[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 99 (Wednesday, July 6, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 IN REMEMBRANCE OF MRS. DONNA SMALLWOOD

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 6, 2011

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, I rise in remembrance of Mrs. Donna J. 
Smallwood, a beloved wife, mother, and friend. Mrs. Smallwood was an 
active member in the Parma community and a tireless civic activist.
  Born and raised in Parma, Ohio, Donna began working towards her 
legacy, the Donna Smallwood Activity Center and Office on Aging, at an 
early age. In 1964, Donna and the Parma Jaycees Wives recognized the 
underserved senior community in Parma and approached the city to start 
a program. When told that the city did not have funds for such a 
venture, the group took it upon themselves to hold fundraisers for the 
cause. They found a location, Parma Memorial Hall, and ran the center 
as volunteers. As the center grew, seniors began to request increased 
services and programs. Instead of giving up, the Parma Jaycee Wives 
petitioned Mayor John Petruska to apply for state and federal funding, 
and as a result, the Parma Sixty Plus Club was able to expand. 
Furthermore, Mayor Petruska was so impressed by Donna's work in 
convincing City Council to accept these funds, that he hired her as his 
first Senior Director, making her the first female department head in 
the City of Parma.
  Between 1968 and 1987, the senior center flourished under Donna's 
management, as she acquired grants to kick-start programs that continue 
to exist today. During this time that transportation and meal services 
came to fruition, as did the Parma Commission on Aging, the governing 
body and fundraising arm of the Senior Center. Between 1988 and 1996, 
when Donna was not the Director, grants were lost and programs were 
discontinued. When Gerald M. Boldt took over as mayor, he quickly 
brought Donna back to revive the Senior Center, and she continued as 
Director from 1996 through 2003.
  In addition to all of her work with the Senior Center, Donna still 
found time to be involved in many other aspects of the Parma community. 
She was President of Proud of Parma Inc., directed the Miss Parma 
Pageant, served on the Parma Area Chamber of Commerce Board of 
Directors and was on the Ridgewood Family YMCA Board of Directors. She 
also volunteered at Historic Stearns Farm and Homestead and was an 
active member and volunteer at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church.
  In addition to all that she did for her community, Donna managed to 
be a devoted mother to her five children and wife to her husband of 41 
years, Richard, with whom she owned and operated a local business, The 
Treasure Aisle gift shop from 1987 to 1996.
  Mr. Speaker and colleagues, please join me in honoring the life of 
Donna J. Smallwood, she will forever be a part of Parma, Ohio.

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