[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 11558]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




HONORING JOANNE LEINOW ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT AS PARTNERSHIP 
     DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR OF BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE DESERT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RAUL RUIZ

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 14, 2015

  Mr. RUIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Ms. Joanne Leinow 
on her retirement after 28 years of service with the Big Brothers Big 
Sisters (BBBS) program, whose mission is to provide children facing 
adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one 
relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
  Throughout her nearly three decades of service, Ms. Leinow has been 
involved in with BBBS in both large and small communities, all across 
the country including Cincinnati, Ohio, Los Angeles, California, and 
most recently here in our desert. From her contribution in 1960, in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, to her work with the Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters 
in Los Angeles in the 1990s, and finally her most recent service over 
the past 9 years with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert, Ms. 
Leinow has made a tremendous impact on thousands of youth in our 
nation.
  In 2002, Ms. Leinow was hired at the BBBS of the Desert to develop a 
site based mentoring program. Unfamiliar with the region, Ms. Leinow 
performed her BBBS ``magic.'' In 2006 she was promoted to Partnership 
Development Director for her incredible job recruiting new volunteers, 
developing community and business partnerships, and making sure that 
the Coachella Valley community knew BBBSD was the ``go-to'' agency for 
mentoring.
  From the time Ms. Leinow became the Partnership Development Director 
in 2006, BBBSD has seen a 108% increase in the number of children 
served, increasing from 333 children in 2006 to 555 in 2010.
  Ms. Leinow's hard work and passion for public service does not go 
unnoticed. She has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 
Skip Walsh Award in 2011, which honors BBBS professionals who excel in 
the qualities of education, enthusiasm, and generosity.
  Mr. Speaker, Ms. Leinow's commitment to public service and 
particularly to stimulate children to overcome hardship through 
mentorship is an act of human kindness. On behalf of all those who have 
benefited from BBBSD, and the residents of California's 36th 
Congressional District, I would like to offer my sincerest thanks and 
congratulate Ms. Leinow for her exceptional commitment. I wish her well 
in her well-deserved retirement.

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