[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Page 2442]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                THE VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA FOUNDERS' WEEK

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and honor 
the Volunteers of America on the occasion of its Founders' Week 
Celebration.
  Volunteers of America was founded in 1896 by Christian social 
reformers Ballington and Maud Booth in New York with the mission of 
``reaching and uplifting'' the American people. Soon afterwards, more 
than 140 ``posts'' were established across the nation. One of these 
posts sprang to life in my home state of Minnesota.
  Volunteers of America serves people in many ways, with a special 
emphasis on human services, housing, and health services. The 
organization is noted for being the nation's largest nonprofit provider 
of quality, affordable housing for low-income families and the elderly. 
Currently, more than 30,000 people reside in Volunteers of America 
housing. Along with its commitment to providing homes, Volunteers of 
America also focuses on helping the homeless, through emergency 
shelters, transitional housing, jobs training, and counseling.
  In Minnesota, Volunteers of America is one of the most important 
providers of social services and workers with children, adults, and 
seniors. Children are provided residential treatment, shelter, and 
foster care. Adult services include help filling housing needs and 
skills training for individuals with developmental disabilities. Senior 
services include home-delivered meals and home health care assistance.
  None of this would be possible without the more than 11,000 employees 
and 300,000 volunteers who work with the Volunteers of America. 
Volunteers of America of Minnesota is home to more than 350 employees 
and over 1,000 volunteers. Volunteerism is a community necessity, and I 
extend my utmost thanks and appreciation to those who are providing our 
country and my state with such an invaluable resource through their 
participation in Volunteers of America.
  I again applaud the Volunteers of America during this Founders' Week 
for its extraordinary record of service. For more than 100 years, 
Volunteers of


America has been there for countless Minnesotans; given its good work 
and record of success, I am confident this vital organization will be 
with us for many years to come.

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