[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 181 (Wednesday, November 13, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMEMBERING THOMAS M. OWENS

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on September 29, Thomas Owens of Chicago 
passed away, leaving a legacy of faith, philanthropy, and friendship. 
He was an innovator and an advocate for helping people. Tom was 
dedicated to the biblical proverb, ``To whom much is given, much is 
expected.''
  Tom used to joke that he entered philanthropic ventures because he 
spent too much time hovering around the kitchen with his wife, Mary. In 
truth, he just believed in helping those less fortunate. Tom and Mary 
founded the Owens Foundation in 1985, inspired by the work of Saint 
Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Tom and Mary enjoyed a friendship with 
Mother Teresa and were instrumental in supporting Missionary of Charity 
projects in Chicago, Arizona, and Tijuana, Mexico, to alleviate poverty 
and provide hope to those in need.
  In the early 1990s, Tom retired from a successful business and having 
spent 20 years as an IBM executive. Many people would have considered 
slowing down after that, but not Tom. That same year he retired, he 
founded Cara Chicago.
  Tom started Cara out of the back of his car. He drove shelter to 
shelter, connecting women with business colleagues and contacts he had 
accumulated over the years. Nearly 30 years later, Cara is a world-
class job training and placement program, helping more than 6,000 
people into more than 10,000 jobs.
  Cara is the Gaelic word for friend, and this program helps give 
people a professional friend when they need it most.
  Tom earned numerous awards like being one of the Streetwise 
Foundation's 20 Most Inspirational Chicagoans. He also was Leo High 
School's Lifetime Achievement Award winner in 2018. Leo High School's 
motto is Facta non Verba, meaning Deeds not Words. Tom's work as one of 
the most caring people I have known speaks for itself.
  Tom liked to say, ``Don't just make it a good day . . . make it a 
great day!'' Many people have great days because of his work.
  Tom is survived by his wife, five children, 22 grandchildren, and the 
thousands of people who have better days because of Tom.

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