[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 59 (Wednesday, May 4, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE IN HONOR OF JOHN KELLY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ANNA G. ESHOO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 4, 2011

  Ms. ESHOO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the extraordinary 
contributions of John Kelly, an outstanding humanitarian and former 
Executive Director of Samaritan House in San Mateo, California. 
Samaritan House is honoring John Kelly at its May 7th Gala for a 
lifetime dedicated to helping the least among us.
  John Kelly grew up in the community he watches over. A San Francisco 
native, he earned a Master's Degree in Theology from the University of 
Notre Dame and a Master's Degree in Psychology from Berkeley's Graduate 
Theological Union. He spent 25 years as a Catholic priest and nearly 
two decades teaching at Serra and Menlo Atherton High Schools.
  In 1985, Samaritan House hired John Kelly to unite a San Mateo City 
Information and Referral Agency for low-income residents, with a free 
meal program. Under John Kelly's fifteen years of unparalleled 
leadership, Samaritan House expanded to include many new programs and 
help many more people in need, including a 90-bed shelter, free medical 
clinic, food pantry, clothes closet, and holiday assistance. They offer 
classes in learning English, household budgeting, nutrition, and 
parenting skills. Today, more than 3,000 volunteers help Samaritan 
House provide more than 12,000 San Mateo County residents with free 
food, clothing, and counseling. Primarily relying on private donations, 
Samaritan House proudly models its services on the idea of ``Neighbor 
Helping Neighbor.''
  John Kelly is one of the best neighbors in the Bay Area. His public 
spiritedness truly encompasses the entire community. Since 1991, John 
Kelly has volunteered several days a week at San Quentin State Prison, 
where he teaches self-help courses, and offers spiritual guidance and 
discussion. ``I relish seeing so many men turn their lives around,'' he 
always says. John Kelly also serves on the boards of several civic 
organizations, and I'm proud to sit alongside him as a member of the 
advisory board of the Service League of San Mateo County. In 
recognition of his outstanding commitment to his community, John Kelly 
received the Bay Area's 2005 Jefferson Award for Public Service.
  The term ``Good Samaritan'' is used so often that we occasionally 
forget what was so extraordinary about the story, where one man 
recognized a kinship, a common humanity, and stopped to help a person 
in need. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest passes by the 
hapless victim. For John Kelly, the seminary strengthened his desire to 
help. It is his calling, and he has immeasurably transformed the lives 
of so many.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the life's 
work of John Kelly and the Samaritan House. He has said, ``The most 
important thing you can do is help another human being.'' In this 
sense, John's entire life has been filled with doing important things. 
He has spent his life recognizing and resolving the problems of 
poverty, and I'm honored to recognize him in turn in Congress.

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