[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 24, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S67]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            EVERYBODY WINS!

 Mr. HARKIN. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to 
recognize two individuals for their extraordinary service to the 
Everybody Wins! Program in Iowa.
  As many of my colleagues know, Everybody Wins! is a literacy and 
mentoring program for elementary school students. The program gives 
adults the opportunity to spend one lunch hour a week reading with a 
child in a public school.
  Fourteen years ago, Senator Jim Jeffords recruited me to join him as 
a volunteer for the Everybody Wins! Program in Washington, D.C. Since 
then, I have been an Everybody Wins! volunteer at Brent Elementary 
School in Washington D.C. I have seen the tremendous impact this 
program has both on the adult volunteers and their young student 
partners.
  I was very happy when Everybody Wins! was launched in my home State 
of Iowa in 2002. Two people I want to recognize today joined Everybody 
Wins! as volunteer readers and founding board members in 2003. Both of 
them retired in the last year after contributing to the solid 
foundation on which the Iowa program rests today.
  Mary Ann Nielsen joined the board of Everybody Wins! Iowa in the 
spring of 2003. She continued her service, including as president of 
the board, until May of 2011. Her work on the board included serving on 
three executive director search committees, as well as on the personnel 
and executive committees.
  Amy Elbert also joined the board in the spring of 2003, and continued 
her service until May of 2011. She devoted substantial time and energy 
to fundraising, two executive director search committees, as secretary 
of the board, and as chair of the outreach committee. Amy also has 
enjoyed reading relationships through the program for the past 4 years.
  For their commitment to our youth, to literacy, and their long-time 
contributions to Everybody Wins! Iowa, I extend my sincere thanks to 
Mary Ann and Amy and wish them all the best in their future 
endeavors.

                          ____________________