[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 139 (Friday, October 26, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1721]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          MS. DONNA E. PALERMO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. LOU BARLETTA

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 26, 2012

  Mr. BARLETTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Donna E. Palermo, 
president of the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, who received the 
Maternal and Family Health Services Rose Tucker Award. Maternal and 
Family Health Services is a non-profit health and human service 
organization working to improve the health of Pennsylvania women and 
children.
  The Maternal and Family Health Services Rose Tucker Award is named in 
honor of former Luzerne County Commissioner and long-time employee of 
Maternal and Family Health Services, Rose Tucker. Ms. Tucker dedicated 
her life to public service and acted as a health advocate and champion 
for women, children, and families in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The 
award is presented to someone who exemplifies those same qualities.
  Ms. Palermo has had a distinguished career with the Greater Hazleton 
Chamber of Commerce. She began as an executive secretary in 1988 and 
continued to move through the ranks serving as an administrative 
assistant, vice president, and interim president. In May 2001, she 
became the first woman in the chamber's 120-year history to serve as 
president. In June 2013, she will celebrate 25 years with the chamber.
  Ms. Palermo has committed years of service to her community. She 
holds leadership positions on numerous boards including chairman of the 
Greater Hazleton Area Civic Partnership, chairman of the Luzerne County 
Convention and Visitors Bureau, and secretary of the Mountain Council 
of Governments. Ms. Palermo serves the community on additional boards 
such as Greater Hazleton Partners in Education, Hazleton General 
Hospital, Leadership Hazleton, Luzerne County Community College 
Advisory Council, and the YWCA PEARL committee.
  Ms. Palermo has been a successful leader for the community. She led 
efforts to form a health insurance and energy program through a 
partnership of 17 chambers in Northeastern Pennsylvania. She helped to 
initiate a Farmers Market in downtown Hazleton as well as a Women's 
Networking committee in partnership with the Hazleton YWCA and 
Leadership Hazleton. Ms. Palermo was recognized in 2002 as one of the 
top 25 women in business by the NEPA Business Journal.
  Having worked with Ms. Palermo on economic development and community 
service projects in the Hazleton area, I can attest to her integrity 
and strong sense of community pride. Ms. Palermo approaches each task 
with enthusiasm and optimism and keeps a level head even when 
situations become tense. It has been both a pleasure and an honor to 
work alongside Ms. Palermo on numerous projects in the Hazleton area, 
and I look forward to working with her on future endeavors.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend Donna E. Palermo for her years of committed 
service to her community. It is an honor to recognize her service, and 
I congratulate her on receiving the Maternal and Family Health Services 
Rose Tucker Award. I thank Ms. Palermo for all that she does for our 
community in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and I wish her continued 
success in the future.

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