Leonard Stern is honored by the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce

Real Estate Weekly, June 24, 1998

"On behalf of the members, directors and officers of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce, I thank Leonard Stern, the chairman of the Hartz Group, for honoring us by allowing us to honor him," said Ron Wiss, chairman of the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce. "For 25 years, Leonard Stern and Hartz have breathed life into these Meadows - no one could ask for more."

Forging his example as a "partner in progress" with the continual growth of the Meadowlands, Stern announced he has established a $250,000 fund to support a charitable philanthropic organization in the Hackensack-Meadowlands district, which is comprised of Kearney, North Arlington, Jersey City, Lyndhurst, Rutherford, East Rutherford, Moonachie, Carlstadt, Little Ferry, South Hackensack, North Bergen, Ridgefield, Teterboro and Secaucus.

Stern's mark in the Meadowlands has been dramatic. A vibrant local and regional economy has been nurtured by his efforts. Hundreds of first class corporate and commercial enterprises, innovative transportation improvements, health care facilities, retail complexes, an Exposition Center, an array of first class hotels, and remarkable achievements in environmental reclamation stand out.

"Clearly no one individual did more to get the juices flowing in the Meadowlands," said Richard Fritzky, president of the Meadowlands Chamber of Commerce. "Leonard's vision, investment and big picture perspective not only gave life to what he and Hartz physically accomplished in Secaucus, but to all the good that occurred throughout that region in the past 25 years. Truly, Leonard Stern was a leader. No one did more to put in place the miracle of the Meadowlands."

Stern's success and tremendous growth of the Hartz Group Inc. is rooted in the simple fact that he sees desirable ends and outcomes - the people and societal impacts first - and then acts with passionate determination to resolve. Because he does that, everyone who does business in the Meadowlands has been positively affected - as have Yeshiva University, New York University, The Manhattan Day School, The Legal Aid Society, 'Homes for the Homeless,' The New York City Partnership, The Holocaust Memorial Commission and many others. The collective good of literally countless people has, in so many ways, been advanced by him.

He and his family have continued to contribute mightily to fulfilling the promise of this region. What for so many others was a dream, has for them been a living working reality.

Leonard Stern named his son Emanuel, president of Hartz Mountain Industries, as director of the fund. Emanuel welcomes all inquiries with enthusiasm to continue the vision to enhance and touch the lives of people.