All in the same editorial.
The criticism stands. Rosen was trying to undo a vote by the Orange County Commission to build three downtown venues, projects supported by the editorial board.What comes harder than criticism, however, is looking beyond personality or policy disagreements. Do that, and it's clear that Harris Rosen is not just a wildly successful, self-made businessman who employs thousands of workers ? an admirable quality in itself ? but one of this region's premiere philanthropists.
I won't go into the details. For those you can read the accompanying profile by Senior Editorial Writer Paul Owens. Read it and you can reach no conclusion other than that, love him or hate him, Harris Rosen has one of the biggest hearts in Central Florida, which is why this time around we're calling him the 2011 Central Floridian of the Year.
What's particularly striking is the hands-on and out-of-the-box nature of Rosen's philanthropy, an extension of his business philosophy.
He doesn't just write a big fat check to a charity and then call it a day, any more than he would build a big hotel and then ignore it. Rosen remains intimately involved in his Tangelo Park education initiative years after launching it. Same with his health initiatives, whether it's an on-site clinic for employees or a healthier pizza for school kids.
The Sentinel reader who nominated Rosen, Linda Manzonelli of Winter Park, said she became a fan a decade ago after reading about the magnate's bonus program for hotel employees. She resolved to meet him one day. That hasn't happened yet, but she's kept up with his career and, as important, his devotion to people less fortunate.
"I would still feel it to be a great privilege to meet him and thank him myself for the work he does for our community," she wrote. "That may not ever be, but I can at least (for the second year in a row) nominate him for CFOTY."
Rosen was among the dozens of names that you, our readers, submitted as nominations. Some people received multiple nominations, like Carol Wick of Harbor House; Sandy Shugart, president of Valencia College; and Tim McKinney, who is leading the fight to make Bithlo a better place to live. They are among our runners-up featured above.
Some of you liked a couple of our previous winners ? namely, IDignity's Michael Dippy (2010) and Second Harvest Food Bank's Dave Krepcho (2009) ? so much that you wanted them to win again. Sorry.
Politicians got some love from readers, too. Orange County School Board Chairman Bill Sublette. State Rep. Scott Randolph. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
Paul Sacks, a science teacher at Winter Springs High School, wrote a persuasive nomination for Linda Walters, a University of Central Florida researcher who's trying to restore Mosquito Lagoon's oyster beds.
Sarah Dewitz got a well-deserved nomination from her proud dad, Bill Dewitz, for launching her "Just 1 Book" campaign to promote literacy among low-income kids.
Evans High School Principal David Christiansen was nominated for his extraordinary work under sometimes difficult circumstances.
And Shirley Jarrell of Orlando wanted to tell us about her husband, Jack, a veteran whose service in World War II included the Allied landing at Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge. He's 84 now and belongs to the American Legion, the Elks and the VFW. He also volunteers for the Sheriff's Office's citizen patrol and is an officer for his homeowners association.
She's impressed with how active he remains. In fact, we were impressed by the many examples of selflessness and good works by those who make our community a better place. Our thanks to all of you.
mlafferty@tribune.com or 407-420-5406
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