[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 52 (Wednesday, March 22, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S906]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TRIBUTE TO ALEX RAY, LISA MURE, SUSAN MATHISON, AND STEVE RAND

 Ms. HASSAN. Madam President, I am honored to recognize Alex 
Ray and Lisa Mure of Holderness and Susan Mathison and Steve Rand of 
Plymouth as March's Granite Staters of the Month. The group of friends 
started a nonprofit, Common Man for Ukraine, that has raised more than 
$2.6 million for Ukrainian children impacted by Putin's unconscionable 
invasion of Ukraine.
  Following the onset of the war, the group wanted to figure out how 
they could help the Ukrainian people. Through their membership with the 
Plymouth Rotary Club, Alex and Steve connected with Rotarian leaders in 
Poland, which was already seeing an influx of Ukrainian refugees 
fleeing the conflict. And then Alex, Susan, Steve, and Lisa jumped into 
action. Within just 2 weeks, the four friends were on the ground in 
Poland and Ukraine meeting with Ukrainian and Polish Rotary Club 
leaders about the needs of local displaced person camps, orphanages, 
and safehouses for displaced children.
  When the group returned to New Hampshire, they began to raise funds, 
with the first donation being $500 from the Plymouth Rotary Club. Since 
then, they have raised more than $2.6 million to purchase 750 tons of 
food for their partners in Poland. The NH Fisher Cats AA baseball team 
also hosted a benefit game to raise funds.
  The group has not let up in their efforts over the past year. They 
have visited Poland and Ukraine three more times to evaluate the 
changing needs on the ground in coordination with their Rotarian 
partners. In addition to packing warehouses with essential goods, they 
also delivered those relief supplies themselves to safehouses and 
orphanages for children impacted by the war. This past Christmas, they 
brought personal solar lanterns, food, generators, and presents to 21 
Ukrainian orphanages, so that the children could experience literal and 
symbolic light throughout the various power outages. When the Granite 
Staters arrived with the supplies, the children excitedly came outside 
in the cold to greet them, and they were able to share Christmas 
greetings and carols despite the language barrier. The four volunteers 
bravely returned to Ukraine on the war's February anniversary to 
deliver supplies to 14 additional orphanages and safehouses.
  The work that Alex, Susan, Steve, and Lisa have done with their 
nonprofit organization is an incredible testament to the impact that 
Granite Staters can have, even across the world, when they are helping 
others. They refused to stand by during a devastating war and the 
subsequent refugee crisis, instead boldly finding a way to directly 
help Ukrainian children. Alex, Susan, Steve, and Lisa embody the 
Granite State spirit of taking on a challenge directly in order to make 
a real difference, and I know that they will continue to make New 
Hampshire proud through their work in Poland and Ukraine.

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