[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 61 (Monday, April 16, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E472]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING TAMARA JONES AS WOMAN OF THE YEAR

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                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 16, 2018

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. 
Tamara Jones, whom I have named Woman of the Year in Napa County, 
California. Woman of the Year recognizes women who have made important 
contributions to California's 5th Congressional District in Arts and 
Culture, Professional Achievement, Entrepreneurship and Innovation or 
Community Service.
  Ms. Jones was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and earned her Bachelor 
of Arts in Mass Communication from California State University Hayward. 
After graduation, she moved to Napa, California and became the owner 
and lead planner of Tamara J Events, a boutique wedding and event 
design firm.
  During the October 2017 wildfires, Ms. Jones volunteered to assist 
evacuees at the Napa Valley College Shelter. Ms. Jones and her team, 
affectionately known as the Honey Pot Crew, used social media and an 
extensive network of community relationships to secure donations and 
other assistance for the evacuees. She also coordinated all of the 
donations and supplies for the whole shelter.
  Ms. Jones and the Honey Pot Crew received, organized and distributed 
the donations, both in the shelter and in parking lots. They also 
created an area for first responders that was always available for 
pick-ups, cleaned their showers and packed over 750 ``Go Boxes'' for 
first responders. As the fires began to subside, Ms. Jones ensured that 
any remaining donations were properly distributed to community 
organizations.
  For the past twelve years, Ms. Jones has served as the fundraising 
and event chair for the National Cemetery Support Committee for the 
National Cemetery in Dixon, CA. The committee provides beautification 
efforts, including placing the flags on the Avenue of Flags and for 
Veteran's Day. Ms. Jones' passion stems from her mother, who was the 
second person laid to rest in the cemetery.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Jones is a dedicated and active community member, 
who is always willing to lend a hand and go above and beyond. It is 
therefore fitting and proper that we honor Tamara Jones here today.

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