[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 57 (Wednesday, March 29, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S1045]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TRIBUTE TO BARB MALANY

  Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, in 1905, Paul P. Harris, a Chicago 
attorney longing for a sense of community, formed the Rotary Club of 
Chicago. He envisioned an organization where local professionals could 
come together, share ideas, and form meaningful relationships. Today, 
what began as the Rotary Club of Chicago is now Rotary International, a 
community service organization of more than 1.2 million members with 
clubs on six continents.
  Since 1943, Rotary International has selected up to 150 Rotarians 
each year as recipients of the Service Above Self Award, their highest 
individual honor for Rotary members. This award recognizes exceptional 
humanitarian service, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts to 
help and serve others. This year, Rotary International has selected an 
incredible teacher, businesswoman, humanitarian, and civic leader to 
receive its 2023 Service Above Self Award: central Illinois' own Barb 
Malany.
  Born Barbara Bumgardner in Waco, TX, Barb's father served in the Air 
Force, which meant that Barb and her younger sister Sally never stayed 
at the same school for more than a few years. But through all of the 
moves and frequent change, Barb never neglected her studies. She began 
her college career in Munich, Germany, through an extension program 
through the University of Maryland. She finished her degree at the 
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she studied English and 
German, and met LeGrand ``Lee'' Malany, a physics student, and now her 
loving husband of 58 years. After completing her undergraduate 
education, Barb earned her master's degree in special education at the 
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
  From there, Barb set out to fulfill her lifelong calling: improving 
the lives of children and young people by teaching English special 
education to high school students. To this day, Barb serves as a full-
time substitute teacher in Springfield, IL.
  Aside from teaching, Barb also was a successful small business owner. 
For two decades, Barb and Lee owned and operated Flowers LeGrand and 
Gifts in downtown Springfield. Her shop was even designated Small 
Business of the Year by the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce. 
But her service to Springfield went far beyond flowers and gifts. Barb 
was a founding member and president of Downtown Springfield, Inc., a 
Main Street organization that helped spearhead the redevelopment of 
Springfield in the 1990s.
  Barb's efforts earned her a commendation from the mayor of 
Springfield ``for public-spirited and praiseworthy endeavors.'' And 
Barb never strayed too far from her lifelong commitment to helping 
young people. She used her business to extend internship and mentorship 
opportunities to young people, an effort that earned her Supervisor of 
the Year by Springfield School District 186.
  Barb also has helped foster an enduring relationship between 
Springfield and Ukraine. Over the years, Barb has hosted three 
delegations of Ukrainians who visited Springfield. Thanks to Barb's 
advocacy, the relationship between Springfield and Ukraine has only 
grown stronger since Vladimir Putin's senseless invasion of Ukraine. 
Last year, Barb and other community leaders came together to show their 
support for Ukraine by setting up a blue and yellow light display at 
Springfield's Bicentennial Plaza and installing ``Peace for Ukraine'' 
banners in downtown Springfield.
  But above all else, Barb's commitment to others shines brightest 
through her role as a foster parent. Her first foster child was one of 
her high school students who, late one night, was approached by a 
police officer. The officer offered to take him home, but the young 
student had to tell the police officer that he did not have a place to 
live. When the police officer asked if there was anywhere he could take 
him, the young student gave him Barb's name, knowing that he would be 
safe with her. Barb took the student in at 1 in the morning, became 
licensed as a foster parent the next day, and cared for the student as 
foster child until he finished school and went out into the world. This 
sparked a new chapter in Barb's life as a foster parent. Over a 20-year 
period, Barb fostered 17 children, changing their lives for the better, 
building trust, and showing firsthand what it means to live a life of 
service to others. Barb's compassion for young people in difficult 
situations has never waned, and she continues to serve as a foster 
parent.
  So it comes as no surprise that Rotary International chose Barb as 
one of this year's Service Above Self Award recipients. Barb is the 
third member of Rotary District 6460 to receive this distinguished 
honor. As an active Rotarian for more than 30 years, Barb was just the 
second woman in Springfield to become a Rotarian. She has been 
instrumental in shaping and growing Rotary District 6460's youth 
programs, inspiring students along the way. She has occupied every 
leadership role in District 6460's youth programs and has hosted more 
than 20 exchange students, fully immersing herself into their lives as 
a nurturing and supportive mentor. The bonds she has formed have 
resulted in lifelong friendships with her students.
  Loretta and I congratulate Barb on receiving Rotary International's 
Service Above Self Award. And we thank Barb and her husband Lee for 
their many years of service to the central Illinois community, 
especially to our children and young people. Illinois is grateful for 
Barb's generosity, leadership, and service to others.
  (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered 
to be printed in the Record.)

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