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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO MARY O'KEEFE--28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF THE YEAR
______
HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF
of california
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History
Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and
sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to
outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional
District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Mary O'Keefe of
La Crescenta, California.
Mary O'Keefe is an esteemed community volunteer and reporter for the
Crescenta Valley Weekly, and her contributions, both personal and
professional, have positively impacted the lives of many people in the
greater La Crescenta community.
A consummate volunteer, Ms. O'Keefe's contributions to her community
date back to being a Girl Scouts troop leader when her daughters were
young. As an enthusiastic Parent Teacher Association (PTA) member and
room mom, she quickly became known as a sought-after volunteer for
whatever events and activities the PTA was planning. When her son was
attending high school, Mary became a vital member of Prom Plus, a non-
profit organization which holds a supervised after-prom event for
Crescenta Valley High School seniors as well as their guests. When her
daughter voiced interest in establishing a youth arm, Prom Plus Club,
she became the club's mentor and oversaw hundreds of students as they
implemented volunteer tasks in the community and helped create the
scholarship program for members of the Prom Plus Club. Ms. O'Keefe
remains active in both Prom Plus and Prom Plus Club to this day.
Mary founded the Fire House Youth Center in La Crescenta, which
welcomes youth to congregate and spend time with each other in a safe
place. Under Ms. O'Keefe's mentorship, youth are encouraged to
establish their own programs such as Girl Empowerment Day, career night
and college information night. In 2016, youth skateboarders from the
Fire House worked with Los Angeles County and designed their own skate
park at Crescenta Valley Park.
In addition, Mary also serves on the Crescenta Valley Prayer
Breakfast Committee and Crescenta Valley Fire Safe Council Board, and
helped create the local community newspaper, the Crescenta Valley
Weekly, where she oversees a staff of reporters who write for the
newspaper, while being a main contributing writer herself on in-depth
stories.
A devoted wife and mother, Mary and her husband Mark have three
children: Charly, Molly and Jessy.
I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-
respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Mary
O'Keefe.
____________________
