[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 71 (Friday, June 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E944]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  CONGRATULATING BRENDA BUTLER HAMLETT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN JOSEPH MOAKLEY

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, June 8, 2000

  Mr. MOAKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincere 
congratulations to Brenda Butler Hamlett, who was recently selected as 
a 2000 Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leader. Ms. Hamlett is one 
of only ten individuals from around the country to be recognized with 
this most distinguished award for community health leadership.
  As a community development coordinator for the New England Organ 
Bank, Ms. Hamlett works tirelessly to raise awareness of the need for 
increased organ and tissue donations, especially among minority 
populations. Her programs work to educate minority families about the 
risk factors and lifestyle choices that can lead to the need for a 
transplant. She also works to encourage residents in the community to 
consider organ donation as a contribution they can make to save the 
lives of others.
  Ms. Hamlett comes to her work from a very unique perspective. After 
battling heart disease for a number of years, she was forced to undergo 
a heart transplant in 1993. After her successful procedure, she agreed 
to be featured in the organ bank's advertising campaign on posters and 
public service announcements. In 1995 she joined the organ bank's staff 
full-time, putting her former experience as a community relations 
specialist and teacher to work.
  Ms. Hamlett currently conducts much of her outreach in Boston-area 
schools, using poetry and workbooks that she has developed herself to 
teach young people about organ donation and end of-life issues. She 
also offers programs in community health centers and area churches. She 
often fields calls in the middle of the night from area hospitals to 
counsel families about donating organs and loved ones.
  As a further recognition of her tremendous work, she was also 
recently elected president of the American Society of Minority Health 
Transplant Professionals, whose mission is to promote organ and tissue 
donation among minorities.
  Mr. Speaker, it is truly my honor today to congratulate Brenda Butler 
Hamlett for this well deserved award. As extraordinary people do, Ms. 
Hamlett was able to transform an undoubtedly traumatic experience in 
her life into a tremendous dedication to improve the lives of those 
around her.

                          ____________________