[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12665]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO RENDY AND RENEE MAO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BILL SHUSTER

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 17, 2008

  Mr. SHUSTER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the heroic 
efforts and dedication of Rendy and Renee Mao. Throughout the past 
months, Rendy and his sister Renee have worked tirelessly to raise 
money to feed victims of the devastating earthquake which hit Sichuan 
Province, China on May 12, 2008.
  The Maos' idea of fundraising for earthquake relief began from within 
the classroom. One of the student's teachers suggested looking further 
into current events occurring across the globe. Teachers across America 
plant important seeds in the minds of children, and Rendy's German 
teacher at Mercersburg Academy is no exception. Through educational 
discussions about the importance of global awareness and global 
connections, a teacher sparked the mind of not only Rendy Mao, but also 
Renee Mao. Together, these students realized the immensity of the 
devastation which ravaged rural China and felt the need to act. Their 
decision to act led them to set a goal of raising five thousand dollars 
by June 30, 2008 for the victims of the Sichuan earthquake. If this 
goal is reached, over five thousand earthquake victims will be fed for 
a day. This laudable decision has set an example for all of us.
  In order to make their dream of helping others a reality, Rendy and 
Renee began to increase awareness in their community through several 
steps. First, they focused on alerting the public to the events which 
had crumbled part of a nation, through word of mouth and flyers. The 
flyers provided a variety of information on the earthquake as well as 
outlined their planned actions for the funding of their effort. As 
their message spread, the number of volunteers throughout the community 
increased, which multiplied the effectiveness of their efforts. The 
goal of this drive is not only to raise money to support the needs of 
the victims, but also to assure the victims that their plight has not 
gone unnoticed and will not be ignored. The teens have collected 
hundreds of signatures to demonstrate to the victims that residents of 
Franklin County, Pennsylvania support them by sending not only 
financial aid but also their thoughts and prayers.
  These students have truly practiced what they have been taught and 
have set an example for communities throughout this nation and the 
world. As Rendy and Renee reflect upon their work and their dedication 
to helping others, they can certainly be proud of their service to the 
community of the Sichuan Province. These two students are wonderful 
representatives of Pennsylvania. They have exhibited compassion and 
determination to help others who are less fortunate than themselves. 
The Maos, along with the community of Franklin County, all deserve our 
thanks and congratulations on their hard work toward giving an 
extraordinary $5,000 contribution to the victims of the Sichuan 
Province earthquake. I would like to wish Rendy and Renee the best in 
their future endeavors as they continue to serve Franklin County and 
the world. I thank them for their far-reaching commitment and service 
as they continue to add greatness to their community.

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