[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 127 (Wednesday, August 2, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1591-E1592]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 TRIBUTE TO LEUKEMIA SOCIETY VOLUNTEERS

                                 ______


                           HON. MARGE ROUKEMA

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 2, 1995
  Mrs. ROUKEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank DialAmerica Marketing 
Inc., for its dedicated work on behalf of those suffering from 
leukemia. Based in my congressional district in Mahwah, NJ, DialAmerica 
is a company with a heart, a company that uses its resources to go to 
the aid of those in need.
  This Friday, August 4, DialAmerica will officially hand over a $5 
million check to the Leukemia Society of America. This is money that 

[[Page E1592]]
has been raised through a magazine subscription program in which 12.5 
percent of the company's proceeds is contributed to the Leukemia 
Society for research, patient assistance, and patient information.
  DialAmerica joined forces with the Leukemia Society in 1988 in the 
CURE 2000 fight against leukemia and other related diseases. The 
initial contribution to the society was $40,000 and the company now 
contributes an average $1.8 million annually. I quote Dwayne Howell, 
president and chief executive officer of the Leukemia Society:

       DialAmerica is our largest corporate sponsor. Not only do 
     we receive ``no cost'' dollars but we benefit from increased 
     public awareness of the society. DialAmerica has proven to be 
     an invaluable source of support for our research program.

  I know personally the tragedy of leukemia: My husband and I lost our 
son, Todd, to leukemia in 1976 at the age of 17. At that time, bone 
marrow transplants and other techniques that offered hope were only in 
their experimental stages. Since then, many advances have been made 
that have spared thousands of other parents the heartbreak we faced. It 
is thanks to the dedicated, selfless people of the Leukemia Society--
through their fundraising, their research, the goodwill, and the 
awareness they promote--that hope can be maintained. The people of the 
Leukemia Society are a shining example of how the kindness and caring 
of volunteers can support direct research as it races to a cure.
  Today, we are within grasp of a cure but research costs money. I 
thank God for those who are willing to contribute to this cause and 
pray that with their help a cure can be found and that no child will 
ever again have to suffer from this terrible disease.


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