[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 135 (Friday, December 8, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2179-E2180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING MARILYN W. GROUNDS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RUSH D. HOLT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, December 7, 2006

  Mr. HOLT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Marilyn W. Grounds 
for over 10 years of extraordinary service on the board of the Planned 
Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area.
  Ms. Grounds is best described as a ``professional volunteer.'' Active 
in her children's schools and the community, she was at first focused 
in serving the arts community. It was the great fortune of the Planned 
Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area to have her join their board 
in 1995.
  The Planned Parenthood Association of the Mercer Area provides 
comprehensive reproductive health care which contributes to both

[[Page E2180]]

individual well being and community stability. These services are 
provided in settings which preserve and protect the essential privacy 
and rights of each individual. The organization advocates public 
policies which guarantee these rights and ensure the understanding of 
the individual and societal implications of human sexuality. The 
Planned Parenthood Association encourages research and the advancement 
of technology in reproductive health care and the understanding of 
inherent bioethical, behavioral, and societal implications. In 
addition, the agency employs trained educators who conduct extensive 
community outreach and educational programs, offering comprehensive, 
age-appropriate sex education and health programs to thousands of New 
Jersey residents every year. Everyone is welcome, regardless of race, 
age, income, sexual orientation, or disability. Fees are based on the 
ability to pay and no one is turned away.
  First as board vice president in 1997, then as board chair, Ms. 
Grounds successfully led the PPAMA through several managerial 
transitions. She has had leadership roles on Development, Finance, 
Facilities, Personnel, and Public Affairs Committees. She was an 
incentive for the board to re-evaluate its own role in the 
organization. A modest, exceptionally organized woman, Ms. Grounds 
excels at ``the big picture,'' keeping the board cohesive and 
efficient, while recruiting extraordinary leaders.
  Ms. Grounds is a phenomenal fundraiser. Through both Annual and 
Capital Campaigns, she has made possible the improvement of services 
offered to clients, and during her tenure the number of patients 
treated has significantly increased. This is no small task. The annual 
budget of the PPAMA is about $2.8 million, making possible the service 
of about 15,000 clients per year.
  Ms. Grounds has been an editor, writer, fundraiser extraordinaire, 
and tireless worker for the Planned Parenthood Association of the 
Mercer Area. She leaves a legacy of fund raising skill, governance 
expertise, and strong board leadership that benefits not only the 
organization, but also the individual, community, and State.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the entire 12th district of New Jersey, I 
ask you and my colleagues to join me in thanking Marilyn W. Grounds for 
her service on the board of the Planned Parenthood Association of the 
Mercer Area.

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