Category: The Harris Rosen Foundation

Harris Rosen Foundation Donates $50,000 to Gainesville For All in Honor of Chuck Dziuban’s Lifetime of Service in Education

ORLANDO, Fla., May 29, 2026 — The Harris Rosen Foundation just announced a $50,000 donation to Gainesville For All (GNV4ALL) in recognition of Chuck Dziuban’s decades of service to Mr. Harris Rosen, the Harris Rosen Foundation and transformative community initiatives in Tangelo Park, Parramore and Gainesville. The gift also honors Dziuban’s stellar career at the University of Central Florida (UCF), respected as a leader and advocate for educational opportunity.

GNV4ALL LogoThe $50,000 contribution will support Gainesville For All’s ongoing efforts to expand educational access and improve outcomes for children and families in East Gainesville. It will also be used on scholarships, meals for students and a toddler playground amongst other things. This is the second time in two years that the Harris Rosen Foundation donated to Gainesville For All. In 2024, the foundation donated $35,000 to its efforts.

Frank Santos, president of the Harris Rosen Foundation, said this donation will be a real difference-maker in Gainesville, while recognizing Dziuban’s countless hours of commitment. “Honoring Chuck Dziuban in this way reflects the values he has lived every day—service, compassion and a belief that every child deserves opportunity,” Santos said. “His leadership has touched communities across Central Florida, and we hope this gift will continue to open doors for families in Gainesville.”

Harris Rosen Foundation Logo“We are deeply grateful for the Harris Rosen Foundation’s generous contribution,” said James Lawrence, President & CEO of Gainesville For All. “This commitment from the foundation and Frank Santos empowers our mission and strengthens our ability to create lasting impact,” he added.

“I am deeply honored by this generous donation made in my name. Supporting and helping create education initiatives has always been a passion close to my heart,” Chuck Dziuban said. “Knowing that this gift will help open doors for students is the most meaningful recognition I could ask for from the Harris Rosen Foundation and its president, Frank Santos. I’m truly grateful,” Dziuban added.

Dziuban retired from UCF as its Director of the Research Initiative for Teaching Effectiveness where he directed the evaluation of the distributed learning program. He also served as the university’s liaison to the Rosen Foundation Tangelo and Parramore programs. For more than three decades, Dziuban played a pivotal role in advancing the foundation’s mission to strengthen underserved communities through early childhood education, family support, and neighborhood revitalization.

The Harris Rosen Foundation has a long history of supporting early childhood education and community initiatives, including the nationally recognized Tangelo Park Program and the Parramore Preschool. The foundation’s partnership with Gainesville For All continues this legacy of investing in proven, community-centered strategies that uplift families and expand opportunity.
Media inquiries should be directed to publicrelations@rosenhotels.com.

YMCA Names Aquatic Center After Harris Rosen, Who Saved It More Than 25 Years Ago

ORLANDO (July 26, 2018) – The YMCA Aquatic Center at 8422 International Drive in Orlando has been officially renamed the Rosen YMCA Aquatic Center in honor of Harris Rosen, who led the fight against the center’s demise more than 25 years ago.

Rosen, a prominent Orlando hotelier and avid swimmer, turned activist for the facility in 1992 when the private center, then called the Justus Aquatic Center, was shut down by the mortgage holder.

“I remember arriving at the center one day and finding some Special Olympians hovering about,” said Rosen. “One of the youngsters recognized me as a swimmer there. They asked me if they’d done something wrong, to have it closed. It broke my heart. I knew I had to do something.”

Respecting its place within the fabric of the Orlando community, and especially the swimming community, Rosen called upon celebrities, organizations, and even Orange County to help save the competitive swimming center.

Under his visionary leadership, the facility was ultimately gifted to the YMCA of Central Florida and revenue-generating programs were put in place to help offset operating costs. Rosen has donated millions to the YMCA, some of which will continue to be used for renovations over the next few years.

