[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 27 (Tuesday, February 10, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H1089]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     HONORING THE WOMEN OF TOMORROW MENTOR AND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

  (Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Madam Speaker, I would like to commend a wonderful 
organization in my congressional district, the Women of Tomorrow Mentor 
and Scholarship Program. Founded in 1997 by veteran TV journalist, 
Jennifer Valoppi, and Telemundo President Don Browne, the program has 
been a pioneer institution for inspiring at-risk young women to achieve 
their fullest potential through education and job training.
  The participants of the Women of Tomorrow program receive mentoring 
and guidance from highly accomplished professional women in our 
community. These women share their experiences and techniques for 
achieving academic and professional success, and their efforts bear 
fruit, as the high school graduation rate of Women of Tomorrow 
participants is 90 percent, well over the national average.
  Thanks to the Women of Tomorrow organization, under the leadership of 
its executive director, Bianca Erickson, countless at-risk teenagers 
are given the encouragement to dream big for the future. Nearly all of 
the program's high school graduates pursue a college education.
  I am grateful to all the individuals who have dedicated their time to 
this tremendous organization, and I ask that the names of the board of 
directors be inserted in the Congressional Record: Dr. Diane Walder, 
Marisa Toccin, Donna Feldman, Jamie Byington, Judge Judith Kreeger, 
Betty Amos, Katherine Fernandez-Rundle, Don Browne and Jennifer 
Valoppi.

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