[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 120 (Thursday, September 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1935]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   CONGRATULATING ALBERT TEGLIA ON HIS RECEIPT OF THE JEFFERSON AWARD

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2005

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Albert Teglia 
on his recent receipt of the Jefferson Award and to thank him for his 
many contributions to his community. The Jefferson Award is given to 
individuals for their extraordinary work in their community. Mr. 
Teglia, who is known simply as ``Al'' to his friends, received this 
prestigious recognition for his work with, the Adopt-a-Family program 
and as director of the San Mateo County Children's Fund. I congratulate 
him on receiving this award, and I am proud that he resides in my 
Congressional district.
  Al's work with the Adopt-a-Family program, an organization that he 
founded, arose after he recognized that many of the families receiving 
donations during the holiday had needs that lasted all year. As a 
result, Al suggested that volunteer families sponsor a needy family for 
an entire year by providing food as well as other needs including, 
clothing, school supplies, toys, and other necessary items. Because Al 
believes that directly connecting volunteers and families helps guide 
assistance to where it is needed most, volunteer families personally 
drop off the items of assistance, which creates a personal relationship 
between donor and recipient.
  When Mr. Teglia became the director of San Mateo County's Children's 
Fund in 2000, he brought Adopt-a-Family under its umbrella. Since then, 
Al has developed a dozen programs that provide needy families with 
clothing, computers, school supplies, and furniture. Additionally, 
these programs make available vocational job training, jobs for youth, 
dental and orthodontic care, and education funds. Al is able to run 
this important program because of the generous donations and selfless 
volunteer efforts of many on the Peninsula.
  Mr. Speaker, much insight about this extraordinary person can be 
gleaned by his answer to the question ``Who are your heroes?'' He lists 
five historical figures: Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Harry 
Truman, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Perry Como. Like his own personal 
heroes, Al Teglia has been a hero to many. His program reaches beyond 
just the immediate results because his programs perpetually help the 
needy. Those who have received assistance from Adopt-a-Family and the 
Children's Fund, have commented that they plan to give back to the 
community just as the community gave to them. Not only has Mr. Teglia's 
work fed and clothed many in need, but also it has inspired people to 
give to and uplift those who surround them in their communities. Since 
its beginning in 1997, the Adopt-a-Family program has helped more than 
200 families. In the wake of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Mr. Teglia 
reminds all Americans that they can also be heroes and help the victims 
of Hurricane Katrina as well as the poor in their own backyard. Mr. 
Teglia remarked, ``We need to take care of our home if we are going to 
set an example for the world''.
  Al Teglia has diligently served the Daly City community for over 30 
years as mayor, councilman, and trustee in the Jefferson Union High 
School District. He also helped to get BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) to 
Daly City when he served on the Board of Directors of Samtrans. Mr. 
Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in thanking Al for his 
contributions to the community. His friends and colleagues have praised 
him for his selfless acts of service, and I hope the acknowledgement of 
this award will inspire others to devote more of their time to helping 
those in need.

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