[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 80 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                HONORING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HELEN MYERS

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                          HON. JERRY McNERNEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 15, 2008

  Mr. McNERNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring Mrs. Helen Myers as the Brentwood Chamber of Commerce's 
Citizen of the Year. Helen is an extraordinary woman whose 
entrepreneurial endeavors, generous spirit, and deep commitment to the 
residents of Brentwood will benefit our community for generations to 
come.
  One of seven children, Helen's father passed away when she was only 
five years old. To support her family during this time of need, she 
began selling produce from her mother's vegetable garden to neighbors. 
This entrepreneurial spirit carried into her adulthood, and she is now 
a successful small business owner of both Irene's Dress Shop and The 
Weathervane.
  The only child in her family to graduate from high school, Helen went 
on to marry Bill Myers. Together they moved to California, and 
eventually settled in Brentwood in 1968 with their two children, Corky 
and Sherry.
  Soon after moving to Brentwood, Helen joined the East Contra Costa 
Chapter of the Soroptimists International Club, of which she has proven 
to be both a valuable member and a tireless volunteer. She has not only 
been instrumental in raising funds for various community projects, she 
has also served on numerous boards and commissions, including the Delta 
Hospital Board, the City's Art Commission, and the Art Society Board.
  Helen's friends and family describe her as someone who is always 
looking out for others. As an example of her kindness, friends often 
tell the story of the time Helen caught a young woman shoplifting in 
one of her stores. After soon learning the woman was homeless and 
living out of her car with her young child, Helen decided against 
calling the police, and instead provided the woman with food and 
clothing and contacted a social service agency to assist her with 
housing. A few weeks later, the young woman returned to Helen, thanked 
her for her compassion, and reimbursed her for the food and the 
clothing.
  A woman who has given so much to her community, Helen has done so 
quietly and without fanfare, making her selection as the Brentwood 
Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year all the more worthy of public 
recognition. From her countless hours as a volunteer, to her success as 
a small business owner, Helen has touched the lives of many and has 
improved the community of Brentwood for years to come.
  It is for these reasons that I ask my colleagues to join me in 
honoring Helen Myers, Brentwood Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the 
Year.




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