[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 60 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING DOTTIE BERGER MacKINNON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 5, 2011

  Ms. CASTOR. Mr. Speaker, I rise to herald the achievements of Dottie 
Berger MacKinnon and to acknowledge her valuable contributions to the 
Tampa Bay community. Dottie is a community activist, child advocate, 
and former Hillsborough County Commissioner.
  Dottie Berger MacKinnon is one of the founders of Joshua House, a 
safe haven for abused, abandoned, and neglected children, in Tampa and 
she has passionately supported the children served there since 1992. 
After founding the institution she helped the group establish a $1.2 
million endowment through the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay in 
order to ensure that they can continue the work that she started there 
long into the future. This is one of the truly incredible philanthropic 
establishments in Tampa Bay. Joshua House continues to change the lives 
of the children who pass through its doors today.
  In addition to her service as a founder of Joshua House, she also 
served the community as a Hillsborough County Commissioner from 1994-
1998. Her impressive service as a County Commissioner inspired those 
around her and on May 4, 2011 Dottie will be honored with the Ellsworth 
G. Simmons Good Government Award by the Hillsborough County 
Commissioners in recognition of the significant role that she played in 
improving government through leadership and vision.
  Not finished with her incredible work for children yet, from 2005-
2009 she worked tirelessly to develop, create and co-found A Kid's 
Place, a residential care facility for foster siblings. Before A Kid's 
Place opened in 2009, kids who were taken away from abusive homes were 
often separated from their siblings. Rescued children now stay at 
comfortable houses at A Kid's Place for up to a month while officials 
work to find stable homes for groups of brothers and sisters. Her work 
with A Kid's Place continues to this day, as they just opened up a 
fifth residence hall due to her tireless work and fundraising.
  The achievements of Dottie Berger MacKinnon are truly remarkable, 
heroic even. She has been recognized as a true difference maker in the 
lives of the children of Tampa Bay. Although she now battles cancer, 
she still works unrelentingly in her quest to improve the lives of 
children in the Tampa Bay area. I stand with the rest of the community 
in awe of the work she has done and continues to do for the children of 
Tampa Bay. I am honored to have been invited to the Hillsborough League 
of Women Voters 2011 Annual Award Luncheon where Mrs. Dottie Berger 
MacKinnon will be receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award. I can think 
of no better candidate to receive this honor than Dottie, she is truly 
an inspiration to everyone in the Tampa Bay community.

                          ____________________