[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 9 (Tuesday, January 31, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E13]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 HONORING BOB BASON UPON HIS RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LOIS CAPPS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 31, 2006

  Mrs. CAPPS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Bob Bason on 
the occasion of his retirement after 35 years as fundraiser and capital 
campaign consultant to charities and nonprofits throughout the United 
States. He is truly an asset to our local community and his work has 
touched the hearts of people worldwide.
  Mr. Bason has spent his life ministering to those in need in a 
variety of ways. Born in Wisconsin, Bob earned a bachelors and masters 
in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena and was 
ordained in the Methodist Church. In 1967, Mr. Bason left the active 
ministry to become executive director of an organization working with 
the church in South and East Africa.
  In 1969, Bob, his wife Carol, and their two daughters moved to Santa 
Barbara--a move they consider to the best decision of their lives. 
Here, Bob's ministry in the philanthropic community began. He became 
assistant Director of Development at Westmont College in 1969, Director 
of Development at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1972, 
and Director of Development at the Sansum Diabetes Research Institute 
in 1974. Also in 1974, Mr. Bason established Charitable Funding 
Services, Inc., a consulting firm specializing in capital campaigns. In 
the middle of his consulting career, Mr. Bason joined UCSB as assistant 
Chancellor for University Relations from 1980 to 1985 and served as the 
Senior Vice President for Development and Marketing at the Planned 
Parenthood Federation of America in New York City from 1993 to 1995.
  Mr. Bason has conducted more than 130 capital campaigns, raising 
nearly $1 billion, an accomplishment he attributes to the volunteers 
with whom he worked. His clients have included universities, colleges, 
hospitals and medical research institutions, museums, zoos, botanical 
gardens, churches, private schools and countless social service 
agencies. Highlights of his consulting career include one of the first 
national campaigns to end child abuse and a $50 million campaign for 
the first Africa food crisis.
  Bob has volunteered with numerous charities in California and 
throughout the U.S. With a life-long passion for the work of Planned 
Parenthood, he is particularly proud of his years as a Planned 
Parenthood volunteer where he conducted fundraising seminars and 
trainings for more than 100 Planned Parenthood affiliates across the 
country and his 15 years as a board member for the local Planned 
Parenthood and Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
  I commend Mr. Bason's gift of talent, passion, and devotion to 
charitable organizations helping our most needy citizens. His work has 
been instrumental in making dreams come true and miracles happen. I 
feel deeply honored to share this community with Bob Bason and I have 
seen first hand the difference his work has made in the lives of so 
many. I wish him much happiness and much deserved relaxation in 
retirement.

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