[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 195 (Tuesday, November 28, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     RECOGNIZING ALISON FOREMAN'S SERVICE TO THE CITY OF YPSILANTI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 28, 2023

  Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Alison Foreman, 
President and CEO of the Ypsilanti Meals on Wheels (YMOW) program, as 
she closes out 10 years in Ypsilanti, MI and prepares to take her 
expertise to Mobile Wheels of Toledo. Her lifelong dedication to 
serving those in need is worthy of commendation.
  Alison began non-profit work shortly after graduating from Eastern 
Michigan University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Juvenile 
Justice coupled with a Masters's in Public Administration. She joined 
YMOW in 2013 as the program's first full-time Executive Director, 
getting involved at a time when the organization was struggling to make 
ends meet. As one of her initial tasks, Alison was challenged to raise 
$25,000 during her first year. She delivered above and beyond what was 
asked of her, and the program flourished as a result. In recognition 
for her steadfast efforts, Alison was named President and CEO in 2021. 
As she celebrates her 10th anniversary with YMOW, the group now 
operates on a $1.8 million annual budget and has expanded to offer a 
full suite of services that benefit over 400 local seniors and 
homebound adults each year. Her team credits her with reviving an 
organization struggling to make ends meet, adding that she has worked 
tirelessly to realize YMOW's vision of ``a community where every senior 
feels nourished, valued, and supported.'' In caring for some of 
Ypsilanti's most vulnerable citizens, Alison has done a tremendous job 
at strengthening and nourishing her community.
  In addition to her laudable efforts at YMOW, Alison has made many 
other significant contributions to our Ypsilanti home. Over the years, 
she has dedicated herself to various local non-profits as both a 
volunteer and an employee, most notably the Michigan State Housing 
Development Authority and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation. 
Alison has been an active member in a plethora of local organizations, 
serving on the boards of the Ypsilanti Area Community Fund, the 
Washtenaw Leaders Advisory, SOS Community Services, and her alma 
mater's MPA Advisory Group, among others. She is also a founding member 
of the Say Yes to Seniors Initiative, part of the Ypsilanti Kiwanis 
Club, and a Washtenaw County grant reviewer. Alison's devotion to 
alleviating Ypsilanti's great diversity of needs is inspirational, and 
I am proud to have such a selfless individual leading our local 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in celebrating 
Alison Foreman for her decade of dedication to serving the Ypsilanti 
area as she wraps up her tenure at the helm of the Ypsilanti Meals on 
Wheels program. Alison has worked tirelessly to benefit her local 
community and has made significant contributions to improving the lives 
of our most vulnerable neighbors. We thank her for her tremendous work 
and wish her all the best as she embarks upon her next endeavor.

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