[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 71 (Tuesday, May 1, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E579]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN HONOR OF TONI CHARIEZ FOR BEING SELECTED AS A FINALIST FOR THE 2018 
                        WYOMING JEFFERSON AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LIZ CHENEY

                               of wyoming

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 1, 2018

  Ms. CHENEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Toni Chariez on 
being selected as a finalist for the 2018 Wyoming Jefferson Award. She 
deserves to be very proud of this prestigious recognition.
  The Jefferson Award is the most revered award for public service in 
Wyoming. It was created with the goal of honoring individuals who 
enrich the communities and may otherwise go unnoticed. The award 
emphasizes the importance of serving local communities and that one 
person can indeed make a difference. In Wyoming, a panel of five judges 
independently score nominated individuals and determine four finalists, 
including one winner.
  Toni Chariez has dedicated countless hours to serving her community. 
After retiring, she started volunteering as a Senior Companion 
Volunteer with Wyoming Senior Citizen's Inc. In the 23 years since 
then, she has volunteered for over 26,000 hours and helped over 200 
clients live independently and without long-term care. Known among her 
clients as ``An Angel from Heaven,'' she takes them to run errands, on 
walks, and to the doctor all while keeping their spirits up.
  Toni continues to dedicate her time to her clients, despite some 
health challenges herself. After spending 10 days in the hospital 
recovering from a stroke in 2011, she drove herself back home to 
Cheyenne, Wyoming and immediately started volunteering again. Cheyenne 
and our state of Wyoming are lucky to have Toni serving the community.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Toni Chariez for 
being selected as a finalist for the 2018 Wyoming Jefferson Award and 
thank her for her countless contributions to her community. She 
deserves to be extremely proud of all her hard work and of this 
recognition.