[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 136 (Friday, August 16, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1053-E1054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING AMY SHIMBERG FOR HER SELFLESS DEVOTION TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF 
                        THE TAMPA BAY COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. KATHY CASTOR

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, August 16, 2019

  Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in admiration and 
respect to honor the life and unselfish works of Amy Shimberg. Amy's 
remarkable contributions to our hometown of Tampa had a tremendous 
impact on our neighbors and is worthy of recognition. She is survived 
by her five children and their spouses, 15 grandchildren, brother and 
numerous nieces and nephews who she loved very much.
  Amy was born, raised and educated in New York City. She obtained her 
bachelor's degree from New York University and her master's in 
education from Columbia University. After teaching in New York, she 
followed her parents to Florida where she continued teaching. Amy met 
the love of her life and life partner in doing good, Jim, on a blind 
date. Jim and Amy started their 50-year marriage and settled in Tampa 
in 1958.
  Amy was a tireless community volunteer with a very strong interest in 
public education. She served as PTA president of every school her 
children attended and continued her involvement with the PTA after her 
youngest graduated from high school. Many organizations in the Tampa 
Bay Area benefited from her tireless advocacy and passion. She served 
on the Citizens Advisory Board to the Hillsborough County School Board 
and the board of the Hillsborough Education Foundation. She also 
volunteered for Meals on Wheels in the 1970s and continued serving for 
more than 25 years, twice as president. She loved helping her neighbors 
in such a direct and personal way. In a window into Amy's heart, she 
believed that she gained more from neighbors she visited and delivered 
meals to than they did. In addition to her direct work delivering 
meals, she was instrumental in raising funds for Meals on Wheels and 
was the honorary chairperson of the capital campaign to build a new 
facility. Her dedication to this cause that brightens the days of so 
many is unmatched and one of the main reasons Meals on Wheels is such a 
success and Amy is so revered in Tampa Bay.
  Amy was instrumental in helping not just our senior neighbors, but 
children as well. She co-chaired a fundraising campaign for Nature's 
Classroom to benefit future generations of sixth graders. She was 
recognized for her wonderful work, including receiving the Community 
Hero Award from the Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation in 2014. The 
philanthropic contributions of Amy and Jim improved the lives of many 
people in the Tampa Bay area and the James and Amy Shimberg Charitable 
Trust and the James and Amy Shimberg Foundation, will keep the good 
deeds going for more generations.

[[Page E1054]]

  Madam Speaker, on behalf of the citizens of Florida and my neighbors 
across Tampa Bay, I am proud to honor Amy Shimberg for her formidable 
efforts and selfless devotion to the people in our community. The time 
and energy she put into making Tampa Bay a better place to live are 
unmatched. Volunteering thousands of hours to those in need must be 
celebrated. Amy Shimberg taught us the true meaning of the word mitzvah 
and her legacy as a tireless advocate will live on and inspire others 
in the community.

                          ____________________