[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 62 (Tuesday, April 28, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E601]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            PASS CHRISTIAN BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB-QATAR CENTER

                                  _____
                                 

                         HON. STEVEN M. PALAZZO

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 28, 2015

  Mr. PALAZZO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank the State of Qatar 
for its continued support of the Boys & Girls Club of the Gulf Coast 
Qatar Center at Pass Christian, Mississippi. We welcome the Ambassador 
of the State of Qatar to the United States, Mohammed Al-Juwari.
  In 2005, the Mississippi Gulf Coast was devastated by Hurricane 
Katrina, resulting in the destruction of many of the Boys and Girls 
Clubs in South Mississippi. In June of 2009, through the generosity of 
a 5 million dollar donation from the people of Qatar, the Boys & Girls 
Club opened a new, beautiful, state-of-the-art facility in Pass 
Christian.
  When the facility opened its doors in 2009, over 175 children 
enrolled in programs offered by the club. The staff has worked hard to 
provide the best care, programs and opportunities to benefit the 
children of the Gulf Coast.
  The Qatar Center now serves well over 300 children daily, and it 
continues to grow, giving children the opportunity to reach their full 
potential. It helps allow the Boys and Girls Club to fulfill its 
mission to ``enable all young people, especially those who need us 
most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible 
citizens.''
  Today, with Boys & Girls Club locations all along the Mississippi 
Gulf Coast, the Pass Christian location continues to provide the 
perfect model for other centers to follow.
  Once again, I would like to thank the people of Qatar for their 
generosity to the Boys & Girls Club of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

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