[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 8, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E724-E725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO HANNAH JORGENSEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LATHAM

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 8, 2012

  Mr. LATHAM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor and congratulate 
Hannah Jorgensen, a 13-year-old, 4 H'er of Adair, Iowa, who has been 
named the state's top middle school youth volunteer for 2012 by the 
Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.
  The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program is our country's 
largest youth recognition program based entirely on volunteer community 
service. Since 1995, 345,000 American youths have participated in this 
program, with only 102 state honorees chosen each year. Hannah's path 
to this prestigious award began with her efforts through Reach Out 
Iowa, a federally funded grant that supports young people who benefit 
their local communities through service. To accomplish this goal, 
Hannah worked with her peers to create and provide pillowcases and care 
packages for the emergency homeless shelter, MICAH House in Council 
Bluffs, Iowa. Hannah felt the MICAH House mission of ``providing a 
safe, secure and nurturing environment for families and single women 
who are experiencing the crisis of homelessness'' was the perfect 
partner to assist in her efforts. Shortly after working with the 
children of MICAH House, Hannah quickly made plans to do much more than 
she originally had planned.
  Through her efforts with MICAH House, Hannah discovered that the 
facility was sorely in need of books for children, most notably 
educational books related to agriculture. Hannah made it her personal 
mission to raise enough money to donate a total of 500 books to be 
split between MICAH House and the inner-city schools she would visit 
while in Washington, D.C. Hannah persuaded the members of the Corn & 
Soybean Association of Adair County to reach into their own pockets, as 
well as recruit the help of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and the 
Iowa Soybean Association to raise a total of nearly $1,000. With this 
support, Hannah doubled her initial goal and sent each location a total 
of 500 new children's books to be read and enjoyed for years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride that I recognize and applaud Miss 
Jorgensen for her sincere dedication to positively impact the lives of 
others in her community and beyond. Hannah's commitment to a cause 
greater than herself is a testament to the high-quality character and 
unwavering work ethic instilled in Iowans both young and old. I know I 
speak for all of my colleagues in the United States Congress in 
congratulating Hannah, thanking her supportive family, and thanking all 
of those involved in this wonderful project for their life-changing 
efforts both at home in Iowa, and in our nation's capital.

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