[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6275]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             IN RECOGNITION OF MR. JOHN FRANCIS GIONFRIDDO

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID G. VALADAO

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 1, 2017

  Mr. VALADAO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Mr. John 
Francis Gionfriddo on his graduation from George Mason University and 
wish him well as he begins the next chapter of his life.
  Mr. Gionfriddo was born February 9, 1993 in Fairfax, Virginia to his 
parents Elizabeth and Joseph Gionfriddo. John was born with a 
congenital heart defect, and when he was just three weeks old underwent 
heart surgery. While doctors were able to repair his heart, John 
suffered complications after surgery. Since he was young, John has 
never been intimidated by imposed limitations with regards to his 
disability and has pursued friendships, work, and schooling without 
hesitation.
  In 1997, John became a big brother to his brother Andrew, and a few 
years later, his youngest brother, Frank. In 2008, the Gionfriddo 
family relocated to England where John began high school at the 
International Community School in London. While living abroad, John 
enjoyed traveling throughout Europe with his parents and brothers. In 
2011, the Gionfriddo family returned to the United States where John 
attended Herndon High School. Eager to gain professional experience, 
John began an internship at Dranesville Elementary School as an 
Assistant to the Librarian, a position he proudly holds to this day.
  In 2013, John graduated from Herndon High School and enrolled in the 
George Mason University Learning into Future Environments (LIFE) 
Program, a postsecondary education program for young adults with 
intellectual disabilities. John was extremely active on campus, joining 
the Special Olympics Basketball Team and serving as a Member of the 
Best Buddies Program.
  Dedicated to expanding his professional skills, John participated in 
the Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual 
Disabilities, and as a result, joined my team in September 2015 where 
he spent three semesters as a Congressional Intern in my Washington, 
D.C. Office. In this role, John was responsible for supply inventory, 
organizing and assigning mail, and assisting staff with day-to-day 
projects. John's eagerness to help others, dedication to his work, and 
positive outlook on life were invaluable to my team.
  In his free time, John enjoys walking the family dog, Lily, listening 
to a variety of music, spending time at the family cabin in 
Pennsylvania, drinking coffee and eating out with family and friends. 
Throughout his life, John has been dedicated to helping others. In 
2014, he was awarded the Jeff Watkins Volunteer of the Summer Award for 
his work with Fairfax County's Summer Therapeutic Recreation Program. 
He also serves on the advisory board for The Institute on Disability 
(IOD) at the University of New Hampshire's film project, ``Intelligent 
Lives''.
  On May 20, 2017, John will graduate from the George Mason University 
LIFE Program, an incredible accomplishment. Following graduation, John 
will begin an exciting career helping others at SourceAmerica, a 
company dedicated to creating jobs for individuals with disabilities. 
While we are disappointed Mr. Gionfriddo's time with our office has 
come to an end, we are excited as he begins this next chapter in his 
life.
  While Mr. Gionfriddo may have joined my office to gain work 
experience and learn about government, it was truly John who taught my 
team about compassion, dedication, and what it means to help others. 
The sky is the limit for John, and I cannot wait to see what he 
accomplishes in the future.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues in the United States House of 
Representatives to join me in congratulating Mr. John Francis 
Gionfriddo on his college graduation and wishing him well as he embarks 
on the next chapter of his life.

                          ____________________