Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Jason Saboury, who will receive the 2002 Ellen Perry Award for service to seniors at the 35th annual News-Press Achievements Awards at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California on May 15, 2002. Each year, this award is given to an individual who demonstrates extraordinary commitment to serving the senior community of Glendale.
Jason is the 15-year-old son of Cathy and Massoud Saboury of Glendale and is a ninth-grader at Clark Magnet High School. Last summer, he volunteered 84 hours at the City of Glendale's Glendale Adult Recreation Center for Senior Citizens. Jason was nominated for the Ellen Perry award by Louise Briley, recreation program coordinator.
Jason said he didn't want to face another summer just sitting on the couch at home, so he went through the phone book and saw the listing for the adult center and called to find out what he could do to help. "I wanted to do something good for the community,'' he said, "I get along well with my grandparents and thought it would be fun and I would learn a lot from the senior citizens too.''
His service included cashiering, serving meals to senior citizens at the center, assisting at bingo games and encouraging seniors to participate in table tennis and chess. Each morning he welcomed them and talked with them. Jason said he got a lot of tips on daily life from the seniors. Jason said the seniors were appreciative of his services and company and that he treated everyone with the same cheerful attitude.
When he returned to school after the summer break, Jason discovered he could get school credit for volunteering. This school year, he has volunteered 110 hours. He has helped out at the Brand Park Winter Wonderland snow day, performed clerical work, shelved books and performed other jobs at the Grandview Branch Library and helped with Balboa Elementary School's after-school program.
For extraordinary commitment to serving the senior citizens of Glendale, and his volunteer work with the City of Glendale, I ask all Members of Congress to join me in congratulating Jason Saboury upon receiving the 2002 Ellen Perry Award for service to seniors.