Members of Congress recognize our National Honorees

Members of Congress from Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Nevada, Iowa and Kentucky made Congressional Statements honoring the impact of the 2012 Make A Difference Day honorees. These statements are part of the official Congressional Record which is permanently kept at the Library of Congress. Below are the statements as they appear in the record. A PDF download of each statement from the US Government Printing Office is available via the link by each one. Also, Representative Silvestre Reyes (at right) took time out of his schedule to come visit Eleanor Schoenbrun of El Paso at the Make A Difference Day Awards luncheon.

From Senator Robert P. Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania: Recognizing volunteers from Yardley, PA (PDF)

Mr. President, today, I would like to acknowledge the great work of volunteers in Yardley, PA, especially the students at Pennsbury High School who have been selected as the 2012 Make a Difference Day winners. Make a Difference Day is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors, and this annual day of service mobilizes more than 3 million volunteers to effect change in their communities.

This group of outstanding volunteers from Yardley, PA is led by Neha Gupta. Neha founded Empower Orphans, a non-profit organization that has leveraged $325,000 in donations and grants to clothe and feed Indian children, create a sewing center and set up libraries at four schools. Near to her home in Bucks County, PA, Neha, now 15, identified children in need. In the months leading up to Make a Difference Day , Neha and a group of volunteers gathered 3,000 books and bought colorful furnishings for the neighboring Feltonville Intermediate School library. On Make a Difference Day , the team cleaned up, decorated and stocked the shelves of the library. Since October’s project, Neha has also started an Empower Orphans club at her high school and plans to hold a Make a Difference Day Project every year.

I wish to congratulate Neha and her team and thank them for their service.

From Representative Michael G. Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania: In honor of the 2012 Make A Difference Day winners (PDF)

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to acknowledge the great work of the volunteers of Yardley, Pennsylvania, especially the students at Pennsbury High School who have been selected as one of the 2012 Make a Difference Day winners. Make a Difference Day is a celebration of the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA Weekend, this annual day of service mobilizes more than three million volunteers to create change in their community.

This group of outstanding volunteers from Yardley has made a substantial impact on their community by conducting a book drive and stocking the shelves of the library at the Feltonville Intermediate School. The leader of the project, Neha Gupta, founded Empower Orphans, a non-profit that has used $325,000 in donations and grants to clothe and feed impoverished Indian children, create a sewing center, and set up libraries at four different schools.

But even within a few miles of her home in Bucks County, Neha, now 15, sees children in need. In the months leading up to Make a Difference Day , Neha and a group of volunteers gathered 3,000 titles and bought colorful furnishings for the library. Then, on Make a Difference Day , the team cleaned up the library, decorated it and stocked the shelves. Since October’s project, Neha has started an Empower Orphans club at her high school and plans to hold a Make a Difference Day Project every year.

I want to congratulate Neha and the students of Pennsbury High School and thank them for their service and dedication to our community. I am honored to represent you in Congress.

From Representative Reid J. Ribble of Wisconsin: Honoring the Ellis family (PDF)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the great work of the Ellis family of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, who worked to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Marshfield, Wisconsin and are the 2012 Make a Difference Day winners. Make a Difference Day is a celebration of the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA Weekend, this annual day of service mobilizes more than three million volunteers to create change in their community.

The Ellis family has made a substantial impact on their community by collecting aluminum cans for the local Ronald McDonald House. Rick and Kela Ellis were heartbroken when they lost 2-year-old daughter Ashley to brain cancer in 1989. But within a year they’d found a way to honor her memory: by recycling aluminum cans to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Marshfield, Wisconsin, their “home” while Ashley was hospitalized. Since giving their Cans for Cancer collection a “huge boost” by tying it to Make A Difference Day in 1998, the Ellises have recycled 6,000 pounds of aluminum, raising more than $2,500.

I want to congratulate the Ellis family for this honor and thank them for their service to our community.

From Representative Sean P. Duffy of Wisconsin: Congratulating Rick and Kela Ellis of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, on being name a 2012 National Make A Difference Day Award recipient (PDF)

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to acknowledge the great work of the volunteers of Rhinelander, Wisconsin, especially those who worked to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Marshfield, Wisconsin. They have been selected as a one of the 2012 “Make A Difference Day” winners and I could not be more proud.

