Floor SpeechCeremonial2026-05-15

RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE BLIND IN GREECE

TaxesEnvironment

Context

On 2026-05-15, Representative Chris Pappas (D-NH-1) delivered a floor speech titled "RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE BLIND IN GREECE" in the House.

Full Text

RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE BLIND IN GREECE

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E455] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE BLIND IN GREECE _____ HON. CHRIS PAPPAS of new hampshire in the house of representatives Friday, May 15, 2026 Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the American Friends of the Blind in Greece, an organization based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, that is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Sharing a deep concern for the poor living conditions experienced by the blind in Greece, a group of Greek-Americans in New England founded the AFBG in 1946. The organization began by initiating smaller projects, including procuring funding for five Greek students to train in the United States. They aimed to expand opportunities for the blind and to prepare them with the necessary skills to earn a living despite their impairment. Their mission grew over the years. Throughout the twentieth century, the American Friends of the Blind in Greece helped to fund and design numerous programs to teach essential skills, including weaving, sewing, and reading braille, while also funding projects to teach agricultural and manufacturing trades. Their work culminated in the opening of the Lighthouse for the Blind in 1975, a centralized location for employing blind people in skilled manufacturing jobs. The AFBG also funded the opening of a metals workshop and a Tactual Museum to expand access to museum-quality art to the sightless. Like all organizations, the American Friends of the Blind in Greece has faced setbacks. The 1999 Athens earthquake caused costly damages to the Lighthouse for the Blind and the Tactual Museum. The diligent fundraising of organization members and the generous contributions of Americans across the country helped to rebuild and repair the damaged buildings to ensure the continued support of the blind community. Even in an era of greater awareness in the twenty-first century, the work of the American Friends of the Blind in Greece remains critical. Both the Greek Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the stability .and prospects for countless blind people in Greece. Confronting public and private funding cuts, job losses, and reduced services, the AFBG again answered the call, raising historic funds to preserve support for sightless communities. Today, on behalf of New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, I am honored to congratulate the American Friends of the Blind in Greece for 80 years of exceptional service. I commend its members for their compassion and thank them for their caring, diligent work. It is inspiring to see a local organization make a global impact, and I encourage all of us to learn from its history. From small towns in New Hampshire to big cities across the globe, there is so much we can achieve by serving others. I thank the American Friends of the Blind in Greece for showing us the impact we can make when we stand up for our values, and I wish them all the best in the years to come. ____________________

View original source →

RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE BLIND IN GREECE Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 83 (Friday, May 15, 2026)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E455] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] RECOGNIZING THE 80TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE BLIND IN GREECE _____ HON. CHRIS PAPPAS of new hampshire in the house of representatives Friday, May 15, 2026 Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the American Friends of the Blind in Greece, an organization based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, that is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. Sharing a deep concern for the poor living conditions experienced by the blind in Greece, a group of Greek-Americans in New England founded the AFBG in 1946. The organization began by initiating smaller projects, including procuring funding for five Greek students to train in the United States. They aimed to expand opportunities for the blind and to prepare them with the necessary skills to earn a living despite their impairment. Their mission grew over the years. Throughout the twentieth century, the American Friends of the Blind in Greece helped to fund and design numerous programs to teach essential skills, including weaving, sewing, and reading braille, while also funding projects to teach agricultural and manufacturing trades. Their work culminated in the opening of the Lighthouse for the Blind in 1975, a centralized location for employing blind people in skilled manufacturing jobs. The AFBG also funded the opening of a metals workshop and a Tactual Museum to expand access to museum-quality art to the sightless. Like all organizations, the American Friends of the Blind in Greece has faced setbacks. The 1999 Athens earthquake caused costly damages to the Lighthouse for the Blind and the Tactual Museum. The diligent fundraising of organization members and the generous contributions of Americans across the country helped to rebuild and repair the damaged buildings to ensure the continued support of the blind community. Even in an era of greater awareness in the twenty-first century, the work of the American Friends of the Blind in Greece remains critical. Both the Greek Financial Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic threatened the stability .and prospects for countless blind people in Greece. Confronting public and private funding cuts, job losses, and reduced services, the AFBG again answered the call, raising historic funds to preserve support for sightless communities. Today, on behalf of New Hampshire's 1st Congressional District, I am honored to congratulate the American Friends of the Blind in Greece for 80 years of exceptional service. I commend its members for their compassion and thank them for their caring, diligent work. It is inspiring to see a local organization make a global impact, and I encourage all of us to learn from its history. From small towns in New Hampshire to big cities across the globe, there is so much we can achieve by serving others. I thank the American Friends of the Blind in Greece for showing us the impact we can make when we stand up for our values, and I wish them all the best in the years to come. ____________________