[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 83 (Friday, May 30, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E883]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          90TH ANNIVERSARY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA FAMILY SERVICE

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                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 30, 2014

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 90th 
anniversary of Northern Virginia Family Service and to commend the 2014 
Community Champion and Legends of Northern Virginia honorees. Since its 
founding by community volunteers in 1924, NVFS has addressed the 
growing needs of communities throughout our region. NVFS works to 
improve the lives of its clients through a variety of programs in five 
mission initiatives: housing, child and family enrichment, health 
access, emergency assistance, and workforce development. Today, more 
than 36,000 individuals and families receive assistance each year.
   In 2013, NVFS led a coalition of nonprofits that trained volunteers 
to help the public learn about and sign up for health insurance 
coverage through the Affordable Care Act. In just a few months, these 
volunteers held more than 2000 enrollment sessions with clients.
   The Community Champion Award is a recognition given each year to 
someone who has made immeasurable contributions to children and 
families in Northern Virginia. This year, this award will be presented 
to Lauren E. Peterson. Following her family's philosophy of giving back 
to the communities in which it lives and works, Ms. Peterson has 
consistently been involved with major charities in the Washington 
Metropolitan area. She was a Member of the Northern Virginia Family 
Service Board of Directors for 12 years. Her current charitable 
activities include: Vice Chair, Life with Cancer Board; Secretary, 
Washington International Horse Show; Board Member, Teach for America; 
Board member, Charity Works; Board Member, Inova Foundation; Committee 
Member, Inova Cancer Services; and Committee Member, Rainbow 
Therapeutic Riding.
   Sidney O. Dewberry will be honored as a Legend of Northern Virginia 
for decades of leadership in commercial, civic, charitable, and 
academic endeavors in the Washington D.C. region. In 1956, Mr. Dewberry 
founded a planning, engineering, and surveying firm that bears his name 
and is widely known as an industry leader in the greater Washington 
metropolitan area. He is a founding member and former chairman of the 
Engineers & Surveyors Institute, and the George Mason University Urban 
Systems Engineering Institute, now known as the Civil Engineering 
Institute. He is Rector Emeritus of the George Mason University Board 
of Visitors, a past member of the Governor's Commission for the Future 
of Higher Education in Virginia, a member of the Virginia Business-
Higher Education Council and former Trustee of the George Mason 
University Foundation. His leadership activities also include having 
served on the board of The Greater Washington Board of Trade, as 
chairman of the Governor's Regional Economic Development Advisory 
Council for Northern Virginia, as a director of the Air & Space 
Heritage Council, member of the Northern Virginia Transportation 
Alliance, chairman of the Arlington County, Virginia, Planning 
Commission and chairman of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Engineering 
Standards Review Committee. For his service, he has received numerous 
accolades, including the George Mason University Mason Medal and 
``Northern Virginian of the Year'' by New Dominion magazine.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in commending NVFS for 
90 years of service to our region's most vulnerable families and 
congratulating this year's deserving honorees. I also thank the staff, 
volunteers, sponsors, and community partners for their dedication and 
ongoing support of NVFS.

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