[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 77 (Tuesday, May 19, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE OAR OF FAIRFAX COUNTY'S 2009 VOLUNTEER AND COMMUNITY 
                            PARTNER AWARDEES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 19, 2009

  Mr. CONNOLLY of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute 
to Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources (OAR) of Fairfax County 
and its 2009 Volunteer and Community Partner Awardees.
  OAR of Fairfax County is a community-based non-profit with 38 years 
of experience providing a continuum of pre-release and post-
incarceration services for offenders and their families in Fairfax 
County. OAR's mission is to rebuild lives and break the cycle of crime 
with opportunities, alternatives and resources for offenders to create 
a safer community. To accomplish this, OAR's professional staff and its 
trained volunteers develop, promote, and operate cost-effective 
programs to restore criminal offenders to productive roles in the 
community. OAR also offers options to prosecution and/or incarceration 
and provides support services to families. In offering assistance to 
offenders, OAR promotes the principles of restorative justice, which 
holds offenders accountable for their crimes and requires that they 
provide restitution for the harm caused to the entire community.
  The effectiveness of OAR is evident. In 2006, OAR provided services 
to more than 3,000 clients. In addition, OAR of Fairfax has been 
recognized by the Catalogue for Philanthropy as one of the best small 
charities in Greater Washington.
  OAR would not be able to achieve these stellar results without the 
selfless dedication of its volunteers. It is my honor to enter into the 
Congressional Record, the names of the OAR 2009 Volunteer and Community 
Partner Awardees:
  Volunteers of the Year: Linda Grill of Clifton and Dana McMillen-Paz 
of Fairfax
  William H. Sandweg Award for Advocacy and Financial Support: The Apex 
Foundation of Herndon
  The Nancy Cornelius Memorial Award for Leadership and Support in the 
Criminal Justice Community: Col. David M. Rohrer, Chief, Fairfax County 
Police Department
  Marjorie Ginsburg Award for Service to Families: St. Mary of Sorrows 
Catholic Church, Fairfax, Carol Mayfield, Social Ministry Director
  Corporate Partner Award: Casual Male Big & Tall Outlet Store, 
Woodbridge
  Executive Director's Award: Lonny Ford of Gainesville
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in expressing gratitude 
for the efforts of these volunteers and their colleagues at OAR of 
Fairfax County. The selfless commitment of these individuals provides 
enumerable benefits to Northern Virginia and life-changing services to 
the clients and families being served.