[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 160 (Thursday, November 6, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2253-E2254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  IRVING FRADKIN'S CONTINUED WORK FOR EXPANDED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 6, 2003

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, from time to time I have 
used this medium to share with my colleagues the important work being 
done by the Citizen's Scholarship Foundation of Fall River, 
Massachusetts, the organization created and run--with the help of many, 
many others in increasing numbers--by Dr. Irving Fradkin.
  I do so not simply to give well deserved recognition to the tireless 
efforts of Dr. Fradkin on behalf of young people who might not get to 
benefit from a college education without his work, but more importantly 
to give an example to others of what can be done in this regard. Of 
course it is important that we in the Congress continue to provide 
public funds to help provide the equality of opportunity to higher 
education, which we all want to be a part of the American experience. A 
sufficient level of

[[Page E2254]]

public support is indispensable. But this does not mean that volunteer 
efforts of the sort that Dr. Fradkin encourages are irrelevant or 
insignificant. We need both.
  Mr. Speaker, as an indication of the continued importance of Dr. 
Fradkin's work in helping gather funds to provide higher education to 
people who would otherwise be unable to afford it, I ask that the 
following documents be printed here. They include a Proclamation from 
the North Dakota Dollars for Scholars Governing Board, and several 
letters from young people who have been the beneficiaries of the 
scholarships generated by Dr. Fradkin's work.

                Proclamation To Honor Dr. Irving Fradkin


 issued this fourth day of June, 2003, by the North Dakota Dollars for 
                        Scholars Governing Board

       Whereas, North Dakota citizens value education and are 
     supportive of young people pursuing postsecondary education 
     plans; and
       Whereas, North Dakota Dollars for Scholars has grown to 
     having 69 chapters impacting 129 communities at the close of 
     FY 03; and
       Whereas, North Dakota has Initiated a state level 
     organization, led by a voluntary group of state Governing 
     Board members, to continue its rich history of scholarship 
     support for postsecondary education; and
       Whereas, all chapters in North Dakota to date have raised 
     $9.4 million for local awards and endowment building; and
       Whereas, all chapters in North Dakota to date have awarded 
     scholarships to 8,454 students why also receive a key message 
     of encouragement and pride from their community in addition 
     to the monetary award; and
       Whereas, all programs of Scholarship America helped to 
     bring over $965,000 to North Dakota postsecondary education 
     institutions, and
       Whereas, the Dollars for Scholars program would not have 
     been possible without the determination and vision of one man 
     named Irving Fradkin;
       Now, Therefore, Be It Resolved By The North Dakota Dollars 
     for Scholars Governing Board:
       That our deep gratitude is extended to Irving Fradkin for 
     making Dollars for Scholars possible in North Dakota and 
     around the United States; and
       Be It Further Resolved, that the North Dakota Dollars for 
     Scholars Governing Board presents this resolution and plaque 
     to Dr. Irving Fradkin to honor all he has done and 
     accomplished for youth and education in America.
                                                   Charles Stroup,
     Hazen, ND, NDDFS Governing Board Chair.
                                  ____

                                                    July 26, 2003.

              How the American Dream Challenge Affected Me

       As a child I did not think about my future very much. 
     Therefore, I was not very enthused when our teacher told us 
     that we would be writing an essay to compete for a 
     scholarship. I remember thinking that it was pointless 
     considering I did not even know what a scholarship was until 
     that very moment. I was in the fourth grade and the only 
     thing I cared about was getting through the fifth grade to 
     make it to middle school.
       My attitude changed when I won the award. I was very proud 
     of myself. I had earned the scholarship and now I looked 
     forward to the day I could put it to use. I don't think that 
     the essay process Itself made me feel that way. Winning is 
     what made me realize that college was a possibility. Ever 
     since then, I have tried my best to do well in all my 
     academics.
       It has been eight years and some of my achievements include 
     membership in the National Honors Society and being awarded a 
     thousand dollar scholarship. I was accepted to Stone Hill 
     College and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. The 
     American Dream Challenge is an excellent program that should 
     be supported for the good it brings to our community, The 
     youth is our future and the supporters of this program 
     realize that and how important it is to influence children to 
     strive for success.
     Nelia Lima.
                                  ____

