[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 178 (Friday, October 8, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1078]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING JUDY SWANSON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACKIE SPEIER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 8, 2021

  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judy Swanson as 
she is honored by Peninsula Family Service (PFS) with a Lifetime 
Achievement Award. ``Lifetime'' has a special meaning in the case of 
this remarkable woman whom I've been honored to call a dear friend for 
over 35 years.
  Judy is an exceptional community leader and philanthropist. She has 
dedicated her life to advancements in science, focusing broadly on 
oncology and science education. She personifies PFS's passion for 
transforming lives in San Mateo County. With her leadership, PFS 
successfully offers older residents services to keep them healthy and 
connected to the broader community. San Mateo County has a great deal 
of household wealth, but many families struggle. During the COVID 
emergency, PFS offered COVID information to the elderly, and continued 
its longstanding programs offering senior peer counseling, housing, 
nutrition and transportation assistance. Hundreds of children ages 0-5 
from the most economically vulnerable families were served at early 
learning centers. Judy understands that this service is essential 
because 80 percent of brain development occurs during these early 
years.
  As a member of the Hillsborough Auxiliary to PFS, Judy has helped 
dozens of participants in the organization's financial literacy 
programs take out small, manageable loans in order to meet their annual 
requirements and to build a credit score. Judy is a major benefactor 
and rolls up her sleeves when the auxiliary that she leads raises funds 
to support the mission of transforming lives.
  Judy also serves as the CEO and Director of the Swanson Foundation 
and is a regular donor to leading research institutes and scientists in 
the United States. As a board member of the Damon Runyon Cancer 
Research Foundation, she helps staff to identify researchers whose 
fields hold the greatest undiscovered promise in oncology. The 
institute funds researchers early in their careers and helps them 
thrive through the cycle of early discovery to the point where 
government grants begin to flow due to promising findings.
  Judy's late husband, Bob Swanson, played this role for many years and 
ultimately helped co-found, and was the first CEO of, Genentech. Judy's 
dedication to oncology research is due in no small part to the fact 
that Bob died far too early of brain cancer. In his memory, she fights 
for those for whom cures could be around the comer if enough leading-
edge technology commences. She also supports oncology research at MIT, 
Bob's alma mater, and is a member of the President's Circle of the 
National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.
  Judy is also a strong supporter of science education and the arts, 
serving on the Tech Interactive in San Jose, and the board of the San 
Francisco Ballet. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and a 
lifetime member of the International Chapter of Young President's 
Organization and The Chief Executive's Organization.
  Madam Speaker, the long recitation of activities of Judy Swanson does 
not describe the greatest fact of all: Judy Swanson has an enormous 
heart. She is constantly looking for opportunities to advance the 
quality of people's lives and generously supports programs and projects 
large and small. She deserves the appreciation of untold millions who 
will some day benefit through the discoveries she funds, the science 
lessons they learn at The Tech in San Jose or their experiences of joy 
through the San Francisco Ballet. We are only on Earth for the blink of 
an eye. However, Judy Swanson understands the point made by Archimedes 
when he said, ``Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to 
place it, and I shall move the world.'' Judy Swanson moves the world 
with each day that she begins anew her life's work.

                          ____________________