[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 138 (Tuesday, December 7, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        IN HONOR OF NICK STARITA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ROBERT MENENDEZ

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 7, 2004

  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nick Starita for his 
exceptional community service and passion for helping others. Mr. 
Starita was honored at the Bayonne Community Mental Health Center's 
cocktail reception on October 27, 2004, in Bayonne, New Jersey.
  Mr. Starita has devoted more than 30 years of service to the United 
Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Association of Hudson County. During his extensive 
time at UCP, he has helped the organization expand and diversify its 
services. His contributions include helping UCP establish a second 
facility, securing greater accessibility to therapy services, and 
developing new programs to better serve Hudson County residents. The 
organization also offers an Adult Special Needs Program to help those 
who are developmentally disabled and require special medical 
assistance, and a day care program that works with both able-bodied and 
disabled children. The time and passion Mr. Starita has dedicated to 
UCP throughout the years has transformed the organization into an 
extensive network that includes three facilities and services ranging 
from advocacy to accessible transportation. Mr. Starita has 
demonstrated his strong leadership skills as UCP's executive director 
for the past 16 years and previously, as a member of the Board of 
Directors for 13 years.
  Always striving to help others, Mr. Starita has volunteered at the A. 
Harry Moore School and served on the boards of numerous community and 
civic organizations, including the State Interagency Coordinating 
Council, the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities, 
the Center for Enabling Technology, and the Boy Scouts Council, to name 
a few.
  Mr. Starita has received awards from numerous organizations for his 
work, including the United Way of Hudson County, the PTA, the New 
Jersey State Parent Advisory Council for the Handicapped, and the Latin 
American Kiwanis Club of West New York.
  Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Nick Starita for 
his outstanding service and tireless efforts to help the United 
Cerebral Palsy Association successfully achieve its mission to serve 
the people of Hudson County.

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