[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 29, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E747]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               RECOGNIZING THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF FACETS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 29, 2018

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize a group of individuals 
who have made a tremendous contribution to our community. Founded 
thirty years ago this year, FACETS is a nonprofit organization 
dedicated to helping those in our community who are suffering from the 
effects of poverty. This help takes many forms.
  My first exposure to FACETS's work was delivering hot meals with 
founder Linda Wimpey, when I was the Providence District Representative 
to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. It was a profound 
experience I will never forget. Those hot meals were for individuals 
who were homeless. As we approached the delivery site, I remember 
seeing men and women emerging from the woods in business suits, ready 
to collect a hot meal before heading off to work. They may have been 
suffering from homelessness, however they still maintained their 
dignity. The work we were doing helped them with that.
  For someone in this situation, knowing you are part of a community 
that cares and will give you the assistance necessary to get back on 
your feet, can help ease the burden of your plight. In a county as 
economically prosperous as Fairfax County, it can be easy to forget 
there are still citizens who go without the most basic necessities. 
Organizations like FACETS are helping to make sure the number of those 
citizens declines and eventually disappears.
  During my tenure as Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of 
Supervisors, we developed a ten-year plan to prevent and end 
homelessness. The efforts of FACETS and many others are why the 
percentage of homeless individuals in Fairfax County has declined by 47 
percent since 2008.
  There are very few places in the National Capital Region, and even 
the country, that can attest to the same kind of success.
  While working to prevent and end homelessness is one of FACETS 
primary missions, they also contribute to the community in other 
critical ways. Chief among these is providing educational resources for 
those living with low incomes to ensure they are given the tools 
necessary to break the cycle of poverty. Programs for youth include 
academic tutoring, substance abuse prevention, self-esteem, and college 
or career planning. Approximately 65 percent of the youth who 
participated in academic tutoring made the honor roll, and in 2015, all 
graduating high-school seniors went on to higher forms of education. 
Programs for adults include computer and financial literacy, career 
development, and ESL. Programs like these ensure our community is 
working not only to address the symptoms of poverty, but also to 
eliminate the root causes.
  Mr. Speaker, I extend my congratulations to Bob Grimmett, Chairman of 
the Board of Directors, and Joe Fay, the Executive Director, as well as 
all the members of the Board of Directors, staff, and volunteers who 
have contributed their time, energy, and resources to FACETS over the 
last thirty years. Your support is part of why Fairfax County remains 
one of the best places in the country in which to live, work, and raise 
a family, and I commend you all for your service to our community. I 
ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating FACETS on this 
tremendous anniversary.

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