[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 120 (Friday, September 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TRIBUTE TO WANDA WASHINGTON HOPKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JULIAN C. DIXON

                             of california

                        HON. WILLIAM (BILL) CLAY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 11, 1998

  Mr. DIXON. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join with my good friend and 
colleague, the gentleman from the great state of Missouri, the 
Honorable William L. Clay, in saluting an outstanding businesswoman and 
good friend, Mrs. Wanda Washington Hopkins. On Thursday, September 17, 
1998, the National Federal of Black Women Business Owners will honor 
their fellow board member as she prepares to retire after a 
distinguished career of 31 years with Philip Morris Companies, Inc. We 
have been privileged to have known and worked with Wanda for most of 
her career with Philip Morris Companies, and are especially proud to 
have this opportunity to highlight her many achievements with our 
colleagues.
  Born June 6, 1997, in New York City, New York, Wanda joined Philip 
Morris Companies in 1967. During her profession, she has held the 
positions of sample distributor and urban affairs assistant, rising to 
her current position of Specialist, Public Programs, which includes 
managing the Philip Morris corporate exhibit.
  Prior to joining Philip Morris Companies, Wanda worked for the 
District of Columbia and Federal governments, as well as for Howard 
University. In addition, she worked for the Washington Teachers Union 
along with several laws firms in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan 
area.
  Wanda's professional and personal life has been dedicated to helping 
to enrich the lives of the disenfranchised, and to ensuring that 
children, born not of privilege, have every opportunity to pursue his/
her dreams through higher education. She has served as the social 
conscience of Philip Morris Companies in seeing to it that hundreds of 
thousands of the company's corporate profits have been directed to 
programs to benefit educational excellence, and to uplifting 
communities once bereft of hope. And that's just her corporate 
influence.
  In her personal endeavors, she has for years been involved in 
numerous business, professional, and social organizations. One in 
particular, the Justice, Unity, Generosity, and Service, Inc. club, or 
J.U.G.S., Inc., a non-profit organization that awards scholarships and 
benefits handicap children, has been near and dear to her heart. Over 
the years, she has worked selflessly to raise funds for this 
organization. Because of her efforts and commitment to the kids, 
children who were once written off, can now look forward to programs 
designed to help them reach their potential, beyond the expert's 
expectations.
  In addition to her work with the J.U.G.S., she is a member of the 
National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners, the National Association 
of Market Developers, the NAACP and the National Urban League.
  In recognition of her many years of distinguished professional 
service and contributions to society, Wanda has received numerous 
awards and honors, including the Shiners Award for Professional 
Excellence, the National Association of Business and Professional 
Women's Clubs Yellow Rose'' citation, the National Business League 
Presidential Citation, and the West Coast Black Publishers and 
Association President's Award. This summer, at the NAACP's annual 
National Convention, Wanda became the first individual to receive the 
organization's Exhibitors' Special Recognition Award. She is also the 
receipient of the National Urban League's Herbert H. Wright Medallion.
  Wanda Washington Hopkins is a woman of savvy intelligence and 
tremendous warmth and integrity. Over the years, she has consistently 
demonstrated the utmost professionalism and paved the way for other 
young women aspiring to make it corporate America. She has been an 
outstanding role model and mentor to many young women, and she can take 
great pride in knowing of the enduring contributions she has made in 
helping to empower other African American professional women through 
the corporate maze.
  Married to Everett Hopkins, she is the mother of seven children, one 
of whom is now with the angels, but who lives on her heart and in the 
hearts of family and friends. She is also the proud grandmother of 
four.
  Mr. Speaker, it gives us great pleasure to have this opporunity to 
publicly recognize the tremendous accomplishments of this distinguished 
human being. She is a beautiful person, an individual that we are proud 
to call our friend. Throughout her many years with Philip Morris 
Companies, Wanda has probably spent about 85% of her time traveling 
from city to city, exhibiting at one exhibit site after another. As she 
prepares to embark on a new chapter in her life, we ask first that you 
join us in extending to her a well-deserved rest. Second, please join 
with us in extending to her, Everett and their extended family our best 
wishes for continued success, excellent health, and an abundance of 
prosperity in the years ahead.

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