[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 67 (Thursday, May 6, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E778-E779]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING KARIN WALSER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES P. McGOVERN

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 6, 2010

  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Mr. Lynch, Mr. 
Delahunt, Ms. Tsongas, Mr. Kind, Mr. Markey and Mr. Tierney to pay 
tribute to Karin Walser. Karin is the founder of Horton's Kids, a 
nonprofit that provides comprehensive services to the

[[Page E779]]

children of Washington, DC's Ward 8, improving the quality of their 
daily lives and nuturing their desire and ability to succeed. For over 
20 years, Karin has demonstrated an inspirational commitment to the 
health and happiness of hundreds of children served by Horton's Kids.
  I have known Karin for over 20 years. We both had the honor of 
serving on the staff of the late Congressman Joe Moakley. Karin founded 
Horton's Kids in 1989 while working as Congressman Moakley's press 
secretary. When she stopped at a Capitol Hill gas station late on a 
Sunday night and several children offered to pump her gas for spare 
change, the idea for Horton's Kids began to take shape. Karin initially 
enlisted friends and Congressional co-workers to take a small number of 
the children on field trips in their personal cars over the weekends. 
The program next expanded to tutoring sessions on Tuesday nights to 
encourage academic achievement.
  Today, hundreds of children from Anacostia regularly participate in 
Horton's Kids mentoring and tutoring programs. They also receive dental 
and eye care, enjoy birthday and holiday celebrations, participate in 
community service projects, and attend a six-week summer camp dedicated 
to improving literacy and to preventing the ``summer slide.'' Most 
importantly, these children benefit from the attention, love, and 
dedication of over 500 volunteer mentors who help enrich their lives, 
expand educational opportunities, and offer as much personal attention 
as possible.
  Horton's Kids can help so many kids because of the financial 
generosity of individuals, corporations, civic groups and foundations. 
But their greatest resources are the enthusiastic and dedicated 
volunteers--many of whom work full time on Capitol Hill--and their 
talented, dedicated staff. Monday and Tuesday night tutoring in Rayburn 
House Office Building draws Hill staff and professionals from 
throughout the Washington area. On Wednesdays, a partnership with the 
U.S. Department of Education brings Horton's Kids to their facilities 
for a third night of tutoring with Department staff. And in 2008, 
Horton's Kids added a Wednesday evening academic enrichment program for 
older students, providing additional mentoring from committed 
professionals.
  Karin Walser has earned numerous well-deserved honors and awards in 
recent years, including the WJLA-ABC 7 Working Women Award, the Bryn 
Mawr School Young Alumni Award, and a briefing with former President 
Bush followed by a Presidential mention as a ``social entrepreneur'' in 
a national speech on mentoring. She was chosen as WETA's Hometown Hero 
for April 2005 and was featured on NBC Nightly News' ``Making a 
Difference.'' Karin and the inspirational story behind Horton's Kids 
were also featured in Allison Silberburg's 2009 book, Visionaries in 
Our Midst.
  Karin Walser's continued commitment to the children and families of 
Washington, DC's Ward 8 has transformed hundreds of lives. The children 
of Horton's Kids are overcoming obstacles and succeeding: graduating 
high school, finding internships, and applying to colleges. Their 
growth is a testament to the dedicated efforts of Karin Walser.
  Marquitta Jones became a Horton's Kid as a young girl, attending 
tutoring programs and Sunday field trips. Now enrolled in college, 
Marquitta credits Karin Walser for her success. ``Karin cared about me 
and my education when not many did,'' Marquitta says. ``She's made a 
difference in our neighborhood where the kids need someone to believe 
in them.''
  As Marquitta says, ``one person can make a difference to children, 
and Karin has gone above and beyond.''
  Madam Speaker, Karin Walser is an inspiration to us all. I know that 
all of my colleagues in the House join me in paying tribute to this 
remarkable woman.

                          ____________________