[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 13]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 18278]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING BOOKS FOR AFRICA FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, September 9, 2008

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I rise to honor the work of 
an internationally recognized nongovernmental organization based in St. 
Paul, Minnesota, that for the past 25 years has helped to transform the 
lives of millions of people--young and old--across the continent of 
Africa. With commitment and a passion for putting a book in the hands 
of children and elders hungry for knowledge, Books for Africa is an 
organization that has shipped more than 20 million books to more than 
35 African countries since 1988. In so many African cities, towns and 
rural schools, where students had no access to books, there are now 
books for learning, enjoyment, and to experience the wonders of the 
world.
  Mr. Tom Warth is the founder of Books for Africa and he is an 
inspirational humanitarian. Tom's vision, enthusiasm, and his ongoing 
commitment, along with the work of all the board of directors of Books 
for Africa, continues to transform lives by facilitating the shipment 
of container after container of books that put real books in the hands 
of real people.
  Now, under the strong leadership of Mr. Pat Plonsky, I am proud to 
continue my office's ongoing relationship with Books for Africa. Their 
collaborations with Peace Corps volunteers, the State Department, and 
the U.S. Agency for International Development, USAID, enables the U.S. 
to demonstrate both its generosity and its willingness to provide a 
tangible learning tool. Last year, in partnership with USAID's Africa 
Education Initiative, 18 containers of books were delivered to Ghana, 
Liberia, Madagascar, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. All 
told, Books for Africa delivered 119 containers of books in 2007 to 22 
countries, a truly impressive accomplishment.
  This form of public diplomacy--putting the book in the hands of a 
child or elder--is truly the best face of America and should not only 
be sustained, but expanded. In the U.S. we take books for granted, but 
we should never forget the power of a book. And, when they are 
distributed by the millions, the benefit cannot be overstated.
  Let me conclude by also recognizing the extraordinary effort of the 
volunteers for Books for Africa, as well as the donations of high 
quality books from publishers, schools and organizations. This combined 
and coordinated effort is transforming lives. If this generosity and 
determination to provide books can continue to match the hunger for 
knowledge, learning, and education by the children and adults all 
across the African continent, then we will have even greater 
accomplishments to celebrate in the future.
  Again, congratulations to Books for Africa for 25 years of 
extraordinary work to build a bridge of knowledge, education and hope 
between Minnesota and communities all across Africa.

                          ____________________