[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 142 (Saturday, October 10, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2035]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         TRIBUTE TO DR. MARY P. SMITH, AN ARDENT LEMONADE MAKER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DONALD M. PAYNE

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 9, 1998

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, if we are lucky we have come in contact with 
a person who instinctively makes lemonade out of the lemons of life. 
There is such a woman in my district who is being honored on Thursday, 
October 8. She is Dr. Mary Smith. Thirty years ao Dr. Smith saw a need 
for day care programs in Newark, New Jersey. She used her vision, 
commitment and steadfastness to establish Babyland Nursery, Inc. 
Babyland Nursery, Inc., now known as Babyland Family Services, Inc. has 
evolved into a model for urban day care throughout the nation.
  In 1968, Dr. Smith started with 26 children in a seven-room basement 
apartment in central city Newark to establish one of the first day care 
programs in the United States and the first non-profit interracial day 
care center in New Jersey to provide day care for children from 2\1/2\ 
months to five years old. If we go back to 1968, we will remember it 
was a time that women while moving into the workforce had very limited 
resources for child care. This sometimes meant that these families had 
to depend on public assistance for survival rather than become self-
sufficient. Today, we see the benefit of providing safe, clean, and 
educatable day care services. The lack of day care was a lemon to Dr. 
Smith. She took her knowledge, skills and foresight to make some 
lemonade that has quenched the thirst of day care need for countless 
families and children.
  Babyland Family Services, Inc. has evolved to comprise 11 different 
facilities offering 20 separate programs that benefit over 1,500 
children, women and families each year. It has a staff of over 200, 
volunteer support of almost 700 and a reputation that extends to the 
international arena.
  Mr. Speaker, I am sure my colleagues will want to join me in thanking 
Dr. Mary Smith and Babyland as they are recognized for their hard work 
and dedication to the health, well-being and education of children from 
urban areas. I would also like to encourage all citizens to become 
interested in helping the future, our children, thus ensuring a 
brighter future for them and the generations to come.

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