[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 143 (Wednesday, October 20, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2144-E2145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      MATTHEW NONNEMACHER HONORED

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 20, 1999

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a 
remarkable young boy from my District in Hazleton, Pennsylvania--
Matthew Nonnemacher. Matthew is only eleven years old, but he will be a 
participant this Friday in the White House Conference on Philanthropy. 
While most boys and girls his age are more concerned with getting their 
homework done, Matthew has been helping his disadvantaged neighbors.
  Last year, Matthew's fourth grade teacher at St. Joseph Memorial 
School, Terri Smith, gave her students an assignment to draw a picture 
of the one wish they would like to be granted if they were on top of 
the world. Matthew's picture depicted him giving money to poor people. 
Later, after having asked his parents what would be the best way to 
help the poor, Matthew wrote a letter to the editor of his local 
newspaper, the Hazleton Standard Speaker, with the same question. 
Matthew received numerous letters suggesting projects such as food 
drives, clothing collections, and a dime drive. Matthew changed the 
latter suggestion to a penny drive, because he thought it would be more 
fun, and set an ambitious goal of collecting one million pennies, or 
$10,000, a donate to the United Way of Greater Hazleton.
  With the help of then-United Way of Greater Hazleton Executive 
Director James Settle, Matthew's project was named ``A Million Ways to 
Care'' when it began in August of 1998. Matthew visited almost every 
civic organization in the city with a request for pennies and placed 
hundreds of two-quart collection jars throughout his community of 
26,000 people. School students throughout the community also 
enthusiastically collected pennies for him. On October 22, 1998, the 
pennies were collected and loaded on a flatbed truck, paraded through 
town with a police and school bus escort, and taken to First Federal 
Bank, where an enthusiastic crew of bank employees and volunteer spent 
thirteen hours counting more than 5.5 tons of pennies. The final sum 
amounted to $18,196.91 or 1,819,691 pennies, which was promptly 
presented to the United Way of Greater Hazleton on last year's National 
``Make a Difference Day.''

[[Page E2145]]

  Mr. Speaker, Matthew Nonnemacher represents the best of Northeastern 
Pennsylvania. Matthew was once asked why he wanted to help the poor and 
his answer was plain: ``So the poor can have everything that we have--
like food, clothes, and a place to stay.'' I am glad the White House 
has recognized Matthew's achievement by inviting him to the White House 
Conference on Philanthropy. Matthew's dedicated parents, John and 
Sandi, also deserve praise for their heroic efforts to guide and help 
their son.
  I am pleased to have this opportunity to bring Matthew's achievements 
to the attention of my colleagues and wish Matthew the best in his 
future philanthropic efforts.

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