[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 177 (Thursday, November 20, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2318]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF SHERYL YOUNG AND COMMUNITY GATEPATH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JACKIE SPEIER-

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 20, 2008

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I would like our chamber to recognize a 
giant in the non-profit community, Sheryl Young, Chief Executive 
Officer of Community Gatepath, which serves San Mateo, San Francisco 
and Santa Clara Counties.
  Sheryl oversees one of the largest and oldest local non-profit 
organizations in our nation. Each year, the organization serves more 
than 8,000 children, adults, seniors and their families, as well as the 
countless professionals who support them. For close to 90 years, 
Community Gatepath, with a budget of $11 million, has provided 
programs, support services, education, and information to those most 
vulnerable in our society. Sheryl's staff of 150 employees are 
dedicated to making their motto more than just words. These good people 
have their hearts committed to Turning Disabilities into Possibilities.
  Sheryl Young has more than two decades of managerial experience and 
her keen business sense has lifted Community Gatepath to new levels. 
She has an almost unnatural ability to build sustainable non-profit 
programs. Sheryl has drawn from the best of non-profit and for-profit 
management styles to craft the unique organizational model that works 
so well for Community Gatepath. Sheryl is a gifted administrator who 
leads by example and is always poised to attempt new programs or 
explore new tools to better service the developmentally disabled 
community. She is an inspiration to her staff, board of directors and 
the community leaders who work with her.
  As proof of Sheryl's standing in our community, ``The Sheryl Young 
Community Impact Award'' has been established to pay tribute to 
persons, businesses and organizations who make an impact in their 
community by helping people with disabilities.
  Sheryl is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of 
Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders. She also earned a 
Masters of Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley, 
a Masters Degree in Special Education from Ball State University and a 
Bachelors Degree in Political Science from Purdue University.
  Madam Speaker, I first met Sheryl while she worked for San Mateo 
County and I was a County Supervisor. A member of my staff had a sister 
who gave birth to a child with Down Syndrome, named Heidi. The new 
mother was grief-stricken because she had been told by doctors that she 
would be unable to raise Heidi by herself and should turn her daughter 
over to a residential treatment center. I reached out to Sheryl and she 
did not disappoint. She called numerous community agencies, eventually 
contacting Poplar Center, which was the predecessor to Community 
Gatepath, and asked if there was any other alternative to giving up the 
child. Not only was the organization able to help Heidi, but they 
nabbed a remarkable volunteer, too. Sheryl was so impressed with the 
program at Poplar Center that she stayed involved. Shortly thereafter, 
Sheryl's heart and her head convinced her to leave county government 
and accept an offer to lead the Poplar Center.
  By the way, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to note that this year, Heidi 
will graduate from high school after having lived with her family since 
she was born.
  Madam Speaker, I have known Sheryl Young in many capacities. She has 
been my constituent, my colleague, my boss and, more significantly, my 
dear friend. Sheryl has been a loving role model to her daughter, Megan 
Viera, who, with Sheryl's support, has graduated from college and is 
ready to begin a life of her own.
  Sheryl is at once kind, fun-loving and intensely driven. When you 
work with Sheryl, you work hard, but you also enjoy every minute of it.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in thanking Sheryl Young for being a 
tenacious, spirited, inspired leader who, no doubt, lifts us all.

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