[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 33 (Wednesday, March 22, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      25TH ANNIVERSARY OF GARY EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 22, 2000

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor to congratulate 
the Gary Educational Development Foundation on the occasion of its 25th 
anniversary. Founded in 1975, the Gary Education Development Foundation 
is committed to enhancing learning within the Gary Schools. Various 
external resources are utilized to help ensure that students of every 
level acquire the skills, knowledge, and vision needed for success in 
careers and as citizens.
  Though the Gary Educational Development Foundation is celebrating its 
25th anniversary of service, the seed for this revolutionary initiative 
was planted four decades ago with the idea of a fund to expand 
educational opportunities beyond those provided by tax dollars.
  In December 1950, Gary College was dissolved. After the passage of a 
resolution offered by Dean Fertsch, the College Board of Directors 
donated its remaining fiscal assets to public school officials to be 
used by Gary students. The grant remained dormant until June 1956, when 
Acting Superintendent of Gary Public Schools Clarence Swingley 
assembled a group of high school principals to determine the 
disposition of the Gary College assets. The committee of principals 
divided the $11,153 of assets into a $10,000 scholarship endowment and 
left the remainder in an expendable account to be used for annual 
scholarship awards. The endowment fund was named the William A. Wirt 
Scholarship in memory of the first superintendent of Gary public 
schools.
  The idea of the business community participating in the program 
evolved during the 1969-70 school years, when Frederick C. Ford was a 
member of the Gary School Board. The notion was warmly received by the 
business sector, and a steering committee was formed. It consisted of 
Superintendent Gordon McAndrew; board members Ford, YJean Chambers, Joe 
Torres and Montague Oliver; schools business manager Richard Bass; 
attorney Fred Eichorn and Assistant Superintendent Haron J. Battle. The 
committee established the Gary Educational Development Foundation as a 
not-for-profit corporation. In September 1970, Urban Ventures, Inc.--a 
non-profit corporation in Chicago with which Ford was involved--made 
the first donation of $28,000. The money was earmarked for the 
Foundation, but placed in escrow with the Gary Community Schools until 
the organization was fully established. In January 1977, the Gary 
School Board passed a resolution that recognized the Foundation as an 
operating entity, and pledged to it the support of the board and school 
system.
  The school board then transferred several trust fund assets to the 
Foundation and encouraged gifts, bequests, legacies and other donations 
from varied sources. The trust funds included the assets for the Wirt 
and Urban Ventures scholarships. It also included two other 
``identified'' funds: William Titzel contributions to assist primary 
teachers through workshops, and gifts toward a scholarship in memory of 
Catherine Hughes who served as supervisor of Foreign Languages for Gary 
schools. The foundation grew considerably from the modest nucleus of a 
$28,000 endowment, and exceeded $1.4 million in assets by 1990. The 
money continues to address the educational needs of Gary students--
beyond those provided by tax dollars--and promises to benefit our 
community for generations to come.
  Beyond the distinguished alliance with the education community, the 
Foundation has collaborated with other community organizations and 
programs that share the Foundation's commitment to the learning needs 
of Gary students. This year over sixty students in Gary will receive 
scholarships from the Foundation to help defray college costs.
  The Gary Educational Development Foundation will hold an anniversary 
reception at the Genesis Center in Gary, Indiana on March 24, 2000, and 
a formal banquet will occur at St. Timothy's Church the following day.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my distinguished colleagues to join me in 
commending the Gary Educational Development Foundation on the occasion 
of its 25th anniversary. The hard work and dedication of everyone 
involved with this distinguished organization is truly inspirational.

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