[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 52 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E490-E491]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  RECOGNIZING GENEVA A. BLACK OF PHILADELPHIA ON THE OCCASION OF HER 
                               RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CHAKA FATTAH

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2012

  Mr. FATTAH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the tenacious spirit, 
remarkable expertise and admirable accomplishments of Geneva A. Black 
in providing high-quality and compassionate in-home, community and 
center-based services for elderly and vulnerable residents in West 
Philadelphia.
  As Ms. Black begins a richly deserved retirement as Executive 
Director of Haddington Multi-Services for Older Adults, Inc., where she 
has served our senior citizens for 41 years, it is time to reflect upon 
and thank this outstanding leader. In 1970 Ms. Black joined the 
Haddington Leadership Organization as its housing coordinator and two 
years later became Executive Director. At the time, Haddington had 
three employees. Now the renamed and expanded Haddington Multi-Services 
for Older Adults, Inc. has a fulltime staff of 25 and a million-dollar-
plus budget.
  Along the way, under Ms. Black's leadership, the Haddington 
organization purchased the vacant firehouse at 5500 Haverford Avenue 
and converted the building to a showplace center for senior activities, 
serving over 30,000 West Philadelphia seniors since 1975. It is only 
fitting that Philadelphia City Council recently named the stretch of 
Haverford Avenue adjoining the firehouse as ``Geneva Black Way.'' This 
is where Geneva Black's way on behalf of older Philadelphians has been 
making a difference for decades--and that service will be her legacy 
into retirement.
  Having her ``Way'' is only one of the many tributes flowing toward 
this remarkable leader. The Board of Directors of Haddington Multi-
Services, in recognition of her valued contributions, will honor Geneva 
A. Black with a celebration on Friday April 27, 2012, at First District 
Plaza in West Philadelphia.
  I invite my colleagues in the House of Representatives to join me in 
saluting and congratulating a great Philadelphian, Geneva A. Black, and 
to wish her good health and long life upon her retirement as Executive 
Director of Haddington Multi-Services for Older Adults Inc.

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