IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 156

Congratulating John R. Kopicki, the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation, and

the Schering-Plough Corporation, for receipt of certain awards.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JUNE 12, 2001

Mr. FERGUSON submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Congratulating John R. Kopicki, the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation, and the Schering-Plough Corporation, for receipt

of certain awards.

Whereas the William Augustus Muhlenberg Award was created in 1980 to honor individuals exemplifying the highest standards of excellence and service to the Muhlenberg

Regional Medical Center;

Whereas John R. Kopicki, Senior Vice President of Solaris

Health System, has been a guiding force at Muhlenberg

throughout the last 35 years and is the recipient of this

year’s William Augustus Muhlenberg Award;

Whereas Mr. Kopicki has helped guide the hospital through

unprecedented growth with passion and commitment that

has led to countless accomplishments for Muhlenberg, including ongoing facility improvements, such as the con-
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struction of the Thomas S.P. Fitch, M.D. Memorial Pavilion, the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, the Breast

Health and Mammography Center, and the New Jersey

Neuroscience Institute, and numerous initiatives designed

to invigorate the medical center’s dedication to patientcentered care and service;

Whereas Mr. Kopicki began his career as an administrative

resident and helped guide the hospital through unprecedented growth for nearly 2 decades before assuming his

current role with Solaris;

Whereas Mr. Kopicki, a visionary in the health care industry,

helped create the region’s premier health system, Solaris;

Whereas Mr. Kopicki has been a great philanthropist, President of the Board of Trustees of the New Jersey Hemophilia Association, Senior Vice President of the National

Hemophilia Association, Chairman of VHA of New Jersey, and a trustee of the North Jersey Blood Bank;

Whereas the Lowell F. Johnson Philanthropic Award was

created in 1983 to honor individuals and corporations

that demonstrate extraordinary generosity to the Muhlenberg Hospital;

Whereas the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation and the ScheringPlough Corporation have been champions of philanthropy

and are the recipients of this year’s Lowell F. Johnson

Philanthropic Award;

Whereas the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation, founded in 1953,

has been among Muhlenberg’s most charitable benefactors;

Whereas the Foundation honors the legacies of Mr. and Mrs.

Julius S. Rippel, long-time residents of Newark, New

Jersey, by fulfilling their mission and supporting research
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in geriatrics, cancer, heart disease, women’s health, preventive care, and holistic medicine;

Whereas Mr. and Mrs. Rippel’s contributions to the Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center have enabled Muhlenberg

to remain at the forefront of medical science and technology, and have recently revolutionized breast cancer diagnosis and treatment planning;

Whereas the Schering-Plough Corporation, founded in 1955

and headquartered in Kenilworth, New Jersey, has contributed profoundly to global health care and the advancement of medical science;

Whereas for more than 20 years the Schering-Plough Foundation has provided philanthropic leadership for Muhlenberg, its longstanding chaplainry services, and the Diabetes Center of New Jersey, and has cared for cancer patients and their families; and

Whereas the William Augustus Muhlenberg Award and the

Lowell F. Johnson Philanthropic Award are positive recognition of the tireless efforts and dedication to the community that promote such principles as vision, loyalty,

compassion, and sense of duty, which are an inspiration

to everyone: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress congratulates—

3 (1) John R. Kopicki, Senior Vice President of

4 Solaris Health System, as this year’s recipient of the

5 Muhlenberg Foundation’s William Augustus Muhlen6 berg Award; and
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1 (2) the Fannie E. Rippel Foundation and the

2 Schering-Plough Corporation, as this year’s recipi3 ents of the Muhlenberg Foundation’s Lowell F.

4 Johnson Philanthropic Award.

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