Episode 100: An entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy by Harris Rosen

Harris Rosen is the President & Chief Operating Officer of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. He is Florida’s largest independent hotelier, having built a portfolio of eight hotels in Orlando, with close to 7,000 guestrooms, over the course of 45 years.

He is also a philanthropist who has created and funded initiatives to support local Orlando communities, including a program to provide free preschool and college scholarships to the youth of Tangelo Park, and a similar initiative in the downtown Orlando Parramore district. He has been honored with the Coretta Scott King A.N.G.E.L. Award for his impact on Tangelo Park, and he believes that the successes of these local initiatives provide a template for uplifting America, one community at a time.

Also joining us today is Chuck Dziuban, Director of the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness at the University of Central Florida, who works with Harris on the Tangelo Park project.

During this episode, you will hear Harris and Chuck talk about:

• Harris’s first hotel job as a young boy, and the chance meeting with two famous celebrities that made him decide he wanted to pursue a career in hospitality
• How Harris grew his career by pursuing opportunities all around the country and even internationally, including managing a property in Mexico and working for Disney in their hotel division
• The story behind Harris’ purchase of his first hotel property
• The ingenious way that Harris secured business for his hotel during the oil crisis of the mid-1970s
• How Harris began his philanthropy with the Tangelo Park project
• Why Harris and Chuck believe that expanding this program to other communities would have a powerful impact on American society

Find out more about the Tangelo Park Program here, and more about The Harris Rosen Foundation here.

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