[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E573]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      RECOGNIZING THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM

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                            HON. JIM GERLACH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 21, 2004

  Mr. GERLACH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the constituents 
in my district who, through years of service, have made the Foster 
Grandparents Program a tremendous success in Montgomery County, 
Pennsylvania.
   The Foster Grandparent Program is a pairing of low income elderly 
over the age of 60 with special needs children. There are currently 
over 140 men and women who volunteer 20 hours per week, 52 weeks per 
year, giving love, guidance, tutelage, and the wisdom of their years of 
experience to children from infants to eighteen years of age at 
numerous locations throughout Montgomery County.
   The Foster Grandparent Program brings countless benefits to the 
senior citizens and to the children with whom they interact. This 
program allows the volunteers to remain active and involved in their 
communities, as they are needed and valued by everyone with whom they 
interact. The children the senior citizens work with are 
developmentally delayed, physically handicapped, homeless, abused, 
neglected, teen parents, delinquent, learning disabled, or born to 
mothers addicted to drugs. Through this pairing, the children increase 
their academic skills, enhance their self-esteem and learn to cope with 
their disabilities and special problems. Thus, through the program, 
they gain the knowledge that they are special and cared for as we all 
attempt to make the world a safer, less violent place to live.
   The Foster Grandparent Program is a very successful and worthwhile 
program that puts the time and talents of Montgomery County, 
Pennsylvania's senior citizens to work benefiting special needs 
children. The program is 32 years old and, for 28 years, it has been 
sponsored by Montgomery County Family Services. Nationally, the Foster 
Grandparent Program is 39 years old with 350 Foster Grandparent 
Programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 
the Virgin Islands.
   Many of the people that have volunteered their time for the Foster 
Grandparent Program in my district have done so for several years. Mary 
Refino has participated in the program for 24 years; Elizabeth Baccke 
for 16 years; Dot Scandone for 15 years; Ann Dippolito for 11 years; 
Dolores Fogel, Rosa Lee Randall, Juanita Gray and Eldora Smith for 10 
years; and Mary Banks, Betty Glover, Louise Watson and Ann Maire 
Williams for 5 years. It is the continuing dedication and commitment by 
these individuals that allows the Foster Grandparent Program to be such 
a success and help so many people.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues join me today in recognizing the 
Foster Grandparent Program and all of their volunteers in Montgomery 
County, Pennsylvania and across our nation.

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