[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 10100-10101]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF JENNIFER FOSTER

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. ALAN GRAYSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 12, 2014

  Mr. GRAYSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in honor of Lesbian, Gay, 
Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month, to recognize Jennifer 
Foster. The daughter of Edward and Linda Foster, Jennifer was born and 
raised in Hicksville, Ohio. She attended the University of Cincinnati 
where she earned an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice. Jennifer 
went on to the University of Michigan where she graduated Summa Cum 
Laude, with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in Business Administration.
  In 1999, Jennifer founded Foster Productions, Inc. after years of 
freelancing in the Detroit, Michigan video production industry. 
Jennifer relocated the company to Orlando, Florida in 2001. She has 
written, produced and directed both industrial and broadcast projects 
for many of the most prestigious corporations in the world. Jennifer 
has produced a wide range of media including commercial, documentary, 
learning development, marketing, animation, and broadcast media. Her 
award-winning work can be seen everywhere, including Fortune 500 
companies, museums, the worldwide web, broadcast television programs, 
and commercials.

[[Page 10101]]

  In March of 2013, Jennifer founded Kids' Wellness Alliance, LLC 
(KWA!), a children's health and wellness ``edutainment'' company. KWA! 
is expected to launch its first program, YogaDog!, in the fall of 2014. 
Jennifer is the Chief Executive Officer and oversees all business and 
creative aspects of KWA!'s development projects.
  Jennifer is a long-time member of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and 
the Co-Founder of the local Orlando HRC community. During her eight 
years of volunteer leadership, Jennifer helped create one of the most 
vibrant and politically effective local HRC volunteer communities in 
the country. Serving on the Board of Governors for the national 
organization, Jennifer earned numerous awards during her time with HRC 
including the prestigious Founder's Award.
  Jennifer is also a long-time member of the Metropolitan Business 
Association (MBA) of Orlando, Central Florida's LGBT Chamber of 
Commerce. She was honored with the 2011 Debbie Simmons Community 
Service Award and named the 2014 Business Woman of the Year award 
recipient.
  An active member of her community, Jennifer was twice nominated for 
the Orlando Business Journal ``Women Who Mean Business'' award. She 
supports a variety of local non-profit and political organizations 
including Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Central Florida, Florida Little 
Dog Rescue, Hope and Help of Central Florida, Libby's Legacy Breast 
Cancer Foundation, Planned Parenthood of Central Florida, and the Zebra 
Coalition.
  Jennifer's greatest achievement is her marriage to her long-time life 
partner, Mary Anne Metaxas. They were legally wed in Washington, D.C. 
on December 13, 2013--their 10 year anniversary. They reside in 
Orlando, Florida with their three dogs, Matti, Maci, and Patrick, two 
cats, Graci and Kevin, and occasionally rescue puppies that they are 
temporarily fostering. I am happy to honor Jennifer Foster, during LGBT 
Pride Month, for her contributions to the Central Florida Community.

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