[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5989]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE SELECTION OF CASEY'S PLACE AS THE NATIONAL HOUSING 
             ENDOWMENT'S CHOICE AS ``PROJECT OF THE YEAR''

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                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 25, 2006

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate and honor The 
Home Builders Association of Central New York on having their project, 
Casey's Place, chosen as ``Project of the Year'' by the National 
Housing Endowment. The Home Builders Association of Central New York is 
the first association in the Northeast to receive this prestigious 
award.
  Casey's Place, a pediatric respite house for children with 
disabilities, is truly a remarkable project. It is the only facility of 
its kind in the U.S. that offers the needed services for the medically 
fragile and the developmentally challenged and their families, all free 
of charge.
  Casey's Place came about through the hard work and dedication of the 
350 member Home Builders Association of Central New York. Members 
donated materials, labor, and made financial contributions in order to 
create this dream home where families can escape the hardships of 
dealing with these types of tough medical conditions. The 10,000 square 
foot space is equipped with a media room, recreation room, accessible 
kitchen, themed restrooms, fully accessible shower and bathing 
facilities with reclining air jet tubs and state-of-the-art overhead 
lifting systems.
  To date, Casey's Place has provided overnight, school break and 
summer day programs to over 150 children and their families from 
Central New York. Casey's Place lets these kids experience many of the 
activities we all take for granted. Without the altruistic spirit of 
the Home Builders Association of Central New York, none of this would 
be possible. They deserve special recognition. I wish them the best of 
luck with the Casey's Place and hope they are able to touch many more 
families across the region.

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