“Harris Rosen took it upon himself to save this facility, and, at the time, gave the YMCA of Central Florida one of only two competitive swimming centers in Florida. This allowed us to increase our impact in the Central Florida community and it is only fitting to honor him by renaming this facility,” said Dan Wilcox, President and CEO, YMCA of Central Florida.

“I am deeply honored by this recognition,” said Harris Rosen, President & COO, Rosen Hotels & Resorts. “I have been so blessed to be a part of this community and I hope this facility serves as a reminder to all the children and competitors who enter, that with courage, drive and determination, anything is possible.”

Additional capital renovation donors to the new Rosen YMCA Aquatic Center include: OUC, Lochinvar, Duke Energy, Modern Plumbing, Trinity Surfaces, Cree and Rentex.

The newly renamed Rosen YMCA Aquatic Center is a state-of-the-art facility featuring two Olympic-size swimming pools and new diving platforms. It is home for many competitive swimmers, divers and water polo players.

For Rosen, however, one of its biggest impacts to the community rests in the lives of the hundreds of children who have learned drowning prevention and swimming skills there.

“Who knows how many children have avoided water-related tragedies because of the programs here at the Aquatic Center. It truly saves lives, and I will forever champion the cause to keep our children safe in the water,” said Rosen.

The facility was also selected to host the 2018 UANA Pan American Masters Championships, making it the second-ever American site to host the event. The 2,500-athlete competition began July 25, one day after the Rosen dedication ceremony.

The 2018 UANA Pan American Masters Championship will run until Aug. 12 with events like swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, water polo and open-water swimming. Competitors will represent 43 Swimming Federations in North, South and Central America, as well as the Caribbean. It is believed that Orlando’s popularity will make this one of the largest swimming competitions in North America, outside of a World Championship. In a previous announcement, U.S. Masters Swimming CEO Dawson Hughes called the Rosen YMCA Aquatic Center one of the “most respected” aquatic centers in the country.

“They have experience hosting large events and the facility, volunteers and community support to showcase this international event,” said Hughes in the announcement.

Rosen built Rosen Hotels & Resorts into the largest independent hotel company in Florida while never losing sight of those philanthropic roots, especially in relation to the community support of the facility. In addition to Rosen Hotels & Resorts being a hotel partner for the Pan American Masters Championship, it is an annual sponsor of the Rosen YMCA Aquatic Center. Rosen has donated millions to the YMCA of Central Florida and currently serves on the board of directors for the Aquatic Center. The Harris Rosen Foundation has also contributed tens of millions of dollars to the founding and support of educational and youth-benefiting programs and scholarships throughout the Central Florida area.

About YMCA of Central Florida

For over 130 years, the YMCA of Central Florida has focused on strengthening communities through Youth Development, Healthy Living and Social Responsibility. Operating 27 YMCA Family Centers across Orange, Seminole, Osceola, Brevard, Lake and Marion counties, the Y is on a mission to improve the lives of all in Central Florida by connecting individuals, families and communities with opportunities based on Christian values that strengthen Spirit, Mind and Body. As one of the area’s largest non-profits, Y serves over 400,000 Central Floridians per year and employs 1,800 Y staff who join together with thousands of donors, volunteers and advocates to empower our community for good. To join the cause or for more information, visit ymcacentralflorida.com.

About Rosen Hotels & Resorts

Rosen Hotels & Resorts owns and operates nine quality hotels in the center of Orlando’s world-famous attractions, shopping and entertainment. Combined, the nine properties feature more than 700,000 square feet of versatile meeting and event space and close to 7,000 guestrooms, minutes from the Rosen YMCA Aquatic Center and Orange County Convention Center. Guided by founder and President Harris Rosen’s unsurpassed standards of quality and service, the company’s team of experienced professionals will help make your Orlando vacation or convention the most memorable experience. For more information, visit rosenhotels.com.