[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1258-E1259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          HONORING THE CAREER OF CLOTILDE PEREZ-BODE DEDECKER

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRIAN HIGGINS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 12, 2022

  Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, today I would like to 
recognize Clotilde

[[Page E1259]]

Perez-Bode Dedecker and her remarkable seventeen-year career with the 
Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. Clotilde began her work with 
the Community Foundation in 2005, becoming President and CEO in 2007. 
Under her leadership, she oversaw this philanthropic organization's 
growth from $159 million to $850 million in total assets. Furthermore, 
she was a visionary and understood the value of establishing 
partnerships with other community organizations such as Say Yes 
Buffalo, Greater Buffalo Racial Equity Roundtable, and the WNY Impact 
Investment Fund. This expansion has allowed the Buffalo community to be 
more strongly supported and guided, and none of it would have been 
possible without the stewardship that Clotilde has provided.
  Clotilde's contributions to the community and work as a 
philanthropist have been recognized at all levels, from local community 
organizations to international organizations. She was appointed to the 
White House Council on Service and Civic Participation and named co-
chair of the U.S. Committee of the United Nations International Year of 
the Volunteer. She has also presented at the U.S. Partnership on 
Mobility from Poverty Summit supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates 
Foundation in Washington, D.C. and the Asia Forum on Philanthropy for 
Better Cities in Hong Kong. Furthermore, she was awarded the 
President's Award for Service, a civic award bestowed by the President 
of the United States to honor volunteers that give hundreds of hours 
per year helping others through the President's Council on Service and 
Civic Participation.
  Clotilde has previously been named The Buffalo News Citizen of the 
Year Award, the Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year, and received the 
Distinguished Citizen Award from her alma mater, Canisius College. 
Highly honored and recognized for her commitment to moving this 
community forward in a strategic way, Clotilde has led the Community 
Foundation of Greater Buffalo to enhance our environment and 
educational opportunities, and further invest in our rich and diverse 
local arts. Clotilde is the indispensable pillar of the Community 
Foundation of Greater Buffalo, and she will be missed dearly after her 
retirement; however, her legacy, work, and success will inspire 
community members for years to come. During my time in Congress, it has 
been a pleasure to work with the Community Foundation under the 
leadership of Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker and I commend her for her 
professionalism, vision, and impressive leadership on behalf of a 
grateful community in the Western New York.

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