Sponsor Official and Advisory Committee Member
Owner, Best Cleaners (sponsoring organization)
Mr. Gary Shif, owner of Best Cleaners in the Orlando area
since 1986, is an active supporter of community-based initiatives that
improve the well being of Orlando area residents. Mr. Shif regularly
donates funds and services to local high schools, organizations, and
hospitals. To encourage and support employees who are in school, he
adjusts work hours to accommodate their class schedules. He is an
active member of The Ripple Effect, serving on the Board of Directors and
leading several fundraising
committees. In addition to attending Saturday morning 'gatherings' to assist in providing services to
downtown Orlando's homeless population.
Mr. Shif has
also employed several homeless "guests" at his dry cleaning business. He
also supports the Orlando
area Work Release program by offering employment opportunities to
individuals on work release. As a local businessman for approximately
15 years, Mr. Shif has firsthand experience in witnessing the struggle
individuals can face in low-paying employment.
After hearing about the Clemente Course in the Humanities from
Professor Scolaro, Mr. Shif, as a supporter of education to elevate
disadvantaged populations from low-income and poverty levels, became a
member of the project's Advisory Committee. He will continue to be
an active member of the Advisory Committee and support a program modeled
after the Bard College Clemente Course in the Humanities.
