[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 129 (Wednesday, September 9, 2015)]
[Senate]
[Page S6526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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              FOSTER GRANDPARENTS PROGRAM 50TH ANNIVERSARY

 Mr. MORAN. Mr. President, today I wish to commend all foster 
grandparents on the program's 50th anniversary this year. The Foster 
Grandparents Program provides ways for volunteers age 55 and older to 
stay active by serving children and youth in their communities. These 
volunteers give their time and talents as role models, mentors, and 
friends to children in need.
  More than 25,000 foster grandparents volunteer through over 300 
programs throughout the United States. Last year, foster grandparent 
volunteers provided 23 million hours of service to their local 
communities, serving more than 189,000 children facing academic, 
social, and financial challenges. These volunteers serve at thousands 
of locations, helping children build reading skills, providing one-on-
one tutoring, mentoring troubled teenagers and young mothers, caring 
for premature infants or children with disabilities, and assisting 
children who have been abused or neglected.
  I am particularly proud to honor the more than 500 seniors in Kansas 
who contribute their time and talents serving children in my State. 
Foster grandparent programs operate across Kansas out of Augusta, Hays, 
Kansas City, Manhattan, Paola, Topeka, and Wichita. Volunteers serve in 
an array of locations throughout the State, including schools, 
hospitals, juvenile correctional institutions, and early childhood 
education and childcare centers. These compassionate individuals have 
reached more than 5,000 Kansas students over the last 50 years. The 
following are just a few examples of their inspiring service:
  Alice Reid has been part of the Foster Grandparent Program since 
2004. At the age of 92, she has consistently given an average of 33 
hours per week and 11,341 lifetime volunteer hours. She primarily works 
on reading with children younger than 5 years of age, but Grandma Alice 
is happy to help any student. She often spends her lunch hour in the 
cafeteria eating with the children. Grandma Alice is so valued that the 
school had a big celebration for her 90th birthday. There were more 
than 400 children involved in this birthday celebration for their 
friend. The students made birthday cards and sang to her. A 
kindergarten teacher remarked, ``We love Grandma Alice and we 
appreciate all that she does for us. She has been a wonderful part of 
our school.''
  In WaKeeney, Grandma Deb Fabrizius serves in kindergarten classrooms 
at Trego Grade School and has formed trusting friendships with many of 
the children she serves. She shared a story about a child, ``a sweet 
little guy who is quiet, very particular about his work and has a great 
smile. This little boy does not hug a lot, but when he does it, it is 
special--he's very sincere about it.'' The child told Grandma Deb that 
he wanted to share a secret with her. She followed him to his locker, 
where he took out a folder from his backpack with papers in it. The 
papers detailed what he wanted to be when he grew up. Grandma Deb was 
touched that he trusted her enough to keep his secret, and she told him 
that his parents would be proud of him and encouraged him to share his 
dreams with them. Foster grandparents such as Grandma Deb are sometimes 
the only adults with whom children have consistent, loving, 
nonjudgmental relationships. Grandma Deb and other foster grandparents 
do their best to encourage students and inspire them to have self-
confidence and reach for the stars.
  Carol Sheffield, Udena McKee, Naomi Graves, and Margaret Hill work as 
foster grandparents in the Manhattan area. These women note the work 
they do for the kids is very fulfilling, and they plan to continue to 
serve in the classroom for years. By giving positive attention to kids, 
the volunteers and teachers have been able to see a real turnaround in 
students' lives. Carmen Flaz, principal of Oakdale Elementary School in 
Salina, said that foster grandparents have a large effect in the 
classroom.
  Grandma Linda Downs is the only foster grandparent in Waterville, a 
town of around 700 people in northeast Kansas. Grandma Linda serves 
students in her local preschool as well the afterschool and summer 
elementary programs. She volunteers at least 30 hours each week for her 
community.
  Grandma Melinda serves as a foster grandparent at Lucas-Luray 
Elementary School in Luray. When she was younger, she lost her right 
thumb in an accident. While most people do not notice her missing 
thumb, Grandma Melinda says, ``Leave it to a kid! They look you over 
from head to toe. They spy my missing thumb right away. They watch me 
holding a crayon or glue stick. They are always watching my hand to see 
what I can do.'' When children at school ask her about her missing 
thumb, Grandma Melinda lets them look closer and touch her hand if they 
want. She uses this opportunity to teach the children a life lesson 
about each person being special in their own way and about accepting 
everyone.
  Grandpa Hubert Brown serves in a Head Start classroom in Great Bend, 
where he gives special attention to three particular students. A set of 
two boys have formed a close bond with him. Another child, a little 
girl who is very shy and did not talk much with other students, always 
finds a place near Grandpa Hubert during circle time. Through her 
friendship with Grandpa Hubert, she has increased her involvement in 
class and developed friendships with her classmates.
  The special way of life we live in Kansas and across this great 
country would not be possible without individuals committed to giving 
back to improve their own communities, and foster grandparents change 
the world for the better one soul at a time. Their acts of kindness and 
selflessness are inspiring to us all. I honor foster grandparents for 
their shining examples of service to others. This commitment to service 
enriches our own homes and strengthens our Nation.
  Thank you, congratulations on your 50th anniversary, and all the best 
for many more years of helping others.

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