[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 25, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1432]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RECOGNIZING MR. DIONICIO MORALES OF THE MEXICAN AMERICAN OPPORTUNITY 
                               FOUNDATION

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. HILDA L. SOLIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 25, 2001

  Ms. SOLIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize one of the most 
inspiring and influential Latino leaders in the United States. Dionicio 
Morales is the founder and former President of the Mexican American 
Opportunity Foundation (MAOF), the largest Latino social-service agency 
in the United States. Mr. Morales has helped improve the lives of 
thousands of people, especially Latino youth and the elderly, by 
providing vital resources such as job training, senior services, 
naturalization services and child care programs in communities 
throughout California. The Mexican American Opportunity Foundation has 
established programs in the San Gabriel Valley, East Los Angeles, San 
Diego, Santa Ana, Oxnard, Salinas, and Bakersfield.
  Mr. Morales' inspiring life is depicted in his autobiography entitled 
``Dionicio Morales: A Life in Two Cultures.'' In the book, Mr. Morales 
is described as a passionate leader who has led by example and knows 
first hand the struggles of the poor in detail. For many decades he has 
tirelessly organized and has fought to protect the rights of these 
individuals.
  In the early 1960's Mr. Morales called the White House to request 
help in establishing programs to help employ and train Mexican 
Americans. Incredibly, Mr. Morales obtained a meeting with Vice 
President Lyndon Johnson, who agreed to help Mr. Morales through the 
President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity.
  Nearly four decades later, due to that fateful call made by Mr. 
Morales, the Mexican American Opportunity Foundation now has a budget 
of over $60 million, making it the largest Latino organization in the 
United States.
  Mr. Morales continues to be actively involved in the Mexican American 
Opportunity Foundation. He is a trailblazer and a true leader. I am 
privileged to recognize Mr. Morales' incredible life and applaud his 
work.

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