Founder's Award 2012: Albert B. Ratner and the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation

Long-time Museum & Library supporter Albert Ratner received the Founder's Award in 2012. In addition, retired Marine Corps Major General Thomas L. Wilkerson accepted the Founder's Award on behalf of the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.

Albert B. Ratner is co-chairman emeritus of the board of Forest City Enterprises, Inc. Ratner is a charter member of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. He and his wife, Audrey, have been generous donors, advocates, and volunteers over the organization's history and were co-chairs of the 2011 Liberty Gala.

Ratner served in the Armed Forces as a member of the regular Army from August 1946 until March 1948. He has been in the commercial and residential real estate industry with Forest City since 1951. Ratner is well known as a longtime community booster for Cleveland and a leader in its Jewish community. He is a life trustee of the Cleveland Jewish Community Federation and a member of the International Council of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. He is involved in transforming K-12 education in the city of Cleveland.

Forest City Military Communitites (FCMC) was founded in 2003 to respond to and participate in the privatization of military family housing operations throughout the Armed Services. Significantly upgrading and enhancing the daily lives of military families living in these communities is the ongoing daily mission of FCMC. At the time of this Award, FCMC's portfolio had grown to more than 14,100 military family housing units at primarily Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force bases located in eight states. In addition to new homes, FCMC is also very involved with the historic preservation and rehabilitation of distinguished military homes in many locations including Pearl Harbor in Hawaii and the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado.

The Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation was founded by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, which consists exclusively of the living Medal of Honor recipients. The Foundation is an IRS 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which, in conjunction with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, reaches out to the citizens of America, particularly its youth, to promote an awareness of what the Medal of Honor represents and how ordinary Americans-through courage, sacrifice, selfless service, and patriotism-can challenge fate and change the course of history. There are no better ambassadors to take this message to the American people than the Medal of Honor recipients themselves, who embody these values through their incredible acts of bravery. The work of the Foundation is aimed at promoting awareness of what America's highest military award for valor in combat represents.

Retired Marine Corps Major General Thomas L. Wilkerson, the organization's President and CEO, accepted the Founder's Award on behalf of the Foundation. Prior to joining the Foundation, Wilkerson served for eight years as the chief executive officer at the U.S. Naval Institute. He came to the Naval Institute from a private sector career in publishing and financial services. His military career spanned 31 years from graduation with the U.S. Naval Academy Class of 1967 to service as a Marine Corps Fighter/Attack Aviator, and finally to senior leadership as a Major General of Marines.