[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18067]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING SISTER JOAN FOLEY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 8, 2008

  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Sister Joan 
Foley, who is the recipient of the Seven Springs Rotary Club's 
prestigious Paul Harris Award. Sister Foley has always put service 
above self in a lifelong commitment and passion to helping the 
communities around her.
  Sister Foley joined the Medical Mission Sisters in 1954 to help solve 
health care issues in lesser-developed parts of the world. She began 
her mission in Pakistan, where she supervised a busy clinical lab and 
trained many young Pakistanis. Sister Foley later became involved in 
several community health care networks focusing on rural and minority 
populations in the United States. She then served for 6 years as the 
Coordinator of Medical Mission Sister's Eastern District and currently 
is the Sector Coordinator in North America.
  In 1991, Sister Foley sought out a new mission in Florida's Pasco 
County. She saw a need to help local jobseekers find employment 
regardless of age, income, background, or education. Sister Foley first 
started the Connections program in her car to help individuals manage 
their job search and connect with area employers. Today, the program 
has grown substantially but still offers free one-on-one assistance and 
many other resources to jobseekers. Sister Foley stepped down as 
director of Connections this past spring; however, her vision will 
continue to enrich the community.
  Madam Speaker, I am truly honored to recognize Sister Foley's mission 
that has improved the lives of people all over the world. For nearly 20 
years she has made Pasco County a better place by providing new hopes 
and better futures. The Paul Harris Award is a wonderful recognition of 
her hard work and devotion.

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