[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 92 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7746-S7747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  OPPORTUNITY VILLAGE'S 50TH BIRTHDAY

 Mr. ENSIGN. Mr. President, I wish to honor and celebrate an 
organization that has made an unbelievable impact on my home State of 
Nevada.
  Today marks 50 years since Opportunity Village became part of the Las 
Vegas landscape. In 1954, a group of families joined together to 
support the needs of children with mental retardation. In the 50 years 
that followed, Opportunity Village grew to become the largest private 
provider of vocational training, employment, advocacy, and recreation 
for people with disabilities in Nevada.
  Words cannot adequately describe the difference that Opportunity 
Village makes in the life of a person with severe disabilities. The 
organization gives individuals long-term work experience, marketable 
job skills, independence, and increased self-esteem. Those benefits are 
the very least that they provide.
  However, Opportunity Village's accomplishments have not been made 
single-handedly. In Las Vegas, there are many wonderful partnerships 
between Opportunity Village and community businesses and agencies. 
Among them are America Nevada Corporation, ATC-Vancom, the U.S. Air 
Force, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Department of Energy, 
the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. General Services 
Administration, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, the 
Las Vegas Valley Water District, Bellagio, Harrah's, Station Casinos, 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bank of Nevada, Bechtel, Boyd 
Gaming, the City of Henderson, the Clark County Health Department, 
Desert Automotive Group, GES, the Internal Revenue Service, KNPR, 
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, McCarran International Airport, New York-New 
York Hotel and Casino, Southwest Gas Corp., Wells Fargo, and Wynn 
Resorts. I applaud all of Opportunity Village's partners for their 
vision and their commitment to providing opportunity for so many 
individuals.
  I had the chance to see one of the Opportunity Village partnerships 
in action and it was then that I truly understood the tremendous impact 
they make each and every day. Opportunity Village clients serve more 
than 60,000 meals per month at the Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) dining 
facility and also operate the postal service center at the base. On one 
of my visits to the base, Senator Reid and I joined Opportunity Village 
workers in serving lunch in the mess hall.
  It was incredible to see individuals with disabilities working and 
interacting with our military. Not only were they serving food and 
smiles, but they were contributing to our Nation and the Air Force with 
their work.
  Their accomplishments and contributions are quite remarkable given 
the hurdles they have faced all their lives.
  Eddie was diagnosed a mentally retarded child in the first grade. 
Those who know him say he has a genuine and caring personality, a 
child-like shyness, and the focus of a genius. Eddie began working with 
Opportunity Village in 1986 where his specialty was packaging and 
product assembly. Following his mastery of that program, Eddie moved on 
to janitorial services in the work center. Later, he moved to another 
promotion as a room attendant in a hotel. Finally, he was promoted to 
mess attendant at Nellis AFB where the results of his hard work are 
easily seen in the respect he has earned from his coworkers and 
supervisors.
  Jamie was diagnosed with mild mental retardation when he was a child. 
He refused to let the diagnosis slow him

[[Page S7747]]

down and began working with Opportunity Village in 1998. Jamie started 
in the Work Center where he assembled buckets for $5 an hour. He moved 
on to become a part of the janitorial crew in the work center. Then he 
joined the American Nevada Enclave cleaning parking lots. Today, Jamie 
has proved to be a valuable member of his work team at Nellis AFB where 
he washes dishes, performs janitorial services, and busses tables. 
Jamie will proudly tell you the $8.27 an hour he earns now helps to pay 
his mom's mortgage.
  Paul was diagnosed a moderately mentally challenged adult and has a 
history of seizures. Despite all of the obstacles placed in his way, 
Paul continues to persevere. Beginning his career with Opportunity 
Village in August of 1999, Paul focused on production assembly. Quickly 
mastering the techniques necessary, Paul was promoted to room 
attendant. Then he moved to a position cleaning at the American Nevada 
Enclave parking lot. Now, Paul is also a mess attendant at Nellis AFB. 
Paul proudly calls himself a ``team player.''
  While the accomplishments of Eddie, Jamie, Paul, and all of 
Opportunity Village's clients are inspiring, the benefits to our 
community are not just emotional. Employment generated through 
Opportunity Village contracts helps to reduce dependence on Government 
benefits and increases tax revenues. Individuals with severe 
disabilities are paid wages that reduce their need for other Government 
benefits. Earning wages allows them to become productive members of 
society and to join the ranks of the taxpayers of Nevada. Economic 
studies show that since its inception 50 years ago, Opportunity Village 
has saved Nevada taxpayers almost $1 billion.
  I mentioned earlier that Opportunity Village receives vital support 
from business partners in reaching its goals. The other two essential 
elements to the success of Opportunity Village are its leadership and 
the contributions of the Las Vegas community.
  Year after year, Opportunity Village is named by Las Vegas residents 
as their favorite charity. Las Vegans of all ages look forward to the 
yearly Magical Forest fundraising event as well as many other 
Opportunity Village programs. From world-renowned entertainers to local 
celebrities to area children to Las Vegas businesses, southern Nevadans 
continue to understand the importance of Opportunity Village's mission 
and fully support the 100 percent local organization.
  And at the helm of Opportunity Village is a man whose vision and 
dedication has made it possible to serve more than 600 disabled workers 
every day. Opportunity Village Executive Director Ed Guthrie has proven 
to be a tireless advocate for individuals with disabilities and a true 
friend to the disabled community. I have had the pleasure of working 
with him on many projects, and I know how committed he is to the 
continued success of Opportunity Village.
  Today, we look back on the last half century with heartfelt gratitude 
for those local families who, in 1954, decided that their loved ones 
with disabilities deserved more. They planted the seed that has been 
nurtured and cared for by their extended family of Las Vegans. Today, 
families of disabled individuals proudly see their loved ones--who 50 
years ago would not have had an opportunity--gain self esteem and 
achieve things once not thought possible. With Opportunity Village's 
continued strong leadership, business partners, and community support, 
the next 50 years will bring opportunity and optimism to future 
generations of intellectually disabled individuals.

                          ____________________