[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 159 (Friday, November 16, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2106]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE NAPA VALLEY VINTNERS ASSOCIATION

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 16, 2001

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition 
of the Napa Valley Vintners Association for its years of dedication to 
the people of Napa Valley.
  Established in 1943, The Napa Valley Vintners Association began as an 
association of 195 wineries dedicated to the art and practice of 
winemaking. For more than 50 years the Association has maintained a 
sense of partnership, priding itself on helping to make Napa Valley the 
premier wine-growing region in the world.
  However, their pride and excellence in winemaking is equaled by the 
dedication they have for the community of Napa Valley. Over the last 20 
years, the Napa Valley Vintners Association has donated more than $20 
million to community ventures to advance projects in health care, 
housing and youth organizations. They have given over $4 million to the 
Queen of the Valley Hospital Foundation alone, and are considered by 
the Foundation to be a key reason why the hospital can provide state-
of-the-art medical care throughout Northern California.
  Because of the generosity of the Vintners Association, Queen of the 
Valley Hospital has been able to build two new nursing towers, purchase 
two linear accelerators, renovate the Emergency Center and Critical 
Care Unit, and acquire state-of-the-art cancer diagnostic equipment. 
They have also donated to the Queen's Care for the Poor Programs. 
Recently, the Hospital was able to acquire a Vascular Laboratory, a 
light speed CT scanner, a new Radiology and Fluoroscopy Room and 
renovate their Maternity Center. Such support has helped to make Queen 
of the Valley Hospital one of the best small hospitals in the United 
States.
  The benefits of the strong partnership between the Napa Valley 
Vintners Association and the Queen of the Valley Hospital are evident. 
Many members of the Association have served on the Hospital's Board of 
Trustees. These members include prominent figures in the wine industry 
such as Brother Timothy Deiner, Robert Mondavi, Michael Mondavi, Louis 
Martini, Carolyn Martini, Jack Cakebread, Jay Courley, Dennis Groth, 
Marc Mondavi, Julie Johnson-Williams, Tom Shelton, Janet Trefethen, Ed 
Farver, Otto Beringer, Walter Klenz, Marilouise Kornell, Bruce Markham 
and Thomas May.
  Mr. Speaker, the wealth of generosity the Napa Valley Vintners 
Association has bestowed upon the Napa community is abundant. At this 
time, when our sense of community is heightened, I ask that we honor 
and recognize the tremendous dedication the Napa Valley Vintners 
Association has shown the citizens of Napa Valley and our country.

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