On the recordNovember 10, 2011
I rise today to honor my friends Gerry and Lilo Leeds for their passionate commitment to improving the Nation's education system and helping all students reach their maximum potential. Gerard and Lilo Leeds arrived in the United States after fleeing Germany in 1939 with virtually no money. But armed with their education, they eventually became successful entrepreneurs. In time, they built and then sold a sizable media corporation and have devoted their lives to ensuring that all students have access to an excellent education. Initially, the Leeds founded the nonpartisan Institute for Student Achievement an organization that works in low-income middle and high schools to improve student achievement for at-risk youth. They were major supporters of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, a coalition of concerned parents and education advocates working to reform New York State's school finance system. The Leeds also established the nonpartisan Caroline and Sigmund Schott Foundation an organization that works on early childhood education and care, gender equity, and education financing issues. However, Gerry and Lilo Leeds did not stop there. After seeing the Institute for Student Achievement boost graduation rates in low- performing schools up as high as 90 percent, they founded the nonpartisan Alliance for Excellent Education in 2001 to singularly focus on advancing public policy to decrease dropout rates and prepare all students to succeed at the postsecondary level.…
