[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13559]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           IN RECOGNITION OF THE UNITED WAY OF DENTON COUNTY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2012

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the United Way of 
Denton County and their 61 years of service. The local chapter aims to 
improve the quality of life in the critical areas of education, income, 
and health. The organization estimates that more the 33,000 students in 
the area are at risk of dropping out of school and approximately 15% of 
the County's adults over the age of 24 did not graduate from high 
school. Furthermore, the Texas Food Bank estimates that more than 
90,000 individuals in Denton County are food insecure, and the Texas 
Department of State Health Services reports that $713 million dollars 
were spent on preventable hospitalizations over a four-year period in 
the county.
  The United Way of Denton County and partner agency volunteers and 
donors decided they could overcome these discouraging statistics. 
Volunteers donated 221,000 hours, valuing a $4.8 million staff cost 
savings in 2011. Through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program, 
United Way of Denton County staff and volunteers have generated more 
than $1,782,899 in Federal Tax Returns to Denton County residents since 
2007. In addition, to improve the area's quality of life, 7,361 donors 
gave a total of $1,562,851 to the United Way of Denton County in 2011.
  The organization's worthwhile efforts have positively impacted the 
communities it serves, offering assistance to more than 4,500 Denton 
County residents through United Way of Denton County and their non-
profit partner agencies. With the support of the citizens of Denton 
County, the United Way will continue to flourish and unite the 
community through its mission of improving lives by affording 
individuals and organizations opportunities to give, advocate, and 
volunteer. It is my pleasure to recognize the United Way of Denton 
County and their 61 years of service, and I am privileged to represent 
them in the U.S. House of Representatives.

                          ____________________