[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 57 (Thursday, April 19, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E599]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING THE ELLIS FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. REID J. RIBBLE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 19, 2012

  Mr. RIBBLE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the great work 
of the Ellis family of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, who worked to benefit 
the Ronald McDonald House of Marshfield, Wisconsin and are the 2012 
Make a Difference Day winners. Make a Difference Day is a celebration 
of the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA Weekend, 
this annual day of service mobilizes more than three million volunteers 
to create change in their community.
  The Ellis family has made a substantial impact on their community by 
collecting aluminum cans for the local Ronald McDonald House. Rick and 
Kela Ellis were heartbroken when they lost 2-year-old daughter Ashley 
to brain cancer in 1989. But within a year they'd found a way to honor 
her memory: by recycling aluminum cans to benefit the Ronald McDonald 
House of Marshfield, Wisconsin, their ``home'' while Ashley was 
hospitalized. Since giving their Cans for Cancer collection a ``huge 
boost'' by tying it to Make A Difference Day in 1998, the Ellises have 
recycled 6,000 pounds of aluminum, raising more than $2,500.
  I want to congratulate the Ellis family for this honor and thank them 
for their service to our community.

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