[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 31 (Friday, February 26, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H954]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING THE STAR FOUNDATION

  (Mr. CARTER of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
20th anniversary of the Southern Technology Advocacy Resources 
Foundation, the STAR Foundation, and its unbelievable capability to 
transform lives in coastal Georgia.
  Wally and Katie Orrel and Ellen Murphy founded the STAR Foundation in 
1997 with the goal of providing computer training to residents of 
public housing in Brunswick, Georgia.
  Over its 20 years, the STAR Foundation has expanded to teaching life, 
financial, and work-readiness skills that lead their students to be 
successful members of their community and the workforce.
  The STAR Foundation's 8-week course is open to students outside of 
public housing as well as residents of McIntosh and Camden Counties.
  The impact of this foundation is incredible. Over 1,000 students have 
graduated from the STAR Foundation, and 70 percent of their graduates 
improve their employment status within 15 months of graduation. Some 
outstanding students can even receive a personal computer for their 
home.
  I am grateful for the work that the STAR Foundation is doing in the 
First Congressional District of Georgia, and I wish the program and its 
graduates success for many years to come.

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