       Dear Dr. Fradkin: I am a winner the American Dream 
     Challenge and a Dollars for Scholars Scholarship. I would 
     like to thank you and your colleagues for helping make my 
     transition to college easier. Winning these scholarships made 
     paying for college easier and I cannot thank you enough. 
     There is so much going on when beginning college and these 
     scholarships relieved some of the stress. Your commitment to 
     the youth is unbelievable. I say this because I have 
     experienced your commitment first hand. The belief you and 
     your colleagues have in today's youth gives us a little more 
     confidence and determination to achieve our goals so one day 
     we can help tomorrow's youth. Once again, I would to thank 
     you for helping me on my path into the future and that what 
     you have done for me and so many others is greatly 
     appreciated and will not be forgotten
           Sincerely,
     Bryan S. De Sa.
                                  ____



                                          C.V. Carroll School,

                                                   Fall River, MA.

                     The American Dream Challenge:

                              A Blueprint

       The American Dream Challenge Program Committee is a 
     dynamic, dedicated group of individuals who are working for a 
     common goal, and unified goals. Their exceptional talents, 
     dedication, and commitment are certainly felt within our 
     educational system in our community.
       What a Herculean task this is! The American Dream Challenge 
     Group volunteers countless hours so that positive attitudes, 
     ethics, and enthusiasm can regenerate in this depressed area 
     and can begin with our youngest elementary students.
       The concept of encouraging our students to do their very 
     best, take charge of their lives, and stay in school is 
     emphasized so magnificently by the Committee. The American 
     Dream Challenge Group awards scholarships to elementary 
     school children who are urged to put forth their best effort 
     and make a difference in their school, their neighborhood and 
     eventually give to their community.
       With the American Dream Challenge we can feel the necessity 
     for our students to strive for decency, and get back to 
     basics of their lives.
       Today we need more programs like the American Dream 
     challenge with interested, concerned citizens volunteering 
     with our youth and building better citizens and adults for 
     tomorrow.
       Thank you Dr. Fradkin and the American Dream Challenge 
     Committee for including me and my students in a worthwhile 
     endeavor.
       Congratulations American Dream Challenge Committee and Dr. 
     Irving Fradkin on s mammoth undertaking and a commendable 
     start. The principal at C.V. Carroll school, Hr. Edward 
     Campion, pledges his support for this program and encourages 
     his staff to participate and pledge for future years.
                                                      Betsy Corey,
     4th Grade Teacher.
                                  ____

                                                November 10, 2002.
     O. Amarelo,
     American Dream Challenge,
     Fall River, MA.
       Dear Mr. Amarelo and the Rest of the American Dream 
     Challenge Chairpersons: As a member of the first recipients 
     of the American Dream Challenge scholarship award, I would 
     just like to give you an update on my status in my first year 
     of college, as you asked for us to keep you updated at the 
     award ceremony earlier this year. I am a student at Boston 
     University and I am currently pursuing a major in psychology, 
     and eventually, a pre-law concentration. I have just more 
     than a month left of my first semester and it has been 
     wonderful. The college courses and professors have given me 
     new challenges to keep me going in pursuit of my education, 
     in pursuit of the American dream of success and prosperity. 
     College life has been amazing with a whole new atmosphere and 
     communal life and with many new experiences that I know will 
     make great memories. I would just like to thank you again for 
     the scholarship that you gave me. It helped me to buy the 
     books and supplies that I needed for college, in addition to 
     serving as a motivation for me to have this great opportunity 
     of attending a place of higher learning. Without your 
     scholarship, I still would have made it because of my 
     determination to achieve my dream, but it would have been 
     harder. Thank you once again and I hope that you continue to 
     make students' college hopes and dreams to come true, as you 
     did mine.
           Sincerely,
     Alexander Paiva.

                          ____________________