[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 25]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 33575]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          TRIBUTE TO THE CHRISTIAN YOUTH CENTER IN JOLIET, IL

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                           HON. JERRY WELLER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, December 10, 2007

  Mr. WELLER of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
Christian Youth Center in Joliet, IL. The Christian Youth Center, CYC, 
is celebrating their 50th anniversary this year.
  In 1957, a group of concerned businessmen under the leadership of Mr. 
Joseph Pickering, approached Youth Pastor Chuck Miller with the idea of 
starting a Christian Youth Center. In the fall of 1957, the Christian 
Youth Center began meeting at the home of Mr. Joseph Pickering and then 
to a rented storefront on Cass Street near Joliet Central High School. 
Within a year's time, the club had outgrown the storefront and 
purchased a two-story house on Herkimer Street. Mr. Miller felt called 
to another area of service and left the center. In 1961, Harv Russell 
assumed the responsibility of director of the Center.
  The organization realized tremendous growth in the following 9 years. 
Several programs were started which include a Tuesday 1-hour high 
school radio program, a monthly publication called the Center News, and 
the establishment of the Women's Auxiliary. All of these programs and 
more continue to function to this day.
  In the spring of 1972, ground was broken on a 5-acre tract of land to 
build the current Christian Youth Center. The new facility was opened 
on April 15, 1973. Since moving into the new facility, the center has 
been able to increase the staff to five full-time and five part-time 
employees. Thousands of young people have passed through the new 
facility and have participated in weekly activities, concerts, day 
camps, films and a host of activities established to attract young 
people.
  Madam Speaker, I urge this body to identify, and recognize other 
organizations in their own districts whose actions have so greatly 
benefited and strengthened America's families and communities.

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