[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 42 (Tuesday, March 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SALUTING THE EXCHANGE CLUB CASTLE PROGRAM OF FORT PIERCE, FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK FOLEY

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 27, 2001

  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, next month marks an important milestone for 
those who battle child abuse. This will be the date when a key facility 
in my district marks its twenty year anniversary. In my community we 
are blessed to have as our neighbor the Exchange Club CASTLE program in 
Fort Pierce, Florida. In celebration of their 20 years of fighting 
violence against children, I ask my colleagues to join me in saluting 
this achievement.
  The CASTLE program (Child Abuse Training and Life Enrichment) is a 
true American success story. In fat, what was once a small program has 
spawned a legion of 100 similar facilities in 27 states. CASTLE began 
two decades ago with a budget of just $40,000 serving just 25 families 
and has grown exponentially. Today it provides crucial services to more 
than 10,000 families in and around my Congressional District.
  Mr. Speaker, child abuse is a silent scourge that strikes families 
from all walks of life and in every community rich, poor, small and 
large. Without the services of agencies like the Exchange Club's CASTLE 
program, our nation would bear the burden of thousands more cases of 
child abuse and suffer the effects of families torn apart.
  What makes CASTLE so successful is their broad approach to the 
problem, working not just with parents, but with community officials, 
educators and children themselves in many cases working to stop 
violence before it occurs. CASTLE has developed dozens of community-
wide programs to target at-risk youngsters and ensure that those most 
in need get the care, comfort and protection our society owes to them. 
Their message has resonated loudly throughout Florida and across the 
country: violence has no place in our homes and families.
  Mr. Speaker, April marks the start of national child abuse prevention 
month. I am proud to salute the Exchange Club's CASTLE program on this 
important occasion and look forward to their continued success in our 
community and throughout the state. They have indeed made our nation a 
better place to live.

                          ____________________