[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 17, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2419-E2420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN PRAISE OF UNCONVENTIONAL GIVING

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL McCOLLUM

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 1999

  Mr. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to the 
excellent and unconventional work accomplished at America's Community 
Bankers' Annual Convention in Orlando. I say ``unconventional'' because 
not many of the nation's millions of convention-goers do what America's 
Community Bankers does.
  Each year, ACB and its spouses' organization, Housing Partners, 
select a charity in their convention city, raise funds for it, and 
present the group with a check during the convention. On November 2 in 
Orlando, Housing Partners presented their 1999 charity, Orlando's 
Edgewood Children's Ranch, with a record donation of $170,000. Over the 
past 8 years, ACB's Housing Partners has donated more than $700,000 to 
charities around the country. The money is raised in a variety of ways, 
including

[[Page E2420]]

a craft sale, a golf tournament, a benefit concert, and donations from 
member banks.
  The Edgewood Children's Ranch, a residential child care and 
development facility that has been helping troubled youngsters and 
families in the Orlando area for more than 30 years, is one of my 
favorites in an area blessed with many fine helping organizations. The 
ranch has been called a ``boot camp with love,'' because of its 
emphasis on structure, school, and parental involvement.
  Although the ranch accepts children from all denominations and races, 
it expects them to attend chapel, pledge allegiance to the American 
flag, and respect their elders--activities, to quote Gaby Acks, the 
ranch's development director, ``that disqualify us for public funds.''
  That's why America's Community Bankers' unrestricted gift of 
$170,000, which represents about one-tenth of the ranch's annual 
budget, is so important. ``We are ecstatic,'' said Joan Consolver, 
executive director of the ranch. ``It is unheard of for a convention 
group to leave a gift like this for the community.''
  I recognized America's Community Bankers' unique commitment to 
community in my remarks at the convention and I was glad that Orlando 
did as well. Mayor Glenda Hood and Orange County Chairman Mel Martinez 
both took time from their busy schedules to come to the check 
presentation ceremony and express the collective thanks of our 
community. Chairman Martinez said the philanthropic model developed by 
ACB's Housing Partners ``serves as an example of leadership and 
community service for other trade associations and conventions.'' He 
commended them ``for the extraordinary gesture of goodwill and the 
legacy they have left to our community.'' Mayor Hood proclaimed October 
31-November 3, 1999 as America's Community Bankers and Housing Partners 
Day in Orlando ``in recognition of their philanthropic excellence.''
  The Orlando Sentinel ran the following editorial.

Bankers Give Back to Local Children--They Raised $170,000 for Edgewood 
                Children's Ranch During Their Convention

       People who live near the Edgewood Children's Ranch can 
     drive past it for years without ever knowing it's there. 
     Tucked next to a lake and down the hill from a quiet street 
     off Old Winter Garden Road, the sprawling campus affords a 
     splendid view that few see.
       Last week, a Washington, D.C.-based banker's group got the 
     chance to set eyes on the ranch. And its members liked what 
     they saw so much, they raised $170,000 for the 30-year old 
     home for troubled kids, a record for the trade group.
       America's Community Bankers picks a city for its convention 
     each year, and every year, its organization of spouses and 
     housing partners hold fund-raisers during the convention. In 
     1994, the group raised $50,000 for House of Hope, an Orlando-
     based teen program. Last year, it gave $150,000 to a battered 
     women's shelter in Chicago.
       From a popular craft sale to a big, convention-capping 
     concert--this year's featured Frankie Avalon--the fund 
     raising gives spouses a chance to do more than just tag along 
     for golf outings or fancy dinners, said Joan Pinkerton, a 
     spokeswoman for America's Community Bankers.
       ``People will say to me, `That's the reason I come to the 
     convention,' '' Pinkerton said, ``It's a neat way to tie into 
     the community.'' For the children's ranch, which ekes out an 
     existence on a $1.2 million annual budget and a lot of 
     prayers, the gift is the largest ever that will go to its 
     general fund. We were blown away by the amount,'' said Gaby 
     Acks, children's development director for the ranch. Faith is 
     a huge component at the ranch, which accepts struggling 
     children and teens for a year or two. While the residents are 
     not ordered by the courts to be there, many have chosen the 
     ranch as an alternative to juvenile detention or other 
     probationary conditions.
       The rules are strict--hospital corners on the beds, neatly 
     folded clothes and taking only what you can eat at meals--but 
     the kids who live there find they don't mind after a few 
     weeks.
       Richard Amado, 16, found himself at the ranch after some 
     minor scrapes with the law. Although he says he initially 
     chafed at the carefully regimented days there, he has made up 
     two grade levels in his schoolwork and has become a quiet, 
     well-mannered young man.
       During their convention, the bankers held a golf tournament 
     in addition to the craft sale and the concert.
       Some of them also toured the ranch, meeting the kids and 
     seeing where their money will go. They were so impressed, 
     they may donate some of next year's fund-raising haul to the 
     ranch, Pinkerton said.
       Acks, who said each day can bring small miracles for the 
     often-strapped ranch, wasn't surprised at their reaction. 
     Anyone who visits, she said, can't help but be touched.
       ``It's really just an amazing place,'' she said.

  I commend America's Community Bankers for leaving its most recent 
hand-print in Orlando at the Edgewood Children's Ranch, and encourage 
other groups to follow this unique example of community involvement.

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