Make a Difference Day celebrates the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA Weekend, this annual day of service mobilizes more than three million volunteers to create change in their community.

This group of outstanding volunteers from Rhinelander has made a substantial impact on their community by collecting aluminum cans for the local Ronald McDonald House. Rick and Kela Ellis were heartbroken when they lost their 2-year-old daughter, Ashley, to brain cancer in 1989. But within a year they had found a way to honor her memory–by recycling aluminum cans to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Marshfield, Wisconsin, their “home” while Ashley was hospitalized. Since giving their “Cans for Cancer” collection a huge boost by tying it to Make A Difference Day in 1998, the Ellises have recycled 6,000 pounds of aluminum, raising more than $2,500.

Rick and Kela will be honored at the Make A Difference Day event presented by Points of Light here in Washington, DC, on April 19, 2012. I congratulate them for this great service in the midst of such loss.

From Representative Shelley Berkley of Nevada: Congratulating the 2012 Make A Difference Day winners from Las Vegas (PDF)

Mr. Speaker, today, I would like to acknowledge the great work of the volunteers of Las Vegas, Nevada, involved with the 13th annual Make A Difference Day food drive. These volunteers from Las Vegas have been selected as national 2012 Make a Difference Day winners. Make a Difference Day is a celebration of the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA Weekend, Make a Difference Day is an annual day of service that mobilizes more than three million volunteers to create change in their community.

This group of outstanding volunteers from Las Vegas has made a substantial impact on our community by collecting 3,500 pounds of canned food. For the past 13 years on Make a Difference day , publicist Mary Vail has teamed up with local grocery stores and encouraged shoppers to buy just one extra can of food to donate. This year, the Smith’s Food and Drug store in the Summerlin community served as the event’s host location. Volunteers included Mayor Pro Tern Stavros Anthony, TV talent show contestants, and local news personalities who came by to support Mary Vail and her 22 volunteers. Throughout the 13 years Mary Vail has been holding these food drives, she has collected 22.3 tons of food and toiletries for the Salvation Army.

I want to congratulate these outstanding Nevadans for their leadership and great work in the community. I am proud they will be honored here in Washington during National Volunteer Week for their service at the Points of Light event, Celebrating People in Action, on April 19.

From Representative Tom Latham of Iowa: A tribute to the volunteers of Clarion, Iowa (PDF)

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and acknowledge the volunteers of Clarion, Iowa, for their hard work and becoming 2012 National Honorees of Make a Difference Day . This year, more than a thousand citizens of Clarion participated in Make a Difference Day activities, earning them the prestigious honor as Make a Difference Day is a celebration of the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA Weekend, this annual day of service mobilizes more than 3 million volunteers nationwide to create positive change in their communities.

This group of outstanding volunteers from this three-stoplight town of 2,800 has made a substantial impact in their community by completing hundreds of small acts of kindness that culminated in their well-deserved national recognition. From crocheting robes for seniors to cleaning ditches, from raking leaves to running errands for neighbors in need, this small town came together a thousand strong to make an unforgettable impact on Make a Difference Day .

Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to represent Clarion and its citizens in the United States Congress and I trust my colleagues in the House will rise to join me in congratulating them on a job well done. Clarion has shown the nation once again that small towns can surely do big things.

From Representative Ed Whitfield of Kentucky: Congratulating Girl Scouts Troop 333 (PDF)

Mr. Speaker, today I rise to congratulate Girl Scouts Troop 333 from Madisonville, Kentucky on their selection as one of the 2012 Make A Difference Day honorees.

Make A Difference Day is a celebration of the power of neighbors helping neighbors. Created by USA Weekend, this annual day of service mobilizes more than three million volunteers to create change in their community.

Nine Junior and Cadet Girl Scouts of Madisonville Housing Authority Troop 333 dedicated a second Make A Difference Day to seniors. In 2010 the troop did chores for their older neighbors in public housing. This time around, they decided to bring cheer to nursing home residents.

The girls decorated 450 greeting cards and wrote special messages for the seniors. They distributed the cards to residents in three assisted living homes and spent time visiting with each resident who received a card.

I am pleased that Troop 333 will be honored for their efforts tonight during the Points of Light 2012 Make A Difference Day Awards Luncheon at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center here in Washington. Please join with me in celebrating their outstanding service.