[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 130 (Thursday, September 10, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1250]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     A TRIBUTE TO THE PORTO FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 10, 2015

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Porto family of 
Burbank, California, who are being recognized by the Glendale Memorial 
Hospital Foundation for their contributions to the Dignity Health 
Glendale Memorial Hospital.
   The success of the Porto family stems from humble beginnings in 
Manzanillo, Cuba. After Fidel Castro's violent revolution erupted in 
Cuba in the 1950s, Raul Sr. and his wife, Rosa requested permission to 
leave the country. As they waited for their response, however, Raul 
Porto Sr. was fired from his job and sentenced to compulsory manual 
labor. Rosa Porto was also let go from her job, forcing her to find a 
new way to support herself and their three children; Betty, Raul Jr., 
and Margarita. Rosa, a talented baker, responded to the challenges 
facing her by refining her recipes and selling her cakes to friends and 
neighbors in Cuba, establishing a devoted client base. The Porto 
family's request to leave the country was eventually approved, and they 
entered the United States in the early 1960s.
   When they stepped off the plane in America, the Portos had next to 
nothing except their solid work ethic, Rosa's extraordinary baking 
skills and the hope for a better life. Rosa's reputation as a skilled 
baker had preceded her and she found her first customer at the airport. 
While Raul Sr. found work as a mechanic, Rosa baked and sold cakes from 
their home, until their home could no longer accommodate the demand, 
and they opened a bakery in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles that 
quickly flourished. After diligently working two jobs, Raul Sr. joined 
Rosa at the bakery fulltime. As they were growing up, their three 
children had learned the business and upon their college graduations, 
each took on a more specific role--Raul Jr. managing financing and new 
product development, Betty co-managing the business with her father, 
and Margarita joining her mother in the cake decorating area.
   As the years went on, their business grew in size and menu items, 
and they now have three branches in the Los Angeles area. With plans to 
open additional branches throughout Southern California, Porto's Bakery 
will continue to be family-owned and operated while maintaining the 
high quality their customers expect, following Rosa's motto, ``quality 
is the number one ingredient.''
   Porto's Bakery has contributed to the development of the local 
economy by creating hundreds of local jobs and serving thousands of 
consumers, and has been generous in giving back to their community by 
supporting many worthwhile organizations including the Glendale 
Memorial Hospital Foundation, American Red Cross, Los Angeles Mission 
College and Union Rescue Mission. The Porto family's success is a clear 
demonstration that the American Dream is attainable for all.
   I hereby ask all Members of Congress to join me in honoring the 
Porto family for their dedicated service to the community.

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