[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 055 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E696-E697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  GIVING THANKS TO THE ``MAKE-A-WISH'' FOUNDATION OF THE MID-ATLANTIC

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 7, 2003

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Make-A-Wish 
Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic, a great member of the community I 
represent, and an organization I am proud to call ``neighbor.'' Today, 
April 7, 2003, the foundation marks its 20th anniversary. The 
foundation is a nonprofit organization that fulfills the wishes of 
children facing life-threatening illnesses to enrich the human 
experience with hope, strength and joy.
  The foundation's mission is pure as it is simple--to give children 
facing illnesses such as cancer, pediatric AIDS and heart disease 
something positive to think about instead of doctors visits, hospitals 
and medicine. The Make-A-Wish Foundation fulfills each of these 
children's greatest wish. Whether the wish is to visit a theme park, 
meet a sports hero or movie star, or army soldier, the foundation works 
to make each child feel special.
  The Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic serves children who 
reside in Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Delaware. 
The foundation, which is headquartered in Kensington, MD--my hometown--
also has offices in Baltimore, LaVale, Maryland, and Wilmington, 
Delaware.
  I'd like to recognize some of my constituents who were there to help 
start the organization 20 years ago: Barbara Manfuso Appleby, Deborah 
Camalier Walker, BJ Bralower, Harry Martens III.
  Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure to report to you that the Make-A-Wish 
Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic has fulfilled the wishes of more than 
3,800 children who reside in Maryland, Washington, DC, Northern 
Virginia, and Delaware including more than 1,500 from Maryland--that's 
75 young Marylanders a year.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to share with you an example of the joy 
Make-A-Wish Foundation brings to young citizens in need. Ryan is a 
young man from Silver Spring, MD, who wished for a companion--the four-
legged kind. The Make-A-Wish Foundation recently fulfilled Ryan's wish 
for a dog.
  Ryan's father reports that the Ryan's new friend, named Chi-Chi, has 
brought pure joy to the young boy's life. ``They play together like 
they have known each other forever,'' he said.
  It is my pleasure to share with the U.S. House of Representatives the 
accomplishments of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Mid-Atlantic.

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