an honorary Board member of the
92nd Street Y; she is also an advisory board member at the Rye Arts
Center and serves on the Advisory Board of the Medici Archive Project;
and
WHEREAS, In recognition of her efforts of in-depth magnitude, Dr. Lee
Katz has received numerous honors and awards, including the Distin-
guished Service Award (1981-1991) at SUNY Purchase, citation in WHO'S
WHO OF AMERICAN WOMEN (ninth edition) and honoree at the Westchester
Chapter, National Association of Christians and Jews (1996); and
WHEREAS, Dr. Lee Katz has served as speaker at several workshops
throughout the area and has given presentations on institutional
advancement nationally and internationally; the Westchester
Public/Private partnership recognized Dr. Katz's achievements with the
Golden Harvest Humanitarian Award in 2008, for her dedication to educa-
tional development throughout the world and her commitment to continue
to open doors for those less fortunate; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Dr. Lee Katz has displayed through-
out her life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Dr. Lee Katz upon the occasion of receiving the Spirit of Human-
ity Award from the Holocaust and Human Rights Education Center on Octo-
ber 19, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Dr. Lee Katz.