[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E568-E569]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   IN RECOGNITION OF MS. EDIE FRASER

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. CAROLYN B. MALONEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 30, 2011

  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to Edie Fraser, a 
remarkable woman who has devoted herself to promoting diversity, 
advancing women's equality, and serving others throughout her career, 
and who I am proud to call my friend.
  A remarkably devoted and effective activist and philanthropist, Edie 
D. Fraser is a successful entrepreneur, an inspirational and visionary 
leader, and a selfless and dedicated philanthropist and mentor to 
countless other women and girls. She has a long and distinguished track 
record as an advocate for diversity in the corporate sector. The 
remarkable effectiveness and astonishing energy that she has 
demonstrated in her advocacy inspired her friend Cynthia de Lorenzi, 
the founder of the ``Success in the City'' program, to give her the 
nickname, ``the Magical Bumblebee.''
  A top official at Diversified Search Odgers Berndtson, Edie Fraser is 
widely respected throughout corporate America. She has a rich history 
in diversity advocacy, having been the founder, President, and Chief 
Executive Officer of the Business Women's Network and the Public 
Affairs Group, Inc., whose divisions include Diversity Best Practices 
and Best Practices in Corporate Communications. More than 135 
corporations participated in the programs created and developed by her 
company. She currently serves on the Boards of Directors of several 
important organizations dedicated to promoting diversity in the 
workforce and to encouraging women's equal participation in every 
sector of business and society. She was recently featured on the cover 
of WOW magazine's ``Mentoring Leaders'' issue, and is being honored in 
Washington this month.
  Edie Fraser has dedicated her life to serving others in countless 
ways. She is the co-author of Do Your Giving While You're Living, a 
work that reached the best-seller list of BusinessWeek magazine and 
which offers inspirational portraits of prominent women leaders like 
Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, the Chair of the Board of Red Cross; Jennie 
Chin Hansen, the President of the American Association of Retired 
Persons, and the renowned singer and recording artist Dionne Warwick. 
Ms. Fraser is also a longtime supporter of Latina Style and of Robert 
Bard, as well as non-profit institutions like Big Brothers and 
organizations serving persons with disabilities. In recognition of her 
service to others, she has won more than 35 major awards for promoting 
diversity, advancing women's equality, and far-sighted philanthropy. 
She has served as Chair of the Public Affairs and Government Relations 
Sections of the Public Relations Society of America, and has been a 
keynote speaker for the International Association of Business 
Communicators. Edie won the highest award possible in the field or 
communications, the Silver Anvil, for a specialized international 
campaign

[[Page E569]]

on U.S. and Japan communications and trade promotion. Throughout her 
long career as a corporate leader and community and civic activist, 
Edie Fraser has been deeply devoted to her family and friends, above 
all to her beloved husband, Joe Oppenheimer.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my distinguished colleagues to join me in 
recognizing the enormous contributions to our civic and political life 
made by Edie D. Fraser, a leader, activist, and philanthropist in the 
finest traditions of our great republic.

                          ____________________