[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 87 (Thursday, June 10, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN RECOGNITION OF BUILDON'S COMMITMENT TO EMPOWERING YOUTH TO BECOME 
        LOCAL AND GLOBAL LEADERS IN SERVICE TO THEIR COMMUNITIES

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY C. PETERS

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 2010

  Mr. PETERS. Madam Speaker I rise today to recognize the Detroit Area 
Region chapter of buildOn, on the occasion of its 2010 recognition 
banquet. buildOn is a national organization dedicated to empowering 
youth to serve communities locally and globally. As a Member of 
Congress, it is both my honor and privilege to recognize the Detroit 
Area Region chapter of buildOn for its laudable contributions to my 
district, our state, and communities around the world.
  The Detroit Area buildOn program, formerly known as ``Building with 
Books,'' began in 1992 with the establishment of its first chapter at 
Jackson Lumen Christi High School. This school was chosen for buildOn's 
first program because it is the alma mater of Jim Ziolkowski, the 
founder and now President & CEO of buildOn. The region has grown over 
the years to host 14 programs in high schools across the Detroit metro 
area, including three chapters in my congressional district, 
transforming the lives of over two hundred students a year. The 
students of buildOn make a positive difference in our community and in 
the lives of people around the world.
  This year, buildOn's students in the Detroit Area have committed to 
over twenty thousand hours of community service and raised over $42,000 
to build schools in developing nations. In fact, since the inception of 
the program in the Detroit Area, buildOn students have volunteered over 
one hundred and sixteen thousand hours and raised over $147,000 for 
charitable causes. buildOn students volunteer across the metro area for 
organizations including the Detroit Veterans Center, the Detroit Zoo, 
Gleaners Food Bank, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Baldwin Center, and a 
host of other deserving charities. In addition to local volunteerism, 
the members of buildOn embark on global trips to places such as 
Nicaragua, Mali, India, Haiti, Malawi and Senegal to participate in 
cultural exchanges and live with host families, while they work with 
the local community to build new schools. Since 2001, over one thousand 
students have traveled to developing countries to help build over sixty 
schools. This global perspective and volunteerism exemplifies the 
values of the buildOn program and its mission of, ``Enhancing education 
and empowering youth in the U.S. to make a positive difference in their 
communities while helping people of developing countries increase their 
self-reliance through education.''
  Madam Speaker, in these challenging times, it is the work of 
dedicated volunteers like the students and staff of buildOn that brings 
hope to my local community and communities around the world. I look 
forward to the continued success of the Detroit Area buildOn chapter in 
all of its future endeavors, as well as many more years of inspiring 
support for our community and communities around the world.

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