Honoring Susan Booth for Her Outstanding Commitment to Public Service

HONORING SUSAN BOOTH FOR HER OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SERVICE-HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO (Extensions of Remarks - February 24, 2004)

HON. ROSA L. DeLAURO
OF CONNECTICUT
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2004

Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise today to join the many gathered to pay tribute to an outstanding member of our community, Susan Booth, as she is honored by the Devon Rotary and named a Paul Harris fellow. The Paul Harris fellow recognition was created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, as a way to show appreciation for contributions to the foundation's charitable and educational program. Every Paul Harris fellow receives a pin, medallion and a certificate when he or she becomes a fellow, identifying the recipient as an advocate of the foundation's goals of world peace and international understanding. The commitment and dedication that Susan has demonstrated is indeed a reflection of all that the Rotary stands for. It is wonderful to see her work so proudly recognized by her community.

Founder of the Archway Foundation, Susan has spent nearly 15 years collecting donations to feed and clothe homeless children in Romania. Inspired by a television program about Romanian orphans abandoned when communism collapsed, Susan, a railroad conductor on a commuter train between Connecticut and New York's Grand Central Station, switched to night shifts so that she could earn a master's degree in social work. Upon completing her degree, Susan went to Bucharest on a week's vacation in search of these Romanian orphans who were living in sewers and abandoned buildings. With only a short list of contacts, Susan was fortunate to find an individual who knew where to look. "In that sewer, I found my life's work," she has said. Indeed, she has dedicated countless hours to her mission.
Operating out of her own home and a post office box, Susan collects clothing and donations and has been awarded hundreds of thousands in charitable grants. Through her hard work and the generosity of her contributors, Archway has been able to purchase two small homes in Romania as well as employ several Romanians. One of the homes is used as a soup kitchen from which volunteers take food out to hundreds of homeless children every week and provide groceries to squatter families who take refuge in abandoned buildings.

It is not often that you find an individual with such dedication and commitment. Susan's good work has touched the lives of thousands of needy children. More importantly, she has inspired countless numbers of people to donate their time and energy to provide one of life's most precious gifts: hope.

I am proud to stand today to join the Devon Rotary and the many family and friends who have gathered this evening in extending my sincere thanks and heart-felt congratulations to Susan Booth as she is named a Paul Harris fellow. Yours is a legacy that is sure to continue to inspire generations to come.