[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 10, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1549]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO THE SOUTHWEST SUBURBAN CENTER ON AGING ON ITS 25TH 
                              ANNIVERSARY

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                        HON. WILLIAM O. LIPINSKI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 10, 1996

  Mr. LIPINSKI. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to an 
outstanding organization in my district that for 25 years has addressed 
the needs of older residents--the Southwest Suburban Center on Aging in 
La Grange, IL.
  The center is enjoying its silver anniversary of providing a variety 
of important services for senior citizens. The agency drew out a study 
commissioned by the La Grange Kiwanis Club in 1970 that determined that 
not only was the senior population growing in the area, but that the 
vast majority of this group did not know where to turn for assistance.
  The senior center was initially established as an arm of a local 
mental health agency, but because of the great demand for its services, 
it soon became a separate entity. In 1974, it leased its first 
facility, a building in La Grange, which it still occupies 22 years 
later.
  Beginning with a staff of three on 1971, the center grew to employ a 
staff of 26 and over 300 volunteers. Today, the center now serves more 
than 10,000 seniors in 22 communities. The services provided range from 
arts and crafts classes to delivering meals to the homebound to 
investigating suspected cases of abuse of the elderly.
  However, the varied offerings of the Southwest Suburban Center on 
Aging all contribute to one goal: to promote independent living for 
seniors and support their efforts to maintain healthy active lifestyles 
within their communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Southwest Suburban Center on Aging 
for 25 years of service to the senior citizens of its community, and 
wish the organization many more years of service.

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