[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1995]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATING MR. JOHN SAINT ON RECEIPT OF THE MOBILE CIVITAN CLUB'S 
                       MOBILIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. JO BONNER

                               of alabama

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 16, 2004

  Mr. BONNER. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and pleasure that I 
rise to honor Mr. John Saint, President and Chief Executive Officer of 
the Mitchell Corporation in Mobile, Alabama, on the occasion of his 
being honored by the Mobile Civitan Club with its 56th Mobilian of the 
Year Award.
  A native of Sand Mountain, Alabama, and a veteran of the Vietnam War, 
John Saint has been actively involved in the life of the Mobile 
community for many years. The Mitchell Company is one of the leading 
real estate and development companies in the southern United States, 
and its official work in the community is matched by its dedication to 
the families of Mobile and their needs. Under the guidance and 
inspiration of John Saint, the company has become one of the leaders in 
the area of charitable giving in south Alabama.
  Each year, the Mitchell Company sponsors a ``Giving Tree'' 
fundraiser, in which area students contribute hand-made Christmas 
ornaments to decorate a tree in the company's offices. For each 
ornament received, the company makes a contribution to charity, and the 
success of this program has been tremendous. Under John Saint's 
leadership, the company in 2003 donated over $18,000 to Saint Mary's 
Home, a facility in Mobile that provides temporary shelter and 
residential treatment for abused and neglected children. Additionally, 
Mobile County schools which participated in the ``Giving Tree'' program 
received $20,500 in donations. All told, the ``Giving Tree'' program 
has over the years contributed a total of $70,000 to Saint Mary's Home 
and $113,500 to area public, private, and parochial schools.
  Along with the ``Giving Tree'' program, the Mitchell Company provides 
free meals at Camp Smile, a summer program for adults with 
disabilities, and Camp Rap-A-Hope, a summer program for children 
battling cancer. The company also makes its corporate jet available to 
transport cancer patients to their chemotherapy appointments in states 
outside of Alabama and serves as the corporate sponsor for the Lady's 
Professional Golf Association.
  The Civitan Club received numerous worthy nominations for men and 
women from throughout Mobile who in their own way also make significant 
contributions to their friends and neighbors on a daily basis. I am 
certain it is difficult to make the final selection for the Mobilian of 
the Year Award, but as in the past, this year's winner has shown a 
level of community support and charitable giving in the Mobile area 
which is, in my opinion, unmatched anywhere else in the state. John 
Saint gives as much as he does to his community, and inspires many 
other friends and coworkers to do likewise, simply because he says such 
a spirit of generosity comes naturally to him. There are hundreds of 
families in Mobile, Alabama, whose lives are richer because of his 
natural desire to support his fellow man.
  Along with his many family, friends, and colleagues, both in Mobile 
and throughout the State of Alabama, I wish to extend to Mr. John Saint 
my warmest congratulations on the receipt of the Mobile Civitan Club's 
Mobilian of the Year Award.

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