[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 98 (Monday, June 23, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1046]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN RECOGNITION OF SHERYL YOUNG

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 23, 2014

  Ms. SPEIER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize an extraordinary leader 
in San Mateo County. Sheryl Young, Chief Executive Officer of Community 
Gatepath, is retiring after 26 year of remarkable service to the 
special needs community. Sheryl is a leading ambassador for individuals 
with special needs in San Mateo, San Francisco and Santa Clara counties 
and one of the most thoughtful, generous and creative women I know. I 
feel extremely fortunate to count her as one of my closest friends and 
a member of the yoga girls. Sheryl first joined the organization as a 
volunteer, then known as Poplar Center, and quickly discovered she 
found her life's calling.
  In 1988, the nonprofit provided direct services to 370 individuals, 
had a modest budget of $1 million and a workforce of only 20 
professionals. Since then, Sheryl has overseen remarkable growth at the 
agency as it now serves more than 9,000 individuals, has a budget of 
$12.4 million and employs 175 directors, managers and professionals.
  For more than 95 years, Community Gatepath has provided programs, 
support services, education, and information for the special needs 
community. Sheryl and her staff are dedicated to making their motto 
more than just words. These good people have their hearts committed to 
``Turning Disabilities into Possibilities.'' Sheryl's significant 
accomplishments include the launch and completion of a $5 million 
capital campaign; the development of Learning Links Preschool--San 
Mateo County's first inclusive preschool; and the creation and launch 
of AbilityPath.org--a first-of-its-kind online resource and social 
network for parents, families, and providers that was voted best online 
special needs community by users of About.com in 2012. Sheryl was the 
only invited guest focused on children with special needs at the 
Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention event in 2012 that was 
sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education. Sheryl was also selected 
to participate in Harvard Business School's Strategic Perspectives in 
Nonprofit Management program.
  As proof of Sheryl's standing in our community, ``The Sheryl Young 
Community Impact Award'' has been established to pay tribute to 
persons, businesses and organizations that make an impact in their 
community by helping people with disabilities.
  Sheryl is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of 
Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders. She also earned a 
Masters of Public Health from the University of California at Berkeley, 
a Master's Degree in Special Education from Ball State University and a 
Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Purdue University.
  I first met Sheryl when she worked for the County of San Mateo. A 
friend of mine gave birth to a child with Down syndrome and was told by 
her doctors that she would be unable to raise the girl and was urged to 
turn her over to a residential treatment center. Sheryl advocated on 
behalf of the infant and found a suitable program at Poplar Center to 
assist the family. Sheryl was so impressed with the program at Poplar 
Center that she stayed involved. Shortly thereafter, Sheryl's heart and 
head convinced her to leave county government and accept an offer to 
lead Poplar Center.
  Little did I know that this first encounter with Sheryl would lead to 
a lifetime friendship. I find inspiration in her leadership style and 
her entrepreneurial spirit within the non-profit community. In her 
retirement, Sheryl is primed to continue her world travels, read and 
hike more and is delightfully planning her daughter's wedding, with 
dreams of becoming a grandma. Her co-workers will miss her energy, 
warmth and ability to think outside the box. They will miss her daily 
example of unconditional love toward her clients and friends.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in thanking Sheryl Young for being a 
public servant extraordinaire. Sheryl has changed lives for the better, 
including my own.

                          ____________________