[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 74 (Friday, May 25, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S5689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO ELIZABETH M. BENNETT

 Mr. DAYTON. Mr. President, today I take the opportunity to pay 
special tribute to a remarkable person, Elizabeth M. Bennett, of 
Wayzata, MN. Beth has led a life of extraordinary service to the 
communities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Most particularly, she has 
invested her energies with the goal of improving the quality of health 
care in the Twin Cities. Her activism was not limited to Minnesota, 
however; early on, she also made her presence felt in Northern 
California, where she lived for a time, and eventually on the national 
stage, as well.
  The extensive list of her volunteer commitments spans six decades, 
beginning with her activism in high school, where she applied her 
special gifts for analysis and problem solving. Happily, these talents 
were also crowned by the ability to lead and inspire, for, in a 
demonstration of her early promise, she started a YWCA leadership group 
at West High School in Minneapolis. For this effort, she was awarded 
the Harry S Truman National Leadership Award in 1947. From there, Beth 
was well on her way.
  As a young person, Beth dreamt of entering the medical profession, an 
ambition which was never realized. Instead, she directed her passion 
for better health care into her volunteer work, serving as a board 
member for a variety of institutions. She volunteered to participate--
early, effectively, and equipped always by mastery of the subject at 
hand--in the public discussion encompassing the community's broad 
health care agendas. Her interests have included the uninsured, and 
health care research for children and seniors, always staying current 
with the rapidly changing profile of health care needs and delivery 
systems in our society.
  In addition to investing her time, heart, and mind, she raised many 
millions of dollars. For her extraordinary fund raising, she has not 
always received sufficient recognition. But I am pleased to say that in 
1988, she was awarded the well-deserved National Association of 
Fundraisers Award. Beyond the tangible, however, Beth touches others 
with that indispensable, inimitable spirit of enthusiasm, encouraging 
them to become involved, too. Many have found exposure to Beth's zeal 
and breadth of knowledge about a cause to be irresistible and have been 
moved to strong support, sometimes for the first time.
  Beth was instrumental in the creation of the new Children's Hospital 
in 1958, planning for community health care facilities and programs, 
consideration of issues in medical education, and the relationship 
between the University and private community entities and served on its 
Board for 35 years.
  She served on the boards of Northwestern Hospital and Abbott Hospital 
in various capacities and was a major force in their merger in 1994, 
serving for over 40 years. She acted as a liaison between Abbott-
Northwestern and Children's (now Allina Health System) during a crucial 
early period, planning for community health care facilities for adults 
as well as children.
  Continuing her lifelong advocacy of quality health care for the 
citizens of the State of Minnesota, Beth has been a member since 1990 
of the board of directors of the University of Minnesota's Children's 
Foundation (which supports pediatric research), recently as its Chair, 
and concurrently chairs the pediatric portion of Campaign Minnesota at 
the University of Minnesota.
  In recognition of these numerous contributions she has made to health 
care, Beth was recently recognized with the University of Minnesota 
Dean of the Medical School Community Service Award.
  While health care is closest to Beth's heart, she is also dedicated 
to higher education, having served on the boards of the University of 
Saint Thomas for the lasts 7 years and the Minneapolis College of Art 
and Design. In addition, she has served as a board member of WAMSO 
(Women's Association of Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra), the United 
Way, and The Bakken Library. Her love of the arts also inspired her to 
serve as a docent of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Long a member 
of the Junior League of Minneapolis, she spent 15 years on its board of 
directors and also chaired its Prevention of Accidental Poisoning in 
Children Project. While residing in California in the 1950's, she 
belonged to the board of directors of the Children's Hospital of the 
East Bay in Oakland and volunteered at the Oakland Well Baby Clinic.
  Those who are fortunate enough to know Beth called her a jewel. To 
legions, she has been a champion, having created a solid legacy of 
support for many institutions and their constituents. While I trust 
that Beth's vocation of service has truly been its own reward, I hope 
that my remarks today might reflect a small measure of the goodness, 
self-giving, and strength she has long brought to us 
Minnesotans.

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