The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING JUDY SWANSON
______
HON. JACKIE SPEIER
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 8, 2021
Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Judy Swanson as she is honored by Peninsula Family Service (PFS) with a Lifetime Achievement Award. ``Lifetime'' has a special meaning in the case of this remarkable woman whom I've been honored to call a dear friend for over 35 years.
Judy is an exceptional community leader and philanthropist. She has dedicated her life to advancements in science, focusing broadly on oncology and science education. She personifies PFS's passion for transforming lives in San Mateo County. With her leadership, PFS successfully offers older residents services to keep them healthy and connected to the broader community. San Mateo County has a great deal of household wealth, but many families struggle. During the COVID emergency, PFS offered COVID information to the elderly, and continued its longstanding programs offering senior peer counseling, housing, nutrition and transportation assistance. Hundreds of children ages 0-5 from the most economically vulnerable families were served at early learning centers. Judy understands that this service is essential because 80 percent of brain development occurs during these early years.
As a member of the Hillsborough Auxiliary to PFS, Judy has helped dozens of participants in the organization's financial literacy programs take out small, manageable loans in order to meet their annual requirements and to build a credit score. Judy is a major benefactor and rolls up her sleeves when the auxiliary that she leads raises funds to support the mission of transforming lives.
Judy also serves as the CEO and Director of the Swanson Foundation and is a regular donor to leading research institutes and scientists in the United States. As a board member of the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, she helps staff to identify researchers whose fields hold the greatest undiscovered promise in oncology. The institute funds researchers early in their careers and helps them thrive through the cycle of early discovery to the point where government grants begin to flow due to promising findings.
Judy's late husband, Bob Swanson, played this role for many years and ultimately helped co-found, and was the first CEO of, Genentech. Judy's dedication to oncology research is due in no small part to the fact that Bob died far too early of brain cancer. In his memory, she fights for those for whom cures could be around the comer if enough leading-
edge technology commences. She also supports oncology research at MIT, Bob's alma mater, and is a member of the President's Circle of the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine.
Judy is also a strong supporter of science education and the arts, serving on the Tech Interactive in San Jose, and the board of the San Francisco Ballet. She is a graduate of Michigan State University and a lifetime member of the International Chapter of Young President's Organization and The Chief Executive's Organization.
Madam Speaker, the long recitation of activities of Judy Swanson does not describe the greatest fact of all: Judy Swanson has an enormous heart. She is constantly looking for opportunities to advance the quality of people's lives and generously supports programs and projects large and small. She deserves the appreciation of untold millions who will some day benefit through the discoveries she funds, the science lessons they learn at The Tech in San Jose or their experiences of joy through the San Francisco Ballet. We are only on Earth for the blink of an eye. However, Judy Swanson understands the point made by Archimedes when he said, ``Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.'' Judy Swanson moves the world with each day that she begins anew her life's work.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 178
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