Key To Independence Day 2011

A note from honoree, Gary Rubin:

Community is very important to me. I grew up in Abington in the same house that I currently live in. After graduating high school in 1980, I attended Philadelphia Textile (Philadelphia University) where I met my wife Linda. We have been married 25 years and have a terrific daughter Samantha who attends West Chester University.

Upon graduating school I began working in a family business until I started PCA Industrial & Paper Supplies, Inc. which is a full service Janitorial Supply company. In addition to this I am involved in many community organizations including The Golden Slipper Club & Charities, The Abramson Center, Federation Housing, The Abington YMCA, Abington PAL and for the past two years have served as Auctioneer for this Key Day Event. I was also a past President of Old York Rd Temple Beth-Am.

I feel extremely fortunate to have a wonderful family, a great group of friends, a good business, and my health. I am honored that you considered me as this years' honoree.

The Wendy Cohen Advocacy Award is given yearly to an individual who has assisted ADD members and the Agency and is a leader who has made a commitment to ADD by his/her tireless efforts and willingness to go that extra mile.

Rep. Josh Shapiro, 37, represents the 153rd Legislative District in Montgomery County in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Shapiro is a committed public servant who has worked in federal and state government for more than 15 years and was named "Best State Legislator" by Philadelphia Magazine. Shapiro was first elected the to House in 2004, and served as a deputy speaker of the House from 2006-2008.

While in the state House, Shapiro has authored and led the fight to implement the farthest-reaching ethics and government reform agenda in a generation. As chairman of the Legislative Audit Committee, Shapiro secured unanimous support to require the General Assembly to return its nearly $200 million surplus to the taxpayers and establish stricter financial controls over the expenditure of state funds.

Shapiro has earned a reputation as a bipartisan consensus builder and has been recognized nationally for his efforts. In June 2009 he was selected as one of 32 state legislators nationwide to the "White House Team of State Legislators for Health Reform" to help President Obama shape the national health reform effort. He was also one of 24 elected officials nationwide, and the first and only Pennsylvania official, to be selected for the prestigious Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellowship in Public Leadership program.

Shapiro is a 1995 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Rochester and received his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2002. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar. Shapiro and his family live in Abington Township in Montgomery County. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Lori. The couple has four young children, Sophia, Jonah, Max and Reuben.