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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1553-E1554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
COMMEMORATION OF THE 90TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DAUGHTERS OF PENELOPE
______
HON. GUS M. BILIRAKIS
of florida
in the house of representatives
Friday, December 6, 2019
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to mark an important
anniversary. Last month, the Daughters of Penelope, an international
woman's organization and affiliate organization of the American
Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), celebrated its
90th anniversary on November 16. Founded in San Francisco, the
Daughters of Penelope originally worked to improve the status and well-
being of women and their families. They also sought to provide women
with the opportunity to make significant contributions to their
communities and country. After successfully achieving many of their
early goals, the Daughters of Penelope now promote the ideals of
ancient Greece: philanthropy, education, civic responsibility, and
family and individual excellence, achieved through community service
and volunteerism.
I am a proud Greek-American. As a young boy, my grandparents,
parents, aunts and uncles instilled in me an appreciation for our
beautiful Greek culture, which focuses on family, community, and faith.
As Co-Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, it is
with great pride that I see these values shine through the Daughters of
Penelope today, across all its 250 chapters worldwide. Through the
exceptional Penelope House in Mobile, Alabama and Penelope's Place in
Brockton, Massachusetts, the organization vigorously supports efforts
to combat domestic violence in Greece as well as the United States. The
development of these shelters brought renewed hope to many areas with
suffering families who previously did not have access to the same level
of care.
As a member on the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce
Committee, I am impressed with the organization's efforts to provide
financial support and raise awareness for medical research on
treatments for breast cancer, Thalassemia (Cooley's anemia), muscular
dystrophy, and Alzheimer's disease. The Daughters of Penelope are also
a leading sponsor of the U.S. Department of Housing
[[Page E1554]]
and Urban Development's Section 202 Housing for the Elderly Program,
which offers affordable housing to senior citizens in Alabama, Indiana,
Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota and Texas. Recently, the Daughters of
Penelope has also demonstrated support for senior nutrition and
isolation with support for Meals on Wheels of America.
In addition to helping the elderly, the Daughters of Penelope
Foundation, Inc., supports the educational objectives of the Daughters
of Penelope by providing tens of thousands of dollars annually for
scholarships, sponsoring educational seminars, and donating children's
books to schools, shelters and churches through the ``Penelope's
Books'' program. After ninety meaningful and productive years, it
excites me to see what the Daughters of Penelope will accomplish and
how they will help our country and our culture in the next ninety
years.
____________________
