[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 37 (Friday, March 11, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E462]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONGRATULATING JOE AND SUZANNE PATERNO ON THEIR RECEIPT OF THE AMERICAN 
                   JEWISH COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP AWARD

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 11, 2011

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, the name ``Paterno'' is legend across the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The successes of Joe Paterno, as football 
coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions since 1966, compiling an 
astonishing 401 victories, 24 bowl game triumphs, five undefeated 
seasons and two national championships, are well known to even the most 
casual sports fans.
  Not so well known, yet equally worthy of acclaim, is the generosity 
of Joe and Suzanne Paterno in their charitable support for educational 
institutions and other causes. This amazing couple, often known simply 
as JoePa/SuePa, has contributed over $4 million, and raised many 
millions more, to departments, colleges, buildings, libraries and other 
causes at Penn State. Sue Paterno is recognized as a philanthropist and 
community leader in her own right. She has served as a champion of Penn 
State's library system while volunteering for Pennsylvania Special 
Olympics, United Way, Centre (County) Volunteers for Medicine, and a 
tutor for student-athletes.
  No wonder the American Jewish Committee has selected Joe and Sue 
Paterno for its prestigious 2011 National Community Leadership Award. 
This nonsectarian honor will be presented to the Paternos at the AJC 
Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey's Award Dinner on March 15, 2011, at 
the Union League of Philadelphia.
  The National Community Leadership Award is an excellent example of 
the service commitment and broad outreach of both the Paternos and the 
bridge-building, human rights promoting organization that created it. 
The American Jewish Committee honors stellar achievement in civic and 
community circles and in the world of philanthropy. Past recipients of 
AJC National Awards include Sidney Kimmel, Jones Apparel; Rupert 
Murdoch, News Corp.; Steven Spielberg, Dreamworks; William Clay Ford, 
Ford Motor Company; Terry Lundgren, Federated Department Stores; Cathie 
Black, New York City Schools Chancellor; Henry Kravis, Kohlberg Kravis 
Roberts; and Steven A. Schwarzman, The Blackstone Group, L.P., among 
many others.
  Earlier in my career, as a state legislator, I served on the Board of 
Pennsylvania State University and got to know Joe Paterno. His fan club 
stretches from the Delaware River to the Ohio line. In Philadelphia, 
some of us may cheer for Temple, Penn or Villanova. Every member of 
this House has his or her favorite college team. But in the fields of 
philanthropy and community service, I urge all my colleagues to join in 
cheering for the JoePa/SuePa team and for their AJC National Leadership 
Award.

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