[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 16, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E531]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      IN TRIBUTE TO MARY A. GAINES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 16, 2002

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, the Carter G. Woodson Award of Mercy College 
has been given annually since 1986 to notable contributors to African 
American life and history. This year the awardee is Mary A. Gaines, the 
executive director of the Nepperhan Community Center. I am proud to 
consider her a good friend.
  Early in her life Mary knew she wanted to work with young people. She 
came to Yonkers from North Carolina and studied at Mercy College and 
Westchester Community College. Since 1968 she has served in various 
capacities in the Nepperhan Community Center, an organization serving a 
wide range of community needs.
  Indeed Mary has touched the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of 
young people in her time at the Community Center. During that same 
period of time the Nepperhan Community Center grew from a small, 
cramped facility to one occupying a renovated and spacious building. 
The youth programs have become much more solidly funded and the number 
of programs serving the community has grown to include the Adolescent 
Pregnancy Prevention Service Program, the Independent Living Skills/
Careers for Youth, the Youth Communications Network, Act for Youth, the 
Yonkers Success Training Academy, and the Drug Free Program, among many 
others.
  She has also served in other distinguished organizations such as the 
United Way of Yonkers, the Black Women's Political Caucus, the New York 
State Division for Youth Advisory Board, the Yonkers Community 
Development Agency Board, and many others.
  Needless to say she has received many awards for her good works. She 
attends the Mount Carmel Baptist Church, serving on its Missionary 
Society and Education Committee.
  She epitomizes the adage that if you want something done, ask a busy 
person to do it. She has worked for several generations of Yonkers 
youth, helping and guiding them with her knowledge and experience, and 
her love. If Yonkers is a better place, and it is, we can thank Mary 
Gaines, and those who share her dedication and devotion to making the 
lives of its people better. Congratulations Mary, I'm proud to know you 
and Yonkers is fortunate to have you.

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