[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 88 (Monday, June 9, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E926]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        HONORING PATRICIA LANZA

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELIOT L. ENGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 9, 2014

  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, the moral fabric of our neighborhoods and 
communities in the United States are tightly knitted together by the 
actions of individuals who selflessly benefit us without public 
spotlight. In this, Patricia Lanza is an unsung hero.
  Patricia has been a dedicated benefactor to many organizations in 
Westchester that help women, children and families in need. Patricia 
has provided hundreds of thousands of dollars to high school girls who 
dreamed of going to college but didn't have the means. She has been a 
generous, dedicated contributor to scholarship programs, believing that 
an investment in education reaps many great rewards. She is an 
important asset to community groups that work for peace, equality and 
feed the homeless.
  Abroad, Patricia has found many ways to direct her caring and concern 
towards some of the world's most vulnerable communities. Working 
alongside UNICEF and the Ford Foundation, Patricia helped construct and 
staff three centers for children with disabilities in Vietnam. The 
centers focus on birth defects that are directly attributable to the 
residue of Agent Orange left behind from the Vietnam War.
  Patricia has also funded projects in Africa that address local needs. 
In Swaziland, she responded to imminent famine and food shortages by 
building and outfitting a 400 hectare working farm in Malkerns Valley, 
which provided food and jobs for hundreds of area families. She has 
helped women in Zimbabwe who are suffering from AIDS. Recently, she 
funded construction for a school in Southern Sudan in one of the 
toughest to reach areas in that war-torn country.
  These are not the actions of an ordinary individual--it shows the 
extraordinary achievements of a woman whose selfless dedication is 
fueled by the generosity of her spirit. Quite simply, Patricia brings 
hope where ever she goes.
  Our late President John F. Kennedy once noted that, ``we must find 
time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.'' 
We as her neighbors, friends, and colleagues should be honored by her 
presence in our lives. Her legacy in Westchester County and around the 
world will have enduring value in this world.
  I am proud to congratulate Patricia on receiving the Spirit of 
Excellence Award from Hope Community Services. Her devotion to her 
community, both at home in Westchester and abroad, knows few bounds.

                          ____________________