[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5657]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                      A TRIBUTE TO MARY ANN BENTON

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 10, 2003

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of Mary Ann Benton in 
recognition for her dedication to her community and her commitment to 
improving the lives of our senior citizens.
  Mary Ann is a native New Yorker. She was born in Queens, New York and 
raised by her maternal grandparents, the late Enrico and Victoria 
Guigliano. After graduating from John Adams High School in Queens, she 
attended St. John's College majoring in Accounting, and later 
transferred to St. Joseph's College where she studied Human Resources 
Management.
  Traveling from Queens to Manhattan to work for more than eight years 
led Mary Ann to find employment closer to home and a job that she truly 
loves. In early 1980, Mary Ann joined the Wartburg Lutheran Home for 
the Aging as a receptionist. At Wartburg, Mary Ann approaches her work 
with compassion and enthusiasm. In 1982, she was transferred to the 
Fiscal Department as a Bookkeeper and later that year was promoted to 
Fiscal Coordinator. Continuing to grow within the Wartburg ministry, in 
1987, she became the Assistant to the Chief Operating Officer. Next, 
she became the Human Resources Assistant, and in 1993, Mary Ann was 
promoted to the Director of Human Resources where she continues to 
excel.
  Mary Ann is active with the Society for Human Resources Management, 
the Council for Human Resources Management, and the Association for 
Healthcare Human Resources Administrators. Her colleagues and peers in 
her profession recognize her hard work and dedication.
  She believes that working with the elderly is a calling from God. She 
feels blessed to be working in a field and in an organization where she 
can serve the elderly, support her colleagues, and promote hospitality 
to the community. She stands as an example of Wartburg's mission and 
ministry of healing, hospitality, and community through partnership in 
caring.
  Mary Ann enjoys reading, bowling, dancing, and meeting new people. 
She also continues to worship at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin 
Mary Church where she volunteers her time and talents.
  Mr. Speaker, Mary Ann Benton has devoted her life to serving her 
community. As such, she is more than worthy of receiving our 
recognition today. I hope that all of my colleagues will join me in 
honoring this truly remarkable woman.

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