In Recognition of Hope Weng, the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program 2016 Honoree

Floor Speech

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Ms. SINEMA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Hope Weng, a young student from my district who is one of two students to receive national recognition for exemplary volunteer service in her community. Ms. Weng of Tempe has just been named the 2016 Middle Level State Honoree by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, an annual honor conferred on the most impressive student volunteers in each state and the District of Columbia.

Ms. Weng, an eighth-grade student at Tempe Preparatory Academy, delivered 100 care packages containing cookies, thank-you cards and self-penned essays to residents of a veterans home to honor their service. After writing an essay about veterans and having met with a veteran at a local VFW post, Ms. Weng was inspired to initiate a project that would honor and show appreciation to our veterans. Ms. Weng achieved her goal by creating a budget and then raising the funds through the sale of Girl Scout cookies, hosting a garage sale, winning a writing contest, saving her Chinese New Year gift money and soliciting donations. She engaged the community by having individuals write messages of gratitude in her thank-you cards.

Thanks to Ms. Weng's dedication to service, 100 Arizona veterans received thoughtful care packages. Members, please join me in congratulating Ms. Weng for being named one of the top honorees in Arizona by The 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Ms. Weng, congratulations on all of your accomplishments and thank you for recognizing and honoring our veterans.

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