[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 138 (Thursday, November 13, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1574]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CONGRATULATING KENNETH NASER

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 13, 2014

  Mr. MORAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Kenneth Naser 
upon his retirement as Executive Director of ALIVE! (ALexandrians 
InVolved Ecumenically). ALIVE! is a nonprofit organization of 42 faith 
communities working together for 45 years to help Alexandrians facing 
emergency situations or long-term needs become capable of assuming 
self-reliant roles in the community. Many people talk about getting 
faith communities involved in helping those in need, but, through his 
work with ALIVE!, Ken has lived and led that effort in Alexandria.
  Prior to becoming the first Executive Director of ALIVE! 10 years 
ago, Ken volunteered for ALIVE! for close to 30 years, served as chair 
of two of its programs and as President in 1982-83. During Ken's term 
as Executive Director, ALIVE! increased its reach and its assistance to 
families in need. This growth now allows ALIVE! to help over 14,000 
individuals in need each year with food, financial assistance, early 
childhood education, transitional housing, furniture and house wares.
  ALIVE!'s largest programs--the monthly Last Saturday Food 
Distribution and the Family Emergency Program daily delivery of food--
have grown from assisting approximately 1200 individuals each month in 
2003 to serving over 3000 individuals each month in 2014. Financial 
assistance provided to families who cannot make rent, utility or 
medical payments has grown from $130,000 annually to over $310,000 this 
year. Ken has worked closely with City social workers and other non-
profits in the City to assure that families who need food, financial 
aid, furniture or house wares receive assistance.
  Ken also has helped ALIVE!'s Child Development Center grow and 
improve, both as a volunteer chair of the committee overseeing its 
operation and in the Executive Director role, where he exercises a key, 
day-to-day oversight function. Ken has been instrumental as the Center 
has received national accreditation and also was highly rated by the 
Commonwealth of Virginia. The Center assists working families who pay 
sliding scale fees based on their income level, and fundraising 
efforts, under Ken's direction, make up the difference in cost.
  During Ken's term as Executive Director, ALIVE! House, which is a 
transitional housing program for four women and their children, has 
expanded its program and undergone a major renovation. The women at 
ALIVE! House are provided the support they need to secure a job, 
improve parenting skills, and develop other life skills that will allow 
them to live on their own. Over the past five years alone, Ken has been 
involved in helping 21 families change their lives and live 
independently.
  Ken has been active in other non-profit activities as well. He was 
recognized for his efforts in 2010 when Volunteer Alexandria awarded 
him the Nonprofit Leader of the Year award. Most recently, he has been 
a leader in the effort to bring faith communities, non-profits, local 
businesses and the City together in support of ``A Hunger Free 
Alexandria.'' Lending his skills to this initiative, Ken has worked to 
assure that families and individuals in Alexandria have access to 
affordable, healthy food and that no one in Alexandria goes hungry.
  Mr. Speaker, once again, let me congratulate Ken Naser on his 
outstanding career at ALIVE! and his many contributions toward making 
Alexandria a better place to live for all citizens, but particularly 
those most in need. After close to 40 years as a volunteer and then 
Executive Director at ALIVE!, we wish Ken a long and happy retirement 
and know that, even in retirement, he will continue to find ways to 
help the less fortunate in our community.