[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 9, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E137-E138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING TERRY'S HOUSE AS THEY CELEBRATE THEIR 5 YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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                             HON. JIM COSTA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 9, 2016

  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Terry's House, a 
hospitality home dedicated to providing affordable and convenient 
lodging for families of patients in critical care units at the 
Community Regional Medical Center. This year Terry's House is 
celebrating its five year anniversary of continuous service in Downtown 
Fresno, California. Since its inception in 2011, Terry's House has 
served over 3,600 families, from forty-two states and twenty-three 
countries around the world. Operating solely on donations, Terry's 
House has been made possible by the generosity of the community, and it 
is their hope that they may continue to assist families of those in 
critical care for many years to come.

[[Page E138]]

  This residential facility is named in honor of Terry Richards who 
suffered and survived a serious trauma at the age of five when he was 
injured in a car accident. For nearly five months, his mother, Marie 
Richards traveled nearly 80 miles a day to see her son while he was 
recovering in the hospital. Her story was the story of many people 
before Terry's House opened its doors. Many families had to seek 
accommodations miles from the hospital, and many who couldn't afford 
lodging slept in waiting rooms, in their cars, or had to try their best 
to find a spot in a busy hospital. Often, patients' loved ones had no 
alternative but to the leave the hospital and make the long drive home. 
Terry's House addresses this need, and has provided families with a 
home away from home, while their love ones receive care.
  Terry's House is situated on 17,000 square feet and features two 
stories of living quarters located across the street from the Community 
Regional Medical Center, so families can visit their loved ones daily. 
The twenty hotel and suite style rooms at Terry's House have a capacity 
of up to four individuals and feature various amenities, including 
balcony seating areas, in-room refrigerators, access to adjoining rooms 
for increased capacity, and various common areas including a kitchen, 
dining area, laundry facility, and children's play room.
  Terry's House was made possible by the tireless work of Terry 
Richards's brother, Tom Richards, a local community developer and CEO 
of the Penstar Group. With the dedication of Tom Richards, Leta 
Ciavaglia, Christa Short, the Terry's House Development Council, the 
Community Regional Medical Center Foundation and many generous members 
of the community, a family dream has become a reality.
  The sustainability of Terry's House is entirely dependent on private 
gifts, contributions from generous individuals, and organizations. More 
than $5 million was raised to initially build and furnish the home. In 
addition to generous gifts from Tom Richards and Bank of America, a 
large number of in-kind donations also continue to assist in sustaining 
the ongoing operations of the home. Terry's House has been fortunate 
enough to receive staffing support from the Community Medical Centers. 
To minimize costs, volunteers generously perform many of the daily 
operations of the home.
  Mr. Speaker, for the last five years, Terry's House has had the 
privilege and responsibility of housing families as they face some of 
the most difficult days of their lives. Terry's House has been there 
for them, and will continue to be there thanks to the generosity and 
support of our community. Through their selfless service, Terry's House 
has made an immense difference in the lives of so many individuals, and 
it is important that we recognize them for all that they have done and 
will continue to do for years to come.

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