Prepared Remarks of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at the Fourth Annual "Keeping the Promise to our Children" Conference Hosted by Children Uniting Nations in Association with Russell Simmons' "Hip Hop Summit Action Network"
Statement
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SPEAKER PELOSI: I'm so pleased to join Children Uniting Nations for their fourth annual conference here on Capitol Hill.
I'd particularly like to acknowledge my good friend, and the Chairperson and Founder of Children Uniting Nations, Daphna Ziman. Daphna is one of the great humanitarians of our time. She is a powerful voice for children who have no voice.
When Daphna comes to the Hill to speak about issues facing foster and at-risk children, Members of Congress listen. That is because through Children Uniting Nations, Daphna gives these children an opportunity to succeed by building mentoring relationships.
I would also like to recognize music pioneer and philanthropist Russell Simmons. Through his non-profit, Rush Community Affairs, Russell is empowering at-risk youth.
Every year, almost 800,000 children are served in foster care. These are children facing enormous challenges, but also with incredible promise.
A relationship with a mentor is proven to increase their chances of going to college, not using drugs, and staying out of trouble. Simply put, these relationships help foster children live up to their full potential.
The leadership of Children Uniting Nations and Daphna Ziman was essential to our success last year in providing loan forgiveness to community college students who mentor at-risk children through the Higher Education bill.
This year, we hope to do more. Congressman Joe Crowley is working to connect children in foster care with mentors through the Foster Care Mentoring Act.
Today, Children Uniting Nations is bringing together policymakers, to, as they say, 'Keep Our Promise to Our Children.' Working together, we will.
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