[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 49 (Friday, April 12, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E436-E437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       COLLABORATIVE FOR CHILDREN

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 12, 2013

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, four-year-old Jaylen in Houston, Texas 
wants to be a teacher when he grows up. It isn't every day that you 
meet a youngster with aspirations as big as Jaylen's. It takes a 
special role model, advocate, and teacher to spark the dreams in kids 
as young as him. The best news for these kids is that the world is 
their oyster; they have a world of opportunities awaiting them. 
Teaching our kids about the opportunities that are available is exactly 
what Collaborative for Children works to do each day. In Houston, 
Collaborative for Children is an admirable organization that promotes 
and builds strong educational foundations in the lives of kids for a 
brighter future.
   For over 25 years, Collaborative for Children has partnered with 
families, teachers, care providers, and community-based groups to 
provide Houston area youth with the best possible educational 
foundation. Collaborative for Children's commitment to education for 
kids, ages zero through six, ranges from helping parents find good 
child care, providing parental guidance, and providing parents and 
teachers with necessary educational resources, all the way to 
strengthening early childhood education systems through policy changes. 
Every day, the non-profit organization does everything it can for the 
role models in the lives of the kids so that they can continue leading 
them toward their dreams.
   The impressive Collaborative for Children services are possible 
because of its strong team. The organization is run by a board of 
directors made up of diverse citizens from all different fields in the 
community. Dedicated volunteers help guide the organization and

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shape our children's lives every day, with the support of generous 
local businesses that help fund it. It takes quite a band of leaders to 
run an organization that goes ``above and beyond'' for our kids on a 
daily basis.
   Today, I would like to recognize Collaborative for Children for 
their dedication to improving the quality of education in the lives of 
our children, America's future. For some kids, you have given them a 
chance that they may not have had without your help. Thank you for your 
valuable contributions to our community, our state and our nation. 
Coming from a family with several teachers--and having taught school 
myself long ago--I understand what an impact a good education and role 
model can have on a child. It truly makes a world of a difference. 
Thank you for being that difference.
   And that's just the way it is.

                          ____________________