[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 147 (Wednesday, September 5, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H7831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        BLACK FAMILY FOUNDATION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, this morning I would like to 
recognize the 25th anniversary of the Black Family Foundation of Erie, 
Pennsylvania.
  The foundation was established in 1993 by a very distinguished 
constituent of mine, Mr. Samuel P. ``Pat'' Black, III, and his late 
father, an Erie legend, Mr. Samuel P. Black, Jr., who passed away in 
2001 just 4 months shy of his 100th birthday.
  According to its mission statement, the foundation exists to fund 
systemic change.
  It proudly focuses on strategic nonprofit investments throughout Erie 
County that leverage resources for the greatest gains in social 
progress.
  Its vision is profound and very ambitious. It exists:
  To promote continuous improvements in the quality of life around the 
globe by investing in projects that offer a high probability of not 
only transformational value, but also sustainable change.
  Over the course of its respected history, the foundation has funded 
nonprofit programs and organizations in the areas of health and 
welfare, entrepreneurial education, homelessness, environmental 
sustainability, economic initiatives, and technology initiatives.
  Specifically, the organization has supported such initiatives as the 
creation of the Elizabeth Lee Black School at the Barber National 
Institute. This is an approved private school that offers state-of-the-
art educational programs to children ages 3 through 21 with autism and 
intellectual and physical disabilities.
  Over the last 15 years, Mr. Black and the Black Family Foundation 
have also supported hundreds of students through scholarships at Penn 
State's Behrend College and at Mercyhurst University.
  In the last decade alone, the foundation has donated more than $13 
million throughout the Erie community and to worthy organizations 
around the world.
  To Mr. Black and his family, we say: Happy anniversary, and may God 
bless you for all that you do to help bless others.

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