[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 76 (Wednesday, May 7, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E400]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                         RECOGNIZING JOAN MOORE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 7, 2025

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the outstanding 
contributions that Joan Moore has made through her work with Gulfside 
Healthcare Services. Since February 2022, Joan Moore has touched the 
lives of over 10,000 hospice patients and their families through giving 
her time, talent, and treasure with Gulfside Hospice. With a servant's 
heart, Joan quietly, yet passionately finds ways to support one of the 
most vulnerable groups in her community--the elderly. Joan's journey 
into volunteering began later in life. At nearly 79 years old, instead 
of slowing down, she stepped up when she heard Gulfside needed 
volunteers. In just three years, she has donated more than 3,650 hours 
of her time to Gulfside Hospice.
  Inspired by her mother, a longtime hospice volunteer, Joan has always 
felt a deep connection to those in hospice care. Facing her own health 
challenges, including chronic pain and limited mobility, only deepened 
her empathy. Now retired from a successful career in sales and as a 
former actress and model, Joan remains driven to stay active and give 
back.
  She began by helping with clerical tasks in Gulfside's Philanthropy 
department and soon joined the Women for Gulfside group in May 2022. 
Since then, she has played a key role in fundraising efforts supporting 
programs that rely entirely on donations, such as care for uninsured 
patients, family bereavement support, and Pet Peace of Mind, 
which helps hospice patients care for their pets. Joan also contributes 
to Gulfside's four major annual fundraising events, offering hands-on 
help, inkind donations, and support wherever it's needed. In 2024, Joan 
made a generous gift to the Raising Hope for Hospice capital campaign 
to help build a new in-patient unit in New Port Richey. The soon-to-
open Gulfside Center for Hospice Care will provide 24-hour support for 
patients in their final days, meeting a critical need, thanks in part 
to donors, like Joan. Now nearly 82, Joan's energy, wit, and compassion 
continue to inspire everyone she meets. While many her age focus on 
slowing down, Joan stays energized and youthful by serving others. Her 
mind is always on how to help--then doing exactly that. Joan is truly a 
Hero Among Us. As she puts it, ``I started volunteering to help others 
but never realized it would help me too. It has given me more joy than 
I could ever imagine. Volunteering for hospice saved my life, and I 
hope it does the same for others too.''
  It is clear Joan Moore has made a profoundly positive impact on our 
commuity, and I am grateful for her service. May we all strive to serve 
our communities with the same dedication and humility.

                          ____________________