[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19003]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 CONGRATULATING PORTER-STARKE SERVICES

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                        HON. PETER J. VISCLOSKY

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 21, 2000

  Mr. VISCLOSKY. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct pleasure to 
congratulate Porter-Starke Services, located in Porter County, Indiana, 
as it celebrates its 25th anniversary this Friday, September 22, 2000. 
Porter-Starke Services will commemorate its 25 years of dedicated 
service to the community of Northwest Indiana in a gala celebration 
entitled ``A Silver Lining,'' to be held at the Porter County Expo 
Center in Valparaiso, Indiana. The celebration will serve as an 
opportunity for Porter-Starke to reaffirm its commitment to excellence 
in mental health services for individuals in Valparaiso, Portage, and 
the surrounding communities.
  Porter-Starke Services grew from a grassroots effort initiated by 
citizens located within ten miles of a large state mental hospital. 
Concerned with the quality of care provided by the state hospital, the 
volunteers sought to provide improved care alternatives for those whose 
lives are affected by mental illness. To that end, Porter-Starke 
Services was incorporated in 1967 as LaPorte-Porter-Starke Services, 
and those volunteers served as its first board of directors. The name 
of the center reflected the three counties involved in the original 
effort. By 1968, LaPorte County had withdrawn from the group to form 
its own center, the Swanson Center for Mental Health. Thus, in 1968, 
the charter was altered, and Porter-Starke Services was born.
  From 1967 through 1973, Porter-Starke Services' volunteer board of 
directors worked tirelessly to raise the capital to build an adequate 
facility, find a location suitable for the main center, and organize a 
comprehensive and effective program. Ultimately, land was donated by 
the Urschel family, and state and local funding was secured for 
financing construction of a facility in Valparaiso, Indiana. During the 
past two decades, Porter-Starke has continued to grow and change, 
reflecting the needs of the communities while remaining committed to 
the highest caliber of mental health care.
  Over its 25 years of development, Porter-Starke has been fortunate 
enough to receive support and assistance from numerous community 
leaders and good Samaritans in Northwest Indiana. This year, Porter-
Starke Services and the Mental Health Association of Porter County are 
recognizing several of these individuals for their dedication and 
commitment to the mental health field at a special dinner, prior to the 
gala celebration at the Expo Center. Larry Sheets and Lee E. Grogg will 
receive the Aled P. Davies Award for Public Policy on Health, the Gale 
C. Corley President's Award will be presented to Charles Walker, and 
the Patient Care and Advocacy Award will be given to John Wilhelm. 
Marilyn Lindner will receive the Porter-Starke Award for Community 
Mental Health, while Karen Conover will receive the Robert Anderson 
Community Education and Service Award. The Mental Health Association of 
Porter County will present Randy Zromkoski the Distinguished Service 
Award, Julane Corneil the United Way Agency Volunteer of the Year 
Award, and the Cooks Corners Elementary School, Kenya Jenkins, and 
Velma Strawhun will all receive the Friends of the Mental Health 
Association Award.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask you and my other distinguished colleagues to join 
me in commending the administrators, health care professionals, and 
countless individuals who, over the years, have contributed to Porter-
Starke's success in achieving its standard of excellence. Their hard 
work has improved the quality of life for everyone in Indiana's First 
Congressional District.

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