[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 36 (Thursday, February 25, 2021)]
[House]
[Page H623]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        STUDENT PHILANTHROPISTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize 
two students in my district, Pennsylvania's 15th Congressional 
District, who have gone out of their way to better their communities 
recently. After reading about their work, I felt that they deserved 
this recognition.
  Richard Clark is a student at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, 
Pennsylvania. Richard is an MBA student and decided to use a class 
project opportunity, assignment, as an opportunity to help the Keystone 
Regional Fire and Rescue Department. He helped the president of the 
fire department write an application, a grant application, that 
resulted in a $10,000 grant to benefit that organization and, 
certainly, the citizens, families, and communities that that emergency 
service organization serves.
  Before serving in Congress, I spent nearly 30 years as a State-
certified volunteer firefighter. It was an honor to serve my community, 
and I know firsthand how big of a deal, how big of a difference those 
funds can make in a small-town company in a rural area. Dave Fulton, 
president of the fire company, said that the funds would be combined 
with support from the county to purchase a new radio system.
  Richard's professor, Dr. Leah Spangler offered high praise, saying: 
``I'm just so happy to have a student who is so invested in an 
organization to really do this kind of work for them. It's so much more 
than a grade for a class that you can do something so positive for the 
community.''
  I would like to thank Richard for his hard work, his dedication, and 
his commitment to serving his community.
  In Indiana, Pennsylvania, a 17-year-old named Lily Palfrey recently 
reached the highest service level possible in 4-H by completing her 
Diamond Clover project.
  Lily's father, Sergeant Frank Palfrey, has spent more than 30 years 
with the Army National Guard, serving as the inspiration for her 
service project. She collected more than $9,000 in donations and sent 
more than 150 boxes filled with personal care items to our National 
Guard troops, our citizen warriors who are deployed overseas.
  Accompanying her service project is a video called ``We Serve Too,'' 
a presentation that Lily developed through her church to share the 
stories of military families.
  Though she has fulfilled her service project obligation, Lily 
continues to collect morale-boosting donations like board games, 
snacks, and coffee.
  I am encouraged by the kindness and the generosity of both Richard 
and Lily. Thank you to these two for their spirit of service.

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