[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19390]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   HONORING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF MONROE 
                                 COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 2004

  Mr. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Catholic 
Charities of Monroe County in honor of its 50th anniversary.
  The Catholic Charities of Monroe County, which is located in my 
district, began in 1952 under the leadership of Joseph O'Connor, and 
was incorporated into the Archdiocese of Detroit in September, 1954. 
Since its inception, the organization has touched many individuals with 
their education, health and human services programs.
  In their 50 years of service, the Catholic Charities of Monroe County 
assisted over 142,000 individual requests. The adoption program they 
created in 1959 placed approximately 800 children with adoptive 
families. Catholic Charities started numerous counseling programs for 
separated families, senior citizens, and substance abuse treatment and 
prevention. Additionally, they helped offenders in the criminal justice 
system, as well as established services for runaways. Other services 
included the Local Migrant Program, Head Start, Early Childhood 
Education, and at-risk youth and adult programs. Through these various 
programs, one theme is steadily apparent: the Catholic Charities of 
Monroe County has consistently come to the aid of those most in need.
  The Catholic Charities of Monroe County continues to make much needed 
contributions to their community, and with recent successful 
fundraisers will do so for many years to come. Indeed, through the 
dedication of this humanitarian agency, Monroe County is a better place 
to live and work.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that all of my colleagues join me in commending 
the Catholic Charities of Monroe County on providing 50 years of 
exemplary service to the Michigan community and in wishing them many 
more years of success.

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