[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING CLEVELAND READS VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR WILMA CHRISTIAN

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                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor and recognition of 
Mrs. Wilma Christian and every volunteer who participated this past 
year in Cleveland Reads, bringing hope and possibility through the gift 
of literacy to countless children and adults--thereby changing their 
lives forever. I also rise in recognition of Cleveland Reads Volunteer 
of the Year Nominees: Andy Everidge; Anne Gannon; Edna Goodwin; 
Stephanie Hiedman; Reid Isaac; Kristen Monchak; and Elaine Thiery.
  Established in 1987, Cleveland Reads, a non-profit organization, has 
consistently worked to draw individuals, businesses and agencies into 
their, volunteer literacy projects and campaign. Mrs. Christian, 
seventy-seven years young, consistently reflects a joyous, caring and 
enthusiastic attitude throughout her busy days in service to others.
  Every Monday through Friday for the past three years, Mrs. Christian 
volunteers mornings as an Experience Corps Tutor at Marion-Sterling 
Elementary School, then volunteers her lunch hour to prepare and serve 
meals to disabled residents of the Golden Age Center. Then remarkably, 
she heads back to Marion-Sterling School for three more hours of 
tutoring. All the while, her levels of enthusiasm and energy remain as 
expansive as her love and concern for others.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in honoring every Volunteer of the Year 
Award nominee, especially, Mrs. Wilma Christian, as she is named the 
Volunteer of the Year by Cleveland Reads. Mrs. Christian's patience, 
kindness and concern for our children and our elderly offers them 
strength, hope and a promise of a better tomorrow, where none existed 
before. By giving of her time and talent to the children at Marian-
Sterling Elementary School, Mrs. Christian empowers them daily with the 
priceless tool of literacy, which leads to understanding and offers 
these children the self-confidence to dream and to achieve. By raising 
up the life of a child, Mrs. Christian raises up our entire community.

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