[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 1930-1931]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         RECOGNIZING JON PONDER

 Mr. HELLER. Mr. President, I wish to recognize Jon Ponder for 
his tireless effort in giving others hope for a brighter future. Mr. 
Ponder has dedicated many years to helping adults exiting various 
segments of the judicial system successfully reenter the workforce and 
their local communities, as well as rekindle relationships with their 
families. He has contributed greatly to the city of Las Vegas by 
founding HOPE for Prisoners, Inc., HOPE, which gives ex-offenders the 
support necessary to reduce the likelihood of returning to prison.
  Mr. Ponder stands as a shining example of someone who has devoted his 
life to the betterment of others. He founded HOPE in January of 2012 
and has

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since worked to create a strong program to successfully streamline men 
and women back into society. The program has graduated over 800 people 
through its leadership workshop who have gone on to successfully obtain 
full-time jobs. As founder and CEO, Mr. Ponder has contributed greatly 
to the success of the program.
  HOPE services 12 agencies and offers life-skills training, work-
readiness training, and job-development opportunities, encouraging 
those in the program to work hard to become a positive, contributing 
member of the community. Mr. Ponder has taken his own life experiences 
and used them in a positive manner to truly transform the lives of 
others. His ambition to help others is invaluable. He recently received 
the Leadership Award from the International Church of Las Vegas, a 
well-deserved honor for all of his hard work.
  I extend my deepest gratitude to Mr. Ponder for his selfless 
contributions to the Las Vegas community and the individuals that have 
benefited from HOPE. His service to Nevada places him among the 
outstanding men and women of the State.
  Today, I ask my colleagues and all Nevadans to join me in recognizing 
Mr. Ponder and his work for HOPE, a program with a mission that is both 
noble and necessary. I am honored to acknowledge Mr. Ponder and his 
tireless efforts to give others a second chance in Nevada. Giving these 
men and women the skills to allow them to change their circumstances is 
admirable, and I wish the program the best of luck in all of its future 
endeavors.

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