[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 85 (Monday, May 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S2543]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                 TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM ``BILL'' ALLEN, JR.

 Mr. COONS. Mr. President, today it is my pleasure to honor 
William ``Bill'' Allen, Jr., local business leader, community activist, 
author, and friend, for his tremendous contributions to Delaware and 
the growth and success of our communities.
  If you have ever met Bill Allen, you will know he has a wonderful 
smile that will grab your attention when you walk in the room and will 
get you smiling as well. Bill is also serious about continuing to make 
important strides in inspiring and bettering our State. Throughout his 
extensive career in the collections solutions industry, Bill was often 
the first or most senior African American in his organizations. Bill 
consistently reached new levels and set important precedents, led 
change, and inspired young African Americans. The knowledge and 
experience Bill gained throughout his career in the collections 
solutions industry led him to start his own company, ALW Sourcing LLC, 
a collections and customer contact solutions business that he leads 
with a wealth of knowledge, entrepreneurship, and industry experience.
  In 2000, Bill and his wife, Dr. Kim Allen, founded A Friend of the 
Family, Inc., AFOF, a Delaware-based incubator for alternative learning 
programs. AFOF provides students with learning differences and 
behavioral challenges the tools and lessons necessary to overcome 
personal, environmental, and socioeconomic challenges. Under their 
leadership, the organization strengthens and empowers our community. 
The success of AFOF led Bill to be featured in Business Week, the 
Baltimore Business Journal, and JET Magazine.
  He and Dr. Allen also teamed up to coauthor a book, ``It Flows 
Through Us,'' which describes how working hard and giving back can 
generate success and happiness. When writing the book, Bill focused on 
making it accessible to all people so that it could be used in the 
minority- and women-owned business enterprise revolution. He also 
participates in this revolution through the multiple seminars he 
conducts yearly to increase individuals' understanding of business, 
diversity, leadership, motivation, and success. Bill's knowledge 
initiatives empower and inspire people to make positive changes that 
will improve lives across communities.
  Bill served as the board chair of the African American Empowerment 
Fund, AAEFD, at Delaware Community Foundation and as a board member for 
the nonprofit charity Friends of Hockessin Colored School #107, FOHCS. 
During his time as chair, he led the fund to provide $100,000 to the 
Hockessin Colored School #107, a historic school that played a role in 
a groundbreaking court case that became part of the landmark Supreme 
Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education. A student at the school 
was a plaintiff in the 1952 Delaware Court of Chancery case Belton 
(Bulah) v. Gebhart, which was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court 
jointly with Brown v. Board. Thanks to the funding that Bill helped 
secure, the historic school is now being transformed into a center for 
diversity training, inclusion, and social equity. Its legacy will 
continue and its purpose has been reignited.
  In my remarks at the reintroduction ceremony for this school, I 
stated that in order to change our future, we must confront our past. 
It is my firm belief that Mr. Allen's commitments to our community and 
the revitalization of the Hockessin Colored School have played an 
important role in this mission and the growth and inclusivity of our 
State.
  In both business and community involvement, all of Bill's 
accomplishments led to his induction into the Delaware Business Leaders 
Hall of Fame in 2020 as one of the first African-American inductees. 
This honor was awarded to him by the Leadership Council of Junior 
Achievement of Delaware, which recognized his influence as a business 
role model to the students whom the organization serves. I believe that 
this is a fitting testament to the great work Bill has done for our 
State.
  Mr. President, Bill has made invaluable contributions to Delawareans. 
He has used his knowledge and experience to invest in a wide array of 
communities and inspire hundreds of citizens. He is well respected for 
such contributions and this recognition is well deserved.
  Bill Allen, on behalf of all you have supported and inspired 
throughout your career, please accept our sincere gratitude. Thank you 
for your unwavering commitment to the Delaware community and for your 
dedication to your work that has brought about change, set important 
firsts, and inspired others. Thank you.

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