[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 29 (Thursday, March 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E355]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        TRIBUTE TO GAIL TORREANO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SANDER M. LEVIN

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 14, 2002

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to reflect on the contributions 
of SBC Ameritech Michigan and its President Gail Torreano, as they are 
both honored on March 22nd by the Oak Park Business and Education 
Alliance for their outstanding work in the community of Oak Park, 
Michigan. The Oak Park Business and Education Alliance was established 
in 1993, and is a nonprofit organization of educators, businesses and 
government entities that provide assistance to the Oak Park School 
District to improve the individual education experiences of students 
and prepare them for the modern workforce.
  Ms. Torreano's career and other accomplishments demonstrate her 
strong commitment to community activism. A graduate of Central Michigan 
University, she has served as Associate Director of the Michigan 
Special Olympics in Mount Pleasant. Among the many boards she has 
served on are the Detroit Chamber of Commerce, Detroit Chapter for the 
NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund dinner for 2002, Michigan Virtual 
University, and the Economic Club of Detroit.
  SBC Ameritech Michigan has been the recipient of numerous honors and 
awards including the Michigan Deaf Association ``Employer of the Year'' 
in 2001 for their contribution to the professional growth and 
development of its deaf and hard of hearing employees. They also 
received the highest commendation from the NAACP 2001 
Telecommunications Report Card--a program aimed at measuring corporate 
America's commitment to people of color. In addition, the American 
Society on Aging and the National Minority Supplier Development Council 
named SBC ``Corporation of the Year'' in 2000.
  Ms. Torreano's and SBC's commitment and support of the communities 
where they serve is, indeed, commendable.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the 
commitment of SBC Ameritech Michigan and its President, Gail Torreano, 
to the community of Oak Park and the Business and Education Alliance.

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