[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 54 (Wednesday, April 15, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E506-E507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE 2015 VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX HONOREES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 15, 2015

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to recognize Volunteer 
Fairfax and express my sincere appreciation to recipients of the 23rd 
Annual Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards.
   Established more than 40 years ago, Volunteer Fairfax matches the 
skills and interests of thousands of volunteers with the needs of local 
non-profit organizations. The success of this model and its impact on 
delivery of needed services is beyond question; Volunteer Fairfax has 
been rated as one of the most effective community service organizations 
in the nation.

[[Page E507]]

   In 2013 alone, more than 26,000 individuals volunteered directly 
through Volunteer Fairfax; an additional 2,700 employees from 12 
corporations supported 29 local agencies. More than 1,000 non-profit 
and charitable organizations were served by Volunteer Fairfax, and the 
value of volunteer services provided exceeded $1.3 million.
   Each year from this group of extraordinary ``Doers Who Do,'' 
Volunteer Fairfax selects a few exceptional individuals, groups, or 
organizations to be honored. It is my great pleasure to submit the 
following names of the 2015 Fairfax County Volunteer Service Awards 
honorees:
   Community Champions:
   Braddock District: Joanne Elder
   Dranesville District: Steven Bloom
   Hunter Mill District: Sahana Arkalgud
   Lee District: Dixie Wright
   Mason District: Winnie Lebo
   Mount Vernon District: Shirley Short
   Providence District: Ken Quincy
   Springfield District: Stephen Beck
   Sully District: Reverend Doctor Eugene Johnson
   At-Large: Philip Church
   Adult Volunteer 250 Hours & Over: Michelle Bond
   Adult Volunteer 250 Hours & Under: Mike Harrison
   Adult Volunteer Group: Library Friends Groups of Fairfax County 
Public Library
   Corporate Volunteer Program: CACI Cares
   Fairfax County Volunteer: David Kline
   Fairfax County Volunteer Program: Fairfax County Animal Shelter
   Family Volunteer: Colonel Edward and Mrs. Kimberly Bellem
   Lifetime Achievement: Peggy Ferguson
   Rising Star: Roberta Bucher
   Senior Volunteer: Lawrence Kelly
   Volunteer Program: Marketplace Volunteer Program
   Youth Volunteer: Carolina Sosa
   Youth Volunteer Group: Boy Scouts of America Troop 55
   Integrate Individual: Pedro Velasco de Paz
   RSVP Northern Virginia: Elizabeth Pokorny
   In addition, Benchmark Honors will be awarded in four different 
categories to commend those who have contributed 100, 250, 500, or 
1,000 hours of volunteer time to our community.
   Mr. Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in commending 
Volunteer Fairfax for its decades of outstanding community service, as 
well as in congratulating the 2015 Service Award honorees and the 
thousands of other local volunteers for their incredible contributions 
to our community. Their selfless dedication is worthy of our highest 
praise and is one reason that our community is often ranked as one of 
the best places in the country to live, work, and raise a family.

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