[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    PETER GILES HONORED FOR HIS ESTEEMED SERVICE TO THE CORPORATE, 
      NONPROFIT AND HIGH-TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITIES IN SILICON VALLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ZOE LOFGREN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 8, 2005

  Ms. ZOE LOFGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the 
achievements of Peter Giles, the retiring President and CEO of The Tech 
Museum of Innovation headquartered in San Jose, California.
  Among Mr. Giles impressive accomplishments is his strong commitment 
to education and provocative methods that garner greater levels of 
understanding to those who do not have a collegiate engineering degree.
  Under his leadership, The Tech has empowered 1 million educators and 
youth through teacher training institutes, web-based resources, field 
trips and various community partnerships with area schools and youth 
groups. His museum can also boast of the development of a signature 
learning approach called, ``Design in Mind Learning,'' which provides 
professional development to educators and enhances curricula throughout 
the United States.
  Mr. Giles has also committed himself to the sustainability of The 
Tech and the community it serves. The opening of the Tech Museum was 
funded by $113 million, including an unprecedented $32 million of in-
kind contributions from the industry; in addition, his endowment 
fundraising totals $14 million currently.
  The Tech is one of the top tourist attractions for anyone visiting 
Silicon Valley. It has earned this reputation because of the unique mix 
of art, culture, education, and of course, technology. In addition, The 
Tech has subtly, but firmly espoused its core belief that science, 
engineering and technology are fun--and must remain to be fun in order 
for our country to thrive.
  The tremendous success of this jewel is due in great part to Mr. 
Giles' visionary leadership. During Mr. Giles' 18 years of service at 
The Tech, he fostered a spirit of collaboration and innovation that is 
the keystone of what makes Silicon Valley a truly unique locale.
  Peter Giles is an amazing person. The former President of the Silicon 
Valley Manufacturing Group he had other, possibly more financially 
rewarding, career paths than the Tech. But Peter, who is a techie, a 
father and a visionary, has never been interested in his own 
aggrandizement so much as he is interested in the public good. Not only 
did he develop the Tech from a mere idea, he made sure that idea 
included our entire community. Let me give you just one example: To 
protect her privacy I'll just refer to ``Az''. This young woman started 
working for the Tech while in high school. Neither of her parents were 
college or high school grads, but Peter understood that reaching out to 
a community that had not been steeped in education was the Tech's most 
important mission. From Peter's own life, he understands how families 
reinforce each other.
  Now ``Az'' has completed college and is embarked on teaching. 
Understanding the reach of families, her little brother is a math major 
at MIT.
  Although Peter Giles is retiring, his legacy and contributions to 
Silicon Valley will remain in the hearts and minds of The Tech's 
supporters, contributors and patrons for many years to come; and even 
more importantly, in the living rooms of the homes of ordinary 
families, things have changed for the better.

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