[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 212 (Tuesday, December 15, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1146]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING VICKI GRAHAM FOR 32 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH ACTION IN 
                       COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 15, 2020

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Vicki Graham 
for her 32 years of service to Action in Community Through Service 
(ACTS).
  Ms. Graham has become the longest serving employee in ACTS' 51-year 
history. As a community organization, ACTS fosters hope, provides 
relief, and promotes self-sufficiency for Prince William area neighbors 
in crisis. And Ms. Graham has been an essential part of developing this 
foundation.
  Ms. Graham has been a critical part of ACTS and throughout her time 
with the organization, she enhanced several of the programs ACTS has 
offered. She served as the longest Director of the ACTS Helpline. What 
started as a local volunteer hotline has now grown to become a 
professional crisis hotline with the largest coverage in the 
Commonwealth of Virginia, and a backup call center for the National 
Suicide Prevention Hotline. The Helpline answers over 20,000 calls 
annually which includes over 4,000 suicide crisis calls answered each 
year. Ms. Graham has been key in making what the ACTS Helpline is 
today.
  Through her 32-year career at ACTS, Ms. Graham has several 
accomplishments in which further shows the selfless effort she put into 
her work. Ms. Graham founded the Senior Link program, the Local 
Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) Team, the Surviving After Suicide 
support group, the Parents of Suicide Loss support group, Renewed Hope 
peer support group and the Traumatic Death Support Group peer led 
support group. These programs that were founded by Ms. Graham not only 
provide support to the participants, they also better our community. 
Ms. Graham did not stop there. She became ACTS first Chief Program 
Officer, overseeing the operation of ACTS Domestic Violence, Sexual 
Assault, Helpline, and Housing services.
  I congratulate Ms. Graham and commend her for all she has 
accomplished. Helpline program participants and our community have 
benefited immensely thanks to her tireless efforts to make tomorrow 
better for everyone.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in congratulating 
Vicki Graham on her retirement and thank her for her everlasting impact 
on the Prince William County community.

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