[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 35 (Thursday, March 14, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E366-E367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          COMMENDATION OF INTERAGES ON THEIR 10TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______


                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 1996

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in commendation of Interages, 
Montgomery County's intergenerational resource center, on the eve of 
their 10th year anniversary celebration. Over the past 10 years, 
Interages has become an increasingly valuable member of our local 
community. Interages is dedicated to bridging the gap between senior 
members of our society and today's youth.
  Interages programs bring volunteer youth to homebound seniors, 
helping to alleviate their loneliness and respond to the concerns of 
these otherwise isolated individuals. These young people take it upon 
themselves to uplift the spirits of these elderly men and women, giving 
their time in the interest of service to their community. Rather than 
finding this task a sacrifice, many of them feel that it is they who 
benefit from the deep friendships and exchange of ideas that often 
occur.
  Since 1990, Interages has also sponsored the intergenerational 
bridges project. This project brings together elderly mentors with poor 
and disadvantaged youth. These young people receive the benefit of 
their mentors' lifetime of knowledge and experience. Often matched up 
with illiterate and immigrant youth, the seniors enable these at-risk 
students to rise above their surroundings, helping them to read, write, 
and speak English; the students end up with an increased sense of self-
worth and a reduced risk of leaving school or engaging in criminal 
activity. The mentors, too, find themselves learning from their 
proteges, as they come to see through some of the myths surrounding 
disadvantaged youth in today's society.
  On Sunday, March 17, Interages will officially celebrate their 10th 
anniversary with a celebration at the Chevy Chase Women's Club. This 
event will again bring together young and old in the spirit of 
intergenerational achievement and community service that

[[Page E367]]

Interages has so fully come to represent. Mr. Speaker, I hope that my 
colleagues will join me in commending the founder of Interages, Austin 
Heyman; Interages current copresidents, Jean Linehan and Robert 
Shoenberg, and all of Interages' dedicated volunteers and workers, on 
10 years of exceptional service and in wishing them success in the 
years ahead.

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