Commending the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary on its 50th Anniversary

Floor Speech

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Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary serving the Regional One Health Medical Center, the Memphis-based acute care hospital for the Mid-South region. On November 8, 1972, 54 women of what is now the Presbytery of the Mid-South met to discuss how they might best address the health care needs of women in our community, touring medical facilities to assess the situation. On April 9, 1973, 39 people gathered at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis to sign the charter forming the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary, named after Idlewild's late pastor, a hospital chaplain, and his wife. Its mission was ministering to the needs of patients, assisting staff, promoting community health and welfare, and providing a bond of understanding and service for people of all races and creeds. Starting off with just a cart of snacks and magazines for hospital patients, the auxiliary grew to provide volunteers in the pediatric clinic, offer CPR classes, provide teen pregnancy counseling, and assist sickle cell patients. Over time, the auxiliary supported purchase of neo-natal equipment, orthopedic clinic waiting rooms, and staff education and training. In 1978, the auxiliary created the Mary Love Clothes Closet for the families of patients who arrive in Memphis with only the clothes on their backs. In 1983, the auxiliary created a gift shop which has generated more than $557,000 for various Regional One projects. One of the early initiatives of the auxiliary was a 1973 request to create a chapel for prayer and meditation. Eight years later, in 1981, the Alice H. Davies Chapel, named for one of the early founders of the auxiliary, was dedicated. I want to commend the generations of supporters of the John K. and Katherine Johnson Auxiliary for their selfless commitment to meeting both the critical needs and the incalculable hopes of patients and their loved ones. I also want to congratulate all associated with the auxiliary and its mission on this anniversary milestone.

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