[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1373-E1374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    TRIBUTE TO MS. CECELIA B. HENDERSON, AREA DIRECTOR, THE LINKS, 
                 INCORPORATED ``THE BIG APPLE CLUSTER''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 23, 1999

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
accomplishments of Ms. Cecelia B. Henderson of The Links, Incorporated 
for her contributions to African Americans, especially the youth in 
eastern cities and communities, preparing them to meet the challenges 
in professions and fields where African Americans are few in number.
  The first Links club was founded in November 1946 in Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania, with only nine members. The purpose of the organization 
at its inception was to foster friendship and render service to needy 
African-American families. The membership has grown to more than 10,500 
today, with 270 chapters located in forty (40) US cities, Nassau, 
Bahamas, and in Frankfurt, Germany.
  Today, The Links is a volunteer service organization of concerned, 
committed, and talented women who through service, linked in 
friendship, commits itself to enhancing the quality of life in the 
larger community. Because of the rich legacy of the organization, it 
has contributed over 15 million dollars to worthy causes through 
grants-in-aid, and through many effective initiatives within 
communities across the country. Through its participation in UNICEF, 
the organization is active abroad, in building elementary schools in 
South Africa, contributing to the construction of water wells elsewhere 
in Africa, and aiding the Caribbean Women's Health Association to 
improve the lives of Caribbean women and children.
  Ms. Henderson has served as the Eastern Area Director of The Links 
for the past four years. She became a member of the Buffalo, New York, 
Chapter in 1974, and has held numerous leadership positions in the 
local chapter, and at the National Level.
  In 1997, and again in 1999, under the leadership of Ms. Henderson, 
The Eastern Area Links presented a classroom-based educational program 
entitled, HeartPower to school districts in New York City and 
Philadelphia with a simple message, ``you too can have a healthy heart, 
it's as easy as 1-2-3''. This program fits with the overall theme which 
Ms. Henderson developed for the Eastern Area, ``Serve up Success: Build 
Linkages . . . Empower the Black Family.''
  A retired educator with a long and commendable professional career in 
the Buffalo, New York, school system, Ms. Henderson has served the 
Links with her expertise in promoting health education.
  As the community celebrates her years of leadership and service at 
the thirty-fifth Eastern Area Conference, I offer our congratulations 
to her as she is recognized for the differences that her efforts have 
made in cultivating the talents, and developing the abilities of the 
youth of today, with the potential of becoming local, national and 
world leaders of the twenty-first century.

[[Page E1374]]



                          ____________________