[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1794-E1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO INGRID ACEVEDO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 24, 1998

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Ingrid Acevedo, the 
Director of Public Relations for the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, who was 
among those who perished in the crash of Swissair Flight 111 on 
September 2, 1998.
  My colleagues and I are well acquainted with UNICEF's fifty-two years 
of service for the children of the world. The U.S. Committee for UNICEF 
builds support in the United States for UNICEF's work through 
fundraising, education, and advocacy. Ingrid Acevedo, as Director of 
Public Relations, worked tirelessly to increase public awareness of 
UNICEF's initiatives and to bring home to the American people the needs 
of vulnerable children around the world.

[[Page E1795]]

  In the three years that Ingrid worked at the U.S. Committee for 
UNICEF, she helped to raise the visibility of UNICEF in the United 
States. She served as the primary media liaison during the 1996 Summer 
Olympics Aid Atlanta, a project that raised money for children 
suffering the impact of conflicts around the globe. This year, Ingrid 
was playing a catalytic role in the revival of ``Trick-or-Treat for 
UNICEF.'' She was in the process of implementing a campaign to renew 
media interest in this popular American children's tradition when her 
life was so tragically cut short. Ingrid Acevedo worked to educate the 
American public about the plight of millions of children around the 
world who need our help and support, and did so with creativity and 
enthusiasm. She was using her talents to encourage all of us to do more 
to save and to improve the lives of needy children.
  Ingrid Acevedo was a young woman who cared about the less fortunate 
and who dedicated her life to making a difference. Prior to working for 
the U.S. Committee for UNICEF, Ingrid spent two years in Washington as 
Manager of National Media Relations for Bread for the World, as 
organization that has done so much to fight hunger and poverty both 
here and overseas.
  Ingrid Acevedo was only 32 years old when she died, but she made 
those years count. Hers is a record of service for everyone to emulate. 
Those of us in the Congress who support UNICEF's work for children are 
deeply saddened by the loss of this young woman who worked so hard for 
UNICEF and who had both the talent and the potential to have done even 
more. We extend our condolences to her mother, Dinorah Acevedo, and to 
her surviving relatives.
  The loss of such a dedicated, outstanding individual is difficult for 
the human heart to comprehend. Rather than focusing on what we have 
lost, let us celebrate Ingrid Acevedo's work for children and for the 
poor and hungry, by renewing our own commitment to those in need. That 
is the most appropriate tribute to Ingrid Acevedo.

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