[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 49 (Thursday, March 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     TRIBUTE TO DANA WHITNEY BERRY

                                 ______


                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 16, 1995
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Dana 
Whitney Berry, as she retires from her position as executive director 
of the Union City Day Care Program. Dana Berry is an exceptional human 
being who has dedicated her life to caring for our Nation's children. 
She is a pioneer in her field and has made a great many contributions 
to the field of social work.
  Dana Berry earned her masters degree in social work from Rutgers 
University in 1982. She was an outstanding student who graduated with 
advanced standing. In 1983, she established the Union City Day Care 
Program, which combines education with a unique social service system. 
This innovative program has brought together the young and old and the 
poor and more affluent to build a better community.
  The daycare center which Dana Berry established services 285 children 
ranging from 6 months to 6 years old. The Even Start Program offers 
parents literacy training, G.E.D. certification, and parenting/life 
skills. In addition, the program helps to break the poverty cycle by 
training elderly workers and welfare parents in the area of child 
development.
  Through the years, Dana Berry has been an avid supporter of services 
for children and the elderly. She has found an innovative way to bring 
the two together in order to achieve positive results. Her program is a 
model for others around the world. She has fought hard to secure 
funding for the program. In fact, she increased the center's annual 
budget from $100,000 to $1.2 million in 3 years. She has also expanded 
the staff from 3 to 72 professionals and paraprofessionals. She has 
built the center from the ground up and has shaped it into a high-
quality program.
  In addition to her outstanding work with children, Dana Berry has 
served New Jersey and our Nation in a wide variety of roles. She has 
served as commissioner of the Employment and Training Commission for 
New Jersey, and she was nominated National Mentor by the National 
Academy for the Education of Young Children. For her hard work, she has 
received many awards and honors, including the National Award for 
Excellence in 1987, and the National Award for Livability from the U.S. 
Conference of Mayors in 1991. She has also been featured on many 
networks, CNN news, and Life magazine.
  Dana Berry is truly an outstanding citizen, and I am very proud to 
have had her working in my district. Her contributions will not be 
forgotten, and even though she is leaving the Union City Day Care 
Program, she will remain a shining example to all social service 
providers. Even though she is retiring from the Union City daycare 
center, I know she will remain active. She cares too deeply about our 
children to stop her advocacy. Please join me in wishing Dana Berry a 
happy retirement, although, hopefully, it will not be a quiet 
retirement.


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