[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 39 (Thursday, March 11, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S2607]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO ROBERT CONDON

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I rise to pay tribute to Robert 
Condon, one of our nation's leading child literacy advocates, who died 
last month, tragically, at the all-too-young age of 40. I ask my 
colleagues to join me in sending condolences to the Condon family.
  Robert Condon was a successful businessman, but his true passion was 
reading. Throughout the 1980s, he took time from his career and family 
to read to children at local homeless shelters. He understood, far 
before many Americans did, that reading aloud to children is one of the 
most effective ways to teach literacy and improve young people's lives.
  In 1991, Robert Condon quit his regular job in order to work full 
time promoting youth literacy. He founded the non-profit organization 
``Rolling Readers USA,'' where he and a small cadre of volunteers read 
to children in public housing developments, homeless shelters, and 
schools in the San Diego area.
  Robert Condon's passion was contagious and Rolling Readers grew 
exponentially. Today, it has 40,000 volunteers reading to children in 
24 states. Rolling Readers has won acclaim from national organizations, 
including the International Reading Association and Reading Is 
Fundamental.
  In his short life, Robert Condon touched the lives of hundreds of 
thousands of children. In his memory, Rolling Readers USA is sponsoring 
March 27 as a national read-in day, when tens of thousands of 
volunteers will spend part of their day reading to children, keeping 
Robert Condon's ideals moving forward.
  Mr. President, I encourage all Americans to participate in Rolling 
Readers USA's national read-in day and to become involved throughout 
the year to promote youth literacy. Volunteering our time and energy 
makes a difference and is a fitting way to pay tribute to this 
remarkable Californian.

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