[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2593]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        A TRIBUTE TO JOHN KELLY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Saturday, December 17, 2005

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to John Kelly, a 
constituent of mine from Burlingame, California, who has been working 
to make our community a better place since the 1970's. Mr. Kelly has 
recently been awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award for his work as the 
former executive director of Samaritan House and as a volunteer at San 
Quentin State Prison.
  Mr. Kelly has lived and worked around the Bay Area for most of his 
life. He began his community involvement as a Catholic priest, but left 
to become a teacher at Serra and Menlo Atherton high schools for 18 
years. In 1985, he was hired by the county of San Mateo to merge 
Samaritan House, then a referral service in San Mateo for low income 
residents, with a nonprofit meal program.
  Mr. Speaker, under John's stewardship, Samaritan House expanded to 
serve throughout San Mateo County, with a 90-bed shelter, a medical 
clinic, and provides food, clothing and counseling. Mainly through 
donations, Samaritan House provides assistance to approximately 12,000 
residents.
  In 1991, Mr. Kelly began a program for inmates at San Quentin State 
Prison called Kairos, a three-day workshop with spiritual talks, 
singing and discussions. He visits the prison weekly, attending mass 
and leading spiritual discussions with the hope of trying to change 
even the hardest of criminals. He has done just that with many 
prisoners, some who have gotten out of prison have gone to school in an 
effort to make John proud.
  Mr. Speaker, John Kelly is one of those unique people who work 
tirelessly to make their community's better. I wish there were more 
John Kelly's in the world, and I am just so pleased that he is one of 
my neighbors. I once again ask my colleagues to join me in paying 
tribute to this extraordinary individual.

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