[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6343]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CELEBRATING THIRTY YEARS OF BEAUTILLION COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2011

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Ms. 
Donna LaVerne Daniels Rice, a community activist, businesswoman, 
councilmember, and founder of the Columbia, Maryland chapter of Jack 
and Jill of America's Beautillion Ball. For the past 30 years, 
outstanding high school juniors and seniors from Columbia, Maryland; 
Baltimore, Maryland; and Washington, D.C. have been selected, honored 
and praised for their accomplishments as they move from one stage of 
their lives to the next.
  Through stimulating educational workshops, mentoring, culturally 
enriching experiences, and positive self-concept development, the 
Beautillion philosophy helps to prepare young men so that they can 
prosper as contributing members of society. In order to be selected as 
a ``beau,'' these young men must have at least a ``C'' average and 
excel in one of four areas: academics, the arts, community service, and 
sports. Of course, most of the young men honored excel in more than one 
area.
  The tireless dedication and devotion of my friend, Donna Rice, 
ensures that wonderful events that transform young people's lives 
happen each and every year. For that, I thank her. As a fellow Fisk 
University graduate, and member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., 
Ms. Rice has a long list of other achievements, honors, and awards. 
None are more valuable, however, than the experience and honor we both 
share of mentoring young black boys and teenagers. We share the same 
concern for the plight of young African American boys, and from this 
concern, Ms. Rice began her community leadership and scholarship 
project. Her once meager project has now been duplicated in 53 other 
cities throughout the United States and the Bahamas.
  Tonight, as ten young men are honored as the leaders of tomorrow, let 
us also honor a leader of today--Ms. Donna LaVerne Daniels Rice, 
devoted wife to Dr. William Rice and the mother of three adult 
children. I thank my friend for her devotion to saving our young black 
boys.

                          ____________________