[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 10, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E692]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING RICHARD N. AFT AS HE ANNOUNCES HIS RETIREMENT AS PRESIDENT OF 
           UNITED WAY & COMMUNITY CHEST OF GREATER CINCINNATI

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB PORTMAN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 10, 2000

  Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I honor Richard N. Aft, a valued friend and 
constituent, who has served as president of the Greater Cincinnati 
United Way & Community Chest for 13 years. He announced that he will 
step down as president in December.
  In his capacity as president, Dick leads the United Way staff, 
represents United Way in the Greater Cincinnati area, manages the 
annual fund drive, and involves community leaders in carrying out the 
mission of United Way, which is: ``To increase the capacity of our 
diverse community to prevent and alleviate human suffering.'' Under 
Dick's leadership, our United Way & Community Chest has been making 
progress each year in accomplishing this critical mission. The 
organization has grown to serve approximately 1,500,000 people in a 
seven country, two-state metropolitan area. And the United Way campaign 
now raises over $58 million per year.
  Dick has not only expanded the responsibilities of our United Way and 
increased its annual revenues, he also has taken creative measures to 
address tough issues facing our community. For example, under his 
leadership, United Way formed an innovative and successful partnership 
called ``Every Child Succeeds'' with Children's Hospital Medical Center 
and the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency/Head Start.
  Dick is a graduate of Knox College, and received an M.A. in social 
service administration from the University of Chicago, He is currently 
a Ph.D. candidate in Organizational Leadership and Development at the 
Union Institute in Cincinnati.
  Actively involved with other organizations, Dick currently serves as 
a board member for the Coalition for a Drug-Free Greater Cincinnati; 
the Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati; Xavier 
University Advisors; Leadership Ohio; and Ohio United Way. He is an 
executive committee member for the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative; 
Hamilton County Family and Children First Council; and the Greater 
Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce Public Affairs Council.
  Dick and his wife, Mary Lu, live in Cincinnati. They have three sons, 
David, Rob, and Eric.
  All of us in the Greater Cincinnati area congratulate Dick on his 
extraordinary service to our community. We appreciate his leadership 
and friendship, and wish him well in his final months as United Way 
president and with the new challenges to come.

                          ____________________