[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 38 (Monday, March 30, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              PROJECT HOPE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. J.D. HAYWORTH

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 30, 1998

  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I come to the well of the House today to 
recognize a community success story: Project HOPE (Hayden Offers 
Positive Encouragement).
  Project HOPE is a pro-recreation program for youth in Hayden, 
Arizona. The program was started by David Elmira, a former Hayden town 
councilman, in 1993 and has been supported every year since then by 
Hayden's mayors, Melesio R. Chavez and Jose Aranda. The program's 
purpose is to encourage youth to participate in after-school activities 
in order to keep them from getting into trouble.
  Mr. Speaker, we often talk about the importance of local control. 
This program helps youth without the bureaucratic strings from the 
federal government. More importantly, Project HOPE doesn't rely on 
federal funds. Therefore, they can craft a program that fits their 
youth, instead of the federal government's ``one-size-fits-all'' 
approach. This gives them the freedom and flexibility to create a 
program that can succeed.
  Project HOPE organizes various sporting activities including 
basketball, golf, and volleyball tournaments and football pass, punt, 
and kick competitions. Night swimming also remains a central component 
of this program. The program enters its fourth year under the 
leadership of Hayden Vice Mayor David Aguirre, who heads up the town 
council's Parks and Recreation Department. Carlos Galindo-Elvira, who 
is the Economic Development Program Coordinator, also deserves credit 
for the success of this program.
  Project HOPE is primarily funded by the Town of Hayden, along with 
various grants. The year, Project HOPE will open a new youth recreation 
center. The center, a renovated fire station located in downtown 
Kearny, will have a physical exercise room and group activity room for 
all youth from the surrounding community to enjoy. It is local programs 
like this that need to be replicated in other communities. I wish 
Project HOPE continued success in the future.

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