[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 96 (Thursday, July 1, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1467]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        A TRIBUTE TO FRATERNITAS

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                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 1, 1999

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a 
Fraternitas, an organization that exemplifies the proud American 
tradition of helping those who most need help.
  In February, 1986, a group of friends in the small Abruzzi village of 
Castelfrentano, Italy gathered to discuss how they could best help the 
senior citizens of their community. Since they are not blessed to have 
many of the same services we Americans take for granted, they decided 
to construct a facility to care for low income handicapped and elderly 
residents. The project was developing slowly when, in 1990, Mr. Camillo 
Micolucci, himself a son of the village, visited the town on vacation.
  Having been told of this worthwhile project, Mr. Micolucci returned 
to my great city of Philadelphia and launched a non-profit fund raising 
organization called ``Fraternitas,'' which is Italian for brotherhood. 
Being a resident of the City of Brotherly Love, Mr. Micolucci threw 
himself wholeheartedly into the project. He was aided in his efforts by 
his late mother, Maria, and other fine Americans like Nick and Carla 
Travaglini, Roseann Cugini, Sam and Leandro Andelucci and attorney 
James Bucci. They contacted Mr. Campitello of Washington, DC who 
donated the staggering sum of $250,000 to this effort. By continuing 
the nationwide fund raising effort, the committee was able to raise all 
the needed funds to go to construction on this much needed building.
  Mr. Speaker, Fraternitas, a 50 bed facility will open its doors on 
July 3, 1999. I am proud to honor this wonderful group of volunteers, 
who are shining examples of the best of the American spirit of reaching 
back to help the less fortunate.

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