[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 155 (Thursday, October 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   25TH ANNIVERSARY OF NATIONS ASSOCIATION CHARITIES OF FORT MEYERS, 
                                FLORIDA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PORTER J. GOSS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 29, 2003

  Mr. GOSS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 25th Anniversary 
of the Nations Association Charities of Fort Myers, Florida. This grass 
roots organization has been successfully meeting the needs of the poor 
and destitute in Southwest Florida, and for that we are grateful.
  I have personally supported and followed the development of the 
Nations Association since its founding in 1978 by the Reverend Doctor 
Israel Suarez, his wife Ruth, and a small group of dedicated citizens. 
Israel and Ruth have unselfishly committed their lives to this labor of 
love, reaching out to the less fortunate in our area. They have touched 
hundreds of people with their kindness and caring, and they have 
inspired countless others to become involved in ministering to the 
poor.
  The Nations Association provides emergency food, hundreds of hot 
holiday meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas for the homeless, free 
furniture for families in crisis, job placement services, Survival 
English classes, free immigration law services, and recreational 
activities for disadvantaged youth and many more services too numerous 
to name.
  The Nations Association has touched the lives of over 11 thousand 
individuals with only a small paid staff and 144 volunteers who provide 
over 7000 hours of service annually to the community. In 1990 the 
Association was deservedly named the 276th Point of Light by President 
George H. W. Bush.
  After 25 years, the Nations Association is going strong--its energies 
dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of hundreds of 
families and individuals everyday. I pay tribute today to the 
tremendous work of Israel and Ruth Suarez and the staff and volunteers 
of the Nations Association. Theirs is a shining example of the true 
American spirit of helping others.

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