[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 13, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E531-E532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  HONORING MONSIGNOR JOHN BRENKLE, HELAINE KATZ, AND MARIANNA DEWITT 
                                SCHMIDT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 13, 2007

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
three residents of St. Helena, CA. who were vital to the foundation and 
success of our Boys and Girls Club of my hometown. These three made 
vast contributions of time and energy to get the

[[Page E532]]

Boys and Girls Club established with a sound financial backing. Their 
efforts, as well as the work of many others, have ensured the success 
of one of the most vital and enduring youth programs in the Napa 
Valley.
  My good friend Monsignor Brenkle is the Pastor of the St. Helena 
Catholic Church, where he has been for 22 years. During this time he 
has taken the lead on many projects in the community, and he is widely 
known throughout the Napa Valley for his activism with farm workers to 
ensure adequate housing conditions. Monsignor Brenkle, working closely 
with Ms. Schmidt, provided space for the program in the St. Helena 
Catholic School's gymnasium during the summer of 1989, from which it 
subsequently expanded into the Elementary School's cafeteria. In 1992 
the program returned to redeveloped facilities at the Catholic School 
with Monsignor Brenkle's blessing, and has continued to expand ever 
since.
  Ms. Mariatma Schmidt worked together with Monsignor Brenkle to 
complete the many tasks necessary to open the Boys and Girls Club of 
St. Helena. She then took on the role of president for 6 years, where 
she oversaw the establishment of permanent facilities and took the lead 
in recruiting fundraisers and volunteers to help the young program 
grow. Her vision left the Boys and Girls Club with a devoted network of 
supporters and financiers, and her efforts both with this program and 
other youth education foundations have had a substantial impact on our 
St. Helena community.
  Ms. Helaine Katz chaired the Fundraising Committee during the club's 
early years, where her creative and exciting events raised countless 
thousands of dollars to provide the club with the early capital it 
needed to develop facilities and programs for young people. Her 
signature event for many years has been the Rotary Club's Winter Ball, 
which brings together St. Helena residents to benefit children's 
programs in our area. Her fundraising savvy and taste for a good party 
makes her an invaluable member of our community, and the money raised 
over the last 16 years has brought a succession of new facilities to 
the club, culminating in the new superb facility they share with the 
St. Helena school district.
  Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize all three of these 
individuals for the incredible contributions they have made to the Boys 
and Girls Club of St. Helena, and to the community at large. They are 
being recognized for their foundational roles in the club, and I join 
all in our community in thanking them for the work they have done on 
behalf of St. Helena's youth